Newbie to fighters

[lmsmith]

My bf has finally got into the idea of having fish (awesome, because I have 8 tanks and have had them for a year...) but he wants fighters.

I don't like the idea of having a tank with one little lone guy, and have had a look online, but there's lots of contradictory information on there.

So; what can fighters live with? Do they really fight? Can I keep multiple of each sex together, or mix sexes?

[yeh_buddy]

Ooo yay I wish my boyfriend had an interest in fighters, he doesnt really show an interest in my fighter fetish, but after dragging him into a fish store he has since declared that he wants a Ghost Knife fish and Butterfly Pantadon...getting closer I hope.

I have my fighter in with some girl fighters, Pictus Catfish, Goldfish, Bristlenose, Blue Rams, some loaches, goldfish and a lone angel, its partner died:( People's experience with Angels and Fighters vary, what I was taught is that Angels and Fighters dont mix, but I personally haven't had a problem. I think that it is depending on the Angel, environment and fighter, and how they interact. Most Tetra's are fine, I like to stay away from the notorious fin nipper types (Barbs, Red eye Tetra, sharks can be a little problem when bigger).

You can only have one male in a tank as a general rule, but depending on the size of the tank, (large and heavily planted, some people can get away with two in one tank. I would stick to the one per tank Fighting wise, they spend most of the time flaring and showing off and (this is going to sound weird ) hitting eachother with their bodies (thats is what it looks like, from what I've heard, a weird way to describe it I know,) most males will shred their opponents fins to get them to backdown, (but they dont outrightly go for the kill), I dont know how true this is but I have heard that the victor eats the remains of the shredded fins, more often then not fighting does tend to end in the death due to stress. Girls however are alright in groups of more than one, they probably will still have their little flaring and show off matches as mine do, but not to the extent as males do. If you were to keep a male and females together, I would stick to a small amount of females as you dont want the male being hen picked and driven to the local battered husbands shelter

However, other people will probably have differing/varying opinions on Siamese Fighter Care, this is just what I've read, understood, learnt, experienced and discussed with other Siamese Fighter keepers and I look forward to seeing the views of others.

[Adrienne]

I try to keep to the one male per tank rule with my adult fighters. Its rare that they go for the outright kill but the strongest male will rip the other males body and fins more often than not leading to ones death. You can keep younger males together - I have had up to 100 4 month old males in a tank with no problems but they were from the same spawn and had never been separated.

I normally keep one male in each of my females tanks, with up to 30 females. He's usually fine, sometimes they will nibble at his tail. Females also can fight with each other, but nothing serious and I find they do this more often if theres only a couple in with a male or if theres a storm front passing overhead.

If I have only one male and one female together I find they spawn every 3-4 days which is not good for them.

Its really up to you and the individual fishs nature. The more plants and cover you have the more peaceful your aquarium is going to be.

[Guest]

Like adodge said if you raise them in the same tank and don't take one out they won't fight or if they do it's not as bad. I also keep mine with neons, glowlights, dwarf cichlids, other fighters, corys, BNs, khulies and platys. I've got some younger fighters here for sale if you're interested? They've been raised in the same tank so you can keep the males together.

[lmsmith]

wow guys, I really appreciate your responses! Sounds like they'd fit in ok in my community tank, so that's awesome! Cam, I'll PM you later today, thanks!!

[Jaide]

I think it boils down to the personality of your betta - I have one male who's quiet and glides around - he's an easy target for my angels and his fins were ripped to pieces - so I had to move him out. It's funny, as most say you shouldn't mix bettas with other fish as bettas are aggressive, but I found it the opposite in this case.

He prefers his own space as he perches a lot too - so needs a quiet tank. If I had to house him with other fish, I'd ensure they were also quiet fish, were not fin nippers and kept out of his way - ground dwellers would work well.

I don't think its wise to house bettas with bettas - male or female. Males don't socialise with females at all in the wild, only meeting up for breeding.

Don't worry about your betta being lonely if that's what you're concerned about - they're solitary fish and are used to being alone, they prefer it that way. They're territorial so other tank mates could stress them, especially if they go onto their patch. If you're concerned your betta is lonely or bored - you can do a host of things to keep him happy: add a mirror on occassion so he seems himself it encourages him to flare and will encourage aggressive and territorial behaviors natural to bettas, and will normally inspire them to patrol their tank, bubble nest etc. - but not for extended periods or he can become stressed. Move objects around in the tank - take out decorations and objects and substitute with different ones on occassion. Keep a certain object to be removed/added each water change, such as a cave. Change the external environment around the tank - either move objects or move the tank itself. Bettas are intrigued by objects outside the tank - different shapes and colours are exciting to them - they spend hours investigating these objects. Shiny objects work well. Play with him, he'll follow you (or use your finger) around if you move around the tank,. Add toys such as a ping pong ball which floats which he'll flare at, chase and push around with his nose; or a marble that sinks - they'll push them around - but this only works if tank bottom is bare.

[diver21]

ive found that a mix of 1 male and about 5 females is about right, but make shure that the girls in the shop are girls, not short finned males. I learnt that the hard way 3 males later...