Can a betta go in here?

[Reaper216]

I'm thinking the answer is no, but I wanted to ask and hope for the best anyway.

I have 6 mollies at the moment, 2 of them beind lyretails. Will the betta consider them a threat and want to fight them?

I love the way bettas look and would love to add one to my tank, but not at the cost of stressing my current fish

 

[Stellah]

How big is your tank? And what color are your mollies? Are they nippy? Is the tank heavily planted?

 

[Reaper216]

Tank is a 40 gallon.

Mollies are 4 dalmation, 2 black.

I am working on planting it. I've only had the tank set up for about 5 weeks now so I'm learning and stocking as I go. I do have several silk plants in there currently though

 

[Sidman24]

I think you will be fine. My gf has her betta in with 2 black mollies and a Dalmatian. They mollies pick more on the betta !

 

[Stellah]

I agree, you should be okay- but plant heavy, so anyone who needs to hide- can. It breaks up line of sight and automatically lowers any possible aggression.

My advice- would be to buy a smaller tank- maybe 2.5 gallons just in case for the betta, and if you are lucky you won't need it, and you will have a hospital tank just in case!

Another option is a female betta group. You could have 6 that way, I've kept many sororities of female bettas over the years, and is be happy to advise you further if you want.

The females look lame when you get them at a petsmart or something similar- but when you get them into a nice big tank, they will develop colors just like a male, their fins just aren't as long.

 

[Reaper216]

Is there anything I really shouldnt put with a betta? I wanted to get 1 or 2 dwarf gouramis.

I may wait until petcos next $1 a gallon sale and grab a couple 10 gallons. a just in case tank, a hospital etc

 

[Stellah]

Google some pictures, there are many gorgeous females out there, and you have more than enough room to keep them happy.

 

[Reaper216]

Oh wow, i may have to search around for some females. I've never seen them with colors like that before!

 

[Stellah]

I wouldn't advise DG they can be aggressive, and territorial..

Anything without colorful fins or long fins, as the betta will become aggressive- thinking it's another betta.

I've had success with ADF, neon tetras, Glo's, mollies. But you can easily look up a list online.

Your best bet is a group of females IMO.

 

[Reaper216]

Thanks for your help!

 

[Stellah]

Absolutely. I'm happy to help. I'm a huge fan of betta sororities, they developed such awesome personalities, and their own "houses" haha it's super entertaining to watch them interact.

I had one, that was just a grey female about an inch long from petsmart- that developed into a vibrant ravens purple, with hot pink, and got to be 4 inches long.

Please feel free to pm me with any questions if this is something your considering. And good luck!

 

[Sidman24]

Here is one of my females. A deep gorgeous blue. Sorry she doesn't like pictures! Haha

 

[Sidman24]

There's a good one!

 

[Reaper216]

Oh wow that looks great! Im headed out now lol. Your driftwood piece looks really nice as well, getting jealous over here

 

[Sidman24]

Oh wow that looks great! Im headed out now lol. Your driftwood piece looks really nice as well, getting jealous over here

Thank you! The driftwood is fake though