Whether or not male and female betta fish can live together has been a highly debated topic for many years. Many people have claimed that they have successfully kept these two genders in the same tank, while others say it is impossible to do so without one gender being killed by the other. This article will explore some reasons why you might want to keep them both alive and well.
Is It Good Putting A Male and Female Betta Together?
In a word, yes. For many reasons keeping both genders together is an excellent idea. If you are missing one of them, you can buy betta fish online. Here are some compelling reasons why you would want to have a male and female betta fish living together:
Mating
This is the main reason why most people start this project in the first place. Two bettas of different genders will often mate with each other if they are kept together long enough as juveniles under the correct conditions (which we will talk about below). Their mating skills can be strengthened if you let them live together for a few weeks as juveniles before separating them into individual jars/small tanks. Removing one gender from the equation generally results in lowered sexual activity for obvious reasons.
Schooling
If you are looking for your bettas to coexist peacefully, having both genders together is essential. Bettas who do not know each other will often try to establish dominance by nipping at the fins of their tank mates. However, if two or more bettas are allowed to grow up together, they become used to each other’s presence and avoid getting into these sorts of bullying battles altogether. This prevents unnecessary stress on anyone fish.
Compatibility
Male and female betta fish can live together quite well if given the opportunity as juveniles. However, there are some exceptions that I will cover below. Although it may be possible to keep them together as adults under certain conditions, this can become tricky because the bettas will soon become conditioned to each other’s presence. With enough time, it may become necessary for them to reestablish dominance by fighting with each other. This behavior can be so fierce that one or both of the bettas could die as a result. Although this is rare, it has happened before and should be taken into consideration if you are about to move your fish into the same jar/small tank together as adults.
New Environment
If you plan to get new tanks (which I highly recommend), keeping both genders in the same jar/small tank will help them adjust more quickly to their new environment. Bettas cannot see well at all, so they very easily get disoriented when placed in a new tank, especially if the hood is covered in algae. This makes it hard for them to find their food and become even more stressed out than they already are in a new environment. However, with the company of a familiar face in your other jar/small tank, this can help them adjust much more easily to their new home.
Summary
Keeping male and female betta fish together can result in a wonderful display of nature as they prepare their nest for new fry. Yes, it is not as simple as just putting them into the same jar/small tank simultaneously. Keep reading to find out more about this topic.