breeding fish in a community tank

[novator]

I've got a 75 gallon tank with 3 males and 16 females, plus some glowlight tetras and cories for company. 2 years in, and I've only had one baby born. Has anyone else had any luck breeding them in a community tank? I know setting up a separate breeding tank is an option, but where's the fun in that? Any tips to boost my chances would be great.

[goldminer]

Glowlight tetras.

[novator]

Glowlight tetras, and cories

[goldminer]

Keeping multiple male betta splendas together is a recipe for disaster, I've witnessed it firsthand. Males are naturally solitary and it's best to keep them that way. Imagine a male tending to his nest, eggs inside, and then a rival male or even a female gets too close - it's a bloodbath waiting to happen. I've seen males kill each other, and even females that get too close to the nest. It's a ticking time bomb and I wouldn't want to be a part of it.

[novator]

I'm used to people raising an eyebrow at my setup. The tank's been running since January 2016, and initially, I thought I had all females - babies at the time. Turned out some were males, but I never felt the need to separate them. Still don't. It's not a stocking I'd recommend, but it's working out okay for me.