Can female betta fish have tankmates

[NanoAce]

I'm considering adding a female betta to my 30 gallon tank, which is currently home to 12 celestial pearl danios, 12 harlequin rasboras, and 6 kuhli loaches. I'm hesitant because I know CPDs are shy and I don't want to stress them out with the betta's presence. I also don't want the betta to be stressed by all the small fish.

While I'm confident the tank's physical environment can support all these fish - it's a planted tank with a biotope-inspired setup, complete with leaf litter and botanicals - I'm more concerned about their emotional well-being. I try to give my fish the best life possible, and I want to know if you think the smaller fish will be just as happy with a betta in the tank, or if they'd be better off without her. And on the flip side, would the betta be okay in this setup, or would she be happier alone?

[infold]

I think one female betta in your tank would be alright. In my experience, bettas aren't really the ones getting stressed - they're usually doing the stressing. Females are a bit more laid-back than males, and let's be honest, bettas are pretty slow-moving fish. Your celestial pearl danios and harlequin rasboras will be zooming past her in no time. The kuhli loaches probably won't even notice her, to be honest. A 30-gallon tank is a good size for the fish you have, and I don't see why adding a female betta would be a problem.

[Clack]

I'm gonna have to disagree here, danios are quick, and I think they'd stress the betta. You're gonna get mixed views on this, but for me, I wouldn't risk it, even with a female betta.

[coltin]

I'm inclined to agree with Clack on this one, I think it's a risk adding a female betta to your tank, especially with the celestial pearl danios. They're pretty quick and I can see them stressing the betta. I know you've got a great setup with the planted tank and biotope, but I think it's the dynamics between the fish that's the issue. The danios will be zooming around and I think the betta would be better off on its own.

[sSjey]

To clarify, the celestial pearl danios in question are actually the former galaxy rasboras, not the typical fast-swimming zebra or pearl danios.

That being said, I still think mixing bettas with other fish can be quite tricky. You see, some female bettas can be just as aggressive as their male counterparts, and it's not uncommon for stores to mistakenly sell short-finned males as females, especially when they arrive in a shipment of females.

[infold]

To clarify, the celestial pearl danios in question are actually the former galaxy rasboras, not the typical fast-swimming zebra or pearl danios.

That being said, I still think mixing bettas with other fish can be quite tricky. You see, some female bettas can be just as aggressive as their male counterparts, and it's not uncommon for stores to mistakenly sell short-finned males as females, especially when they arrive in a shipment of females.

That's fascinating. I've kept Pearl Danios in the past and they're lovely fish. What's with other fish trying to steal their identity, though?

[sSjey]

The celestial pearl danios have a pretty interesting history. They were only discovered in 2006, and before they were classified, they were known as galaxy rasboras or Microrasbora sp Galaxy. The reason for this name was due to their dark bodies with white spots, giving them a starry appearance. However, once taxonomists got involved, they found that they weren't actually rasboras. This led to a change in their scientific name to Celestichthys margaritatus. It's likely that the 'celestial' part of their current common name comes from this. As for why they're now called celestial pearl danios, I'm not entirely sure - it seems to be a source of confusion.

[belleora]

I'm considering adding a female betta to my 30 gallon tank, which is currently home to 12 celestial pearl danios, 12 harlequin rasboras, and 6 kuhli loaches. I'm hesitant because I know CPDs are shy and I don't want to stress them out with the betta's presence. I also don't want the betta to be stressed by all the small fish.

While I'm confident the tank's physical environment can support all these fish - it's a planted tank with a biotope-inspired setup, complete with leaf litter and botanicals - I'm more concerned about their emotional well-being. I try to give my fish the best life possible, and I want to know if you think the smaller fish will be just as happy with a betta in the tank, or if they'd be better off without her. And on the flip side, would the betta be okay in this setup, or would she be happier alone?

I personally believe both sets of fish would thrive in separate tanks. Female bettas are naturally solitary, only briefly interacting with males for mating. In the wild, they quickly part ways after spawning, and in captivity, breeders must separate them to prevent aggression.

Celestial Pearl Danios, being shy, would likely be stressed by a larger, more aggressive fish like a betta. Even if the female betta doesn't actively chase them, her presence could still cause discomfort. We can't see the chemical signals fish exchange, but they're highly aware of their surroundings. As a result, I wouldn't recommend adding a betta to your tank, solely due to the potential stress it could cause.

That being said, some people have successfully kept a single betta in a community tank. Ultimately, it comes down to personal choice. If you do decide to add a betta, I strongly advise having a spare 2.5-5g tank ready in case of an emergency.

It's also worth noting that store-bought fish are often juveniles, and their behavior can change as they mature. Some people have successfully kept female betta "sororities," but this often works only temporarily. As the females mature, they become more aggressive and territorial, leading to stress and conflict.

The same risks apply when adding a young betta to a community tank. While it may seem fine initially, the stress and aggression can build over time, leading to problems down the line. My advice is to consider the potential risks and stress involved. If you're willing to take that risk, have a spare tank ready. Alternatively, you could consider a different centerpiece fish, like a honey gourami. They offer similar benefits to a betta but are much more peaceful and community-friendly.