Can 2 Male Bettas Be In The Same Tank?

With its vibrant colors, the betta fish looks beautiful in an aquarium. This explains why people love to keep the betta or the Siamese fighting fish as a pet. If you are interested in having a betta fish, remember never to keep two male betta fish in the same aquarium.  Betta fish can be very aggressive, and hence keeping two male bettas in the same tank might create disturbance in the tank as they will end up fighting with each other and might even kill each other. A male and a female betta can be kept in the same tank if the tank is big enough. But you never know, the male might attack the female. No wonder the betta is called the ‘fighting fish.’

It is advisable to keep only one betta in an aquarium. To ensure that it stays healthy, you need to take care of a few things. Picking an aquarium of the right size is one of them. It should be big enough so that the fish can live comfortably. So, how big of a tank does a betta fish need?

The Ideal Tank Size

The aquarium you buy for your betta fish should be at least 2.5 gallons. If the aquarium is less than 2.5 gallons, the water temperature will fluctuate rapidly. If this happens, the fish will start behaving abnormally, its metabolism will be affected, and its lifespan will be reduced. In a tank of 2.5 gallons, the betta will survive. For it to thrive, the tank should be bigger than 2.5 gallons. Imagine yourself in a small, cramped room. Will you be comfortable staying there? Definitely not. You will need a larger room to move about freely. The same is the case with your betta fish. The ideal size of a betta fish tank is 5 gallons or more than that.

The 5-gallon tank comes in different shapes. Tall tanks are not advisable for keeping betta fish. It is best to go for rectangle tanks where the betta can swim naturally.

The Marineland Portrait Aquarium is a good pick. It is the right size for betta fish and has a unique lighting system. It has LED lights, and you can choose between daylight and moonlight mode. You can adjust the flow of the filter, and the lids have a unique design.

Give Your Betta A Nice, Clean Environment

Being a tropical fish, the ideal water temperature for betta fish is 78-80 degrees Fahrenheit. To maintain this temperature, you should get a heater for your aquarium. If the aquarium has a thermometer, it will be easy for you to check the temperature. Your aquarium will also need a light.

Betta fish needs a neutral pH of 7.0. pH determines whether the water is acidic or alkaline.  On a pH scale of 0.0 to 14.0, 7.0 is the neutral pH level for water. If the pH level is less than 7.0, the water is acidic, while if it is more than 7.0, the water is considered alkaline.

Betta fish produce fish waste and harmful compounds that build up over time. It is important to change the water of the aquarium frequently. It is also necessary to have a low-flow filter to keep the environment inside the aquarium clean.

You can enhance the beauty of your aquarium by adding artificial or live plants and other items. However, the decorations should not take up much space; else, the betta fish will not be able to swim inside the aquarium. Plants inside the aquarium are visually pleasing for people to watch. They also give a natural environment to the betta. The betta fish can hide among the plants. Tannin leaves are good for the health of betta fish. If you want to decorate the tank, make sure the decorations are not hard, or the betta may get injured.

The quality of the water that is used in the aquarium is an important factor. Tap water should not be used as it contains chemicals like chlorine. Instead of tap water, bottled water can be used. Bottled distilled water contains minerals that make fish healthy.

Pet fish lovers prefer to keep the betta fish because of its colorful appearance. But this fish needs special care. By choosing the right-sized tank for the betta and with proper maintenance and care, you can give the fish an ideal environment to thrive.