Can Male And Female Betta Fish Live Together

You might have been thinking for a long time can male and female betta fish live together? well they cannot, this is because they are quite aggressive toward each other. Either betta or any other fish who comes near to them, once started, they will reach till one’s death.

These fish exist better in warm water and can survive in fresh and saltwater. Betta fishes are predatory as they feed on tiny insects, larvae, and crustaceans. Betta fish are very provincial and violent towards other Betta fish, this is why it is better to put just one betta fish alone in a tank, and if there should be more than one of these fish in a tank, a larger tank should be used. 

A male and female betta fish can co-exist together to mate, but a larger fish tank is often required to cohabitate. 

Due to how violent and territorial betta fishes are in character, putting a male and female betta fish or more than one in a small tank can cause tragedy, injury, or might result in the death of your fish.

They are also referred to as Siamese fighting fish; they are known to have very beautiful bright colors and are popular in aquariums. They are mostly found in Southeast Asia but were first discovered in the Mekong River basin.

Betta fish come in different colors and patterns and can assume a size of about 3 inches in length. They are popularly known for their length and flowing fins.

Betta fish are usually used as pets in home aquariums because of their bright and beautiful colors. Male Betta fish have brighter colors than females.

Keeping Male And Female Betta Fish Together

The male and female betta fish cannot co-exist together because they will battle for territory, which in most cases, results in the death of the other fish.

In most cases, both a male and females of a species are required to have a complete ecosystem. But for the betta fish, it’s not the same.

Putting two male Betta fish in the same tank will result in them fighting to gain superiority. These battles are so brutal that it usually leads to death. It is advisable to keep your fish in different tanks or a very large tank if they must be placed together. With lots of hiding places to ensure your fish stay healthy and alive.

A male and female beta fish can still live together, but it is not ideal. Because these fish tend to become very provincial and violent towards each other, this eventually leads to harm or death.

However, If you choose to put a male and female Betta fish in the same tank, make sure to use a very large tank with plenty of hiding spaces. It allows the female Betta fish to run and hide whenever the male gets too aggressive and territorial.

Short Term

This is basically the period whereby you have multiple fish tanks, and you need to clean one of the tanks. 

You can easily put two Betta fishes in the same tank while you clean out the other. But this can only be done for a few hours as male Betta fishes can become violent when trying to claim dominance.

So this should only be done if you can notice when one of these fish becomes aggressive and separate them to avoid injuries.

Although the female Betta fish are usually quite docile, they cannot cohabitate with the male Betta fish because of their aggression toward the females.

Therefore, if this process is carried out properly, male and female Betta fish can co-exist for a short while without any incidents occurring.

Long Term

It is very unlikely to have both male and female Betta fish living together in the same aquarium without becoming aggressive to each other.

However, if this must be done, you will need a very large tank to house both of the Betta fish with lots of hiding spaces. In case one of the fish becomes territorial and violent in most cases, you will eventually need to split them up to avoid incidents like the fish killing each other.

Although it is possible to keep two Betta fish in the same tank, it is not advisable. It can only be full proof in a situation whereby you plant a form of demarcation between the two fish in the tank. This will give both the fish enough room and reduce the chances of one of Betta’s fish becoming violent to the other.

Also, for every Betta fish you put in the tank, add an extra 5 gallons of water into the tank. More swimming room will reduce the pressure between the fish and pacify aggressiveness.

Difficulties arise when keeping two sexes together

One of the major problems of keeping a male and female Betta fish together in the same tank is how the males can become violent to the females. Male Betta fish tend to become very aggressive when another fish comes close to their territory.

On the other hand, the female Betta fish are naturally calm but can also become violent during their mating season. This behavior is usually done to attract other males when looking for a mate.

Irrespective of how a male Betta fish cannot live together with another Betta fish, the females can. You will likely find a group of female Betta fish living together as a group without displaying aggression towards them. On rare occasions, adding one male Betta fish to a tank with a group of females can tranquilize the male.

Also, putting male and female Betta fish in the same tank can affect breeding. The sense that sometimes the female can become stressed makes her unable to lay eggs.

So it is advisable to put your fish in different tanks if you want to breed them and save your investment.

How do we introduce males and females together?

Introducing male and female Betta fish to each other can be done in two ways. One of which is by putting the fish in the same tank and using a plastic divider to demarcate them from each other.

Alternatively, you can put the fish in separate plastic containers and keep the containers close to each other.

After being able to observe the female Betta fish, the male will create a bubble at the surface of the container or tank to attract the female. This is when you transfer the female Betta fish into the breeding tank.

If she is interested and ready to mate, she will swim close to the bubble created and stay by it, and then the male will also begin to swim around her or chase her around the tank.

But if the female Betta fish is not interested in mating with the male, she will destroy the bubble or ignore it.

If this happens, the male will create yet another bubble. And if the female destroys it again, then they’re not compatible with each other. Or the female is not ready to mate.

How do I breed the betta fish – The process

The male will begin to puff his body and act hyper while his colors will get brighter to try and attract the female. The female’s color will also get brighter, and her stripes will become more vivid.

Then they might begin to fight each other, or in some cases, the male will chase the female around the tank. This can last for a few minutes.

When they are ready to mate, they will get very close to each other, and the male will hug the female with his fins while she lays her eggs, and the male fertilizes them.

After fertilization, the male tends to become aggressive again to ward off the female and protect the eggs, which he later carries to the bubble/nest for them to hatch.

During the mating season, your fish must be active, energetic, and old enough to be fertile. The tank must be ammonia-free and as healthy as possible, so check the water often. Most experts recommend that the water have a temperature of about 80 degrees Fahrenheit and have a P.H of 6.5. So make sure the water has a low P.H and is healthy enough for the fish to mate.

prepare your betta fish for breeding

A third tank must be set up for the breeding, which will be filled with about 5 gallons of water and ammonia free. The water needs to be at the right temperature warmth to help stimulate the need to reproduce.

This tank should be large enough and have lots of hiding spaces for the fish to hide when they hatch.

The female Betta fish must be removed from the tank after she lays the eggs because she might become violent and eat the eggs.

The male can remain in the tank to protect the eggs but only until they start hatching, and then he must be removed as well to avoid him becoming aggressive and eating the hatchlings.

how much time do betta fish eggs take to hatch

It usually takes 2 to 3 days for Betta eggs to hatch. Once they hatch, the male fish might be required to stay with the hatchlings for a while until they learn how to swim properly.

But this is still dangerous as the male can become overly aggressive and injure fingerlings or even eat them.

Ensure to monitor any signs of aggressiveness in the fish and remove the male immediately back to its own tank to prevent fights.

Feed your Betta fish regularly with proper nutritional treats such as vinegar eels, micro worms, etc.

Our Final Words

In conclusion, putting a male and female Betta fish in the same tank is not entirely undoable. Nevertheless, if you must put the two fish together, it should only be for a short while and breeding.

Even during breeding, the fish must be observed closely to avoid any aggressiveness that threatens your fish.

So if you must breed beta fish, ensure a large enough tank with lots of hiding spaces and follow the above mentioned steps.

And without a doubt, you, too, can breed betta fish easily.