Is my betta fish lonely when he sees other fish? Should I get him a friend?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Usually it is best to avoid this as Bettas tend to be territorial and aggressive and are generally unhappy when grouped. It is always best to keep them by themselves. Good luck and have a great day!

It is very difficult to see the markings of these fish from the pictures. Many fish may be able to live with a Betta if there is a large enough tank. Here are some guidelines on how to pick tabkmates for a Betta. No nibblers – if a fish nibbles at a Betta fish they will get bit back! Bigger fish and colorful fish could be seen to be intimidating – you don’t want to intimidate a fighting fish! Think of the size of your aquarium – you should always have 5 gallons of personal water space for your betta fish Many bottom feeders* are fish that can live with bettas Remember the dietary requirements for both tank mates Add a few tank ornaments and live plants for any intimidated fish to hide (just incase) You can find some more info here. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/category_home.cfm?acatid=158

A male Betta can be kept in a 10 gallon tank with 5-6 neon tetras. You will need to monitor for any aggression initially as well as for any fin nipping. Male Bettas are easy to distinguish from females by their brighter colors and larger fins.

Typically beta fish are very territorial and have to be in a tank alone. Otherwise they will fight and possibly kill each other. I would recommend housing the beta alone to help prevent this. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

You will need to use a solid or opaque divider to obstruct their view of one another. If they can see each other, it can stress them out. As the male matures, he will want to breed with the female and she will spend time swimming as far from the divider as possible to move away from him.

If the Betta is not acting aggresively, there is no need to remove him. Guppies, especially males, will fight with one another but it usually isn't serious. Providing plenty of cover for them to hide may be all you need. If the fighting persists, remove the aggressive guppy to his own tank.

Betta are definitively very territorial and you may notice multiple fights for space at the beginning. Definitively the aquarium must have multiple spots for hiding like Terra Cotta Flowerpots and PVC Piping, moss or bushy plants, ornaments, rocks and driftwoods. This will avoid open fights and will provide good places to have some rest.