Add Marine Betta or not?

[AirForceAquariu]

Being a freshwater guy I had to check this out! That fish looks sick! I find it funny that these fish are considered peaceful and the freshwater ones are not.

I used to keep my freshwater BETA in a tank with several Mollies, Tetra's and Pleco's. The only time he bothered anything was if the Mollies were breeding. Their babies were fair game. It's really just each other that they don't get along with... or anything that looks like them.

 

[HPark]

Tagging along to the question above - what size would you recommend looking for to ensure it is a female?

 

[ThRoewer]

So what happens if they are both the same sex I have a 300 reef and impossible to catch one.. Currently have a 5 inch male using your description and have 2 inch tr I bought from DD which i would like to try to pair.. So will the bigger male kill the smaller one if its also a male tank is loaded with rocks caves and crevices

I never tried it that way around (the little one that escaped still had the juvenile coloring with the white sides) but I would say below 3 or even 4 inch they should all still be female. As long as the little one can escape into a hole where the big one can't follow it should work. Further I would suspect that the size difference will prevent overly aggression of the larger one.
Still I would try to introduce the smaller one at first in a breeder box or trap to see how the large one reacts.

 

[lhm nole]

I never tried it that way around (the little one that escaped still had the juvenile coloring with the white sides) but I would say below 3 or even 4 inch they should all still be female. As long as the little one can escape into a hole where the big one can't follow it should work. Further I would suspect that the size difference will prevent overly aggression of the larger one.
Still I would try to introduce the smaller one at first in a breeder box or trap to see how the large one reacts.

I put him in a acclimation box for a few hours and no reaction from my male betta but was still leery .. I might just take a chance and hope for the best

 

[hotelbravo]

sorry for the blurry picture but this is my marine betta about 1.5" long very small. any idea what gender it is?

 

[ThRoewer]

... my marine betta about 1.5" long very small. any idea what gender it is?

I have one that's just below 50 mm TL and it for sure isn't a functional female nor a male yet. Same goes for yours.

It's just like with anthias, angels or clownfish - only that with clownfish the start and final sexes are switched.
I would say anything below 3 inch is a nonfunctional female. The largest of a pair or group becomes the male.
Though I wouldn't expect any spawning before the female hasn't reached at least 4 inches.

 

[GSMclowns]

Just want to do an update on my Marine Betta. I added it to the 120 gallons tank and to my surprise, it actually swim out a lot. I thought I wouldn't see it that often and have trouble feeding it. But somehow it recognizes me as the one with foods. As soon as I approach the tank, it will swim out and looking for food. If I feed it too much, then it will be a bit shy the next day but still come out of the cave. Overall, it hasn't chase any other fishes yet. Pretty peaceful actually. All the other fishes are now getting used to seeing this weird fish and not scared of him anymore. I feed it twice a day with Krill and Clam. It refuses to eat small foods like Mysis, PE Mysis and OceanPlankton. Great addition to the tank.

 

[ThRoewer]

I never had any problems with them regarding fish.
Shrimp are a different story - they will eat them all sooner or later.

Especially the tank bred are quite outgoing and not shy at all. And besides for shrimp they are 100% reef safe. The males will even take care of eventual bristelworm problems.
I find them way underrated.

 

[rssjsb]

What about hermits?

 

[ThRoewer]

They can't crack hard shells like puffer or trigger fish therefore I don't think they go after hermits or actual crabs, though I never actually tried it.

 

[timmydatoolman]

Just want to do an update on my Marine Betta. I added it to the 120 gallons tank and to my surprise, it actually swim out a lot. I thought I wouldn't see it that often and have trouble feeding it. But somehow it recognizes me as the one with foods. As soon as I approach the tank, it will swim out and looking for food. If I feed it too much, then it will be a bit shy the next day but still come out of the cave. Overall, it hasn't chase any other fishes yet. Pretty peaceful actually. All the other fishes are now getting used to seeing this weird fish and not scared of him anymore. I feed it twice a day with Krill and Clam. It refuses to eat small foods like Mysis, PE Mysis and OceanPlankton. Great addition to the tank.

Thanks for the update, I've been thinking of adding one to my 210, after reading this I think I'm ready to order one

 

[Paul B]

I have not had one in many years and was thinking of adding one to my 100 gallon reef. I have some spawning clown gobies and small bluestripe pipefish. How do you feel these would fare with the Betta? Thanks.

 

[laga77]

I have not had one in many years and was thinking of adding one to my 100 gallon reef. I have some spawning clown gobies and small bluestripe pipefish. How do you feel these would fare with the Betta? Thanks.

You should be ok. I have a Betta in my 120 and he leaves everything else alone, crabs and shrimps alike. They really need a couple of caves where they can hide out in when not active. This is what they do in nature. He really loves the white and black worms but will eat miss and plankton. I have never seen him eat clams. It is cool to watch him approach food and curl up their tails to corner in their prey. BTW, his name is "Spot".

 

[Paul B]

OK, maybe I will get one. I can easily collect all the live grass shrimp I want and they live all year so food is not a problem. Thanks

 

[ThRoewer]

Try to get tank raised marine bettas - I feel they are more outgoing.
I just added a wild caught to my tank raised and so far they are getting along. The wild is twice the size of the tank raised and so far I haven't even seen a shredded tailfin. But the bigger one is much more reclusive.
Both are still females.

If your tank is big enough you can put several together as long as they are all a bit different in size and all under 4 inch - at that size they are still females and should get along ok.

As for other fish - despite the stories about them eating small fish I have never seen any behavior that would indicate fish is on their menu. IMO they are specialized on hunting shrimp. But I have seen even large ones also picking copepods.
In general I would say they are peaceful against other fish.

 

[JRR1285]

OK, maybe I will get one. I can easily collect all the live grass shrimp I want and they live all year so food is not a problem. Thanks

Can you please post back here when you get one? Since you live on Long Island I would to know where I may find one as well.

Try to get tank raised marine bettas - I feel they are more outgoing.
I just added a wild caught to my tank raised and so far they are getting along. The wild is twice the size of the tank raised and so far I haven't even seen a shredded tailfin. But the bigger one is much more reclusive.
Both are still females.

If your tank is big enough you can put several together as long as they are all a bit different in size and all under 4 inch - at that size they are still females and should get along ok.

As for other fish - despite the stories about them eating small fish I have never seen any behavior that would indicate fish is on their menu. IMO they are specialized on hunting shrimp. But I have seen even large ones also picking copepods.
In general I would say they are peaceful against other fish.

Lots of great information on this fish. I always come back to wanting one and now that my fear of them eating small fish seems to be unwarranted, I will be on the lookout.

 

[Blaker]

I had one for 6 months costed me a sohal and a chevron took him back to the store and hes up to 500 bucks in killing fish there I guess I just got a mean one I hear other people have really good luck with them

 

[ThRoewer]

I never had mine with tangs, only with angels.
How did a marine betta manage to kill a sohal anyway? I would rather expect it the other way around.

Marine bettas usually only get a bit pushy if other fish invade their cave, and that is mostly with males. And usually it is no more that chasing and ends when the other fish runs away. I've never seen them go on a prolonged hunt throughout the tank (only exception are males going after females when spawning)

 

[Blaker]

I never had mine with tangs, only with angels.
How did a marine betta manage to kill a sohal anyway? I would rather expect it the other way around.

Marine bettas usually only get a bit pushy if other fish invade their cave, and that is mostly with males. And usually it is no more that chasing and ends when the other fish runs away. I've never seen them go on a prolonged hunt throughout the tank (only exception are males going after females when spawning)

this marine Beta thought the whole tank was his, and I even had the sohal and chevron in the tank way be for I put the beta in the tank but he never messed with my little blue tang

 

[ThRoewer]

In my experience marine bettas will not harm fish that go out of their way, but fish that try picking a fight with them may get a beating. Sohals are notorious bullies and troublemakers. He likely tried to dominate the betta and paid for it.
I had a small lineatus (very similar to sohal), that was always looking to pick a fight with my clownfish. He got beaten up every time but never learned and came back for more.
Never had a chevron but suspect he didn't stay away from the betta either.
Blue tangs are less aggressive when little, which I think is the reason that he was left alone.