Keeping a pair of Marine Bettas in 105 gallon tank?

[Zionas]

Hi, I would like to know if I can safely keep a pair of Marine Bettas in a 105-gallon, 48”x24”x22” system. Will they have enough space in a tank of my size to not fight and get along?

I hear it’s hard to know if they are two males or a male and a female until I put them together and see whether they fight or not. I’m thinking of having my LFS put them together for 15 minutes and see if they get along. If they get along I’ll assume I’ve got a pair and I’ll take both home.

For my 105-gallon softies only tank my plan is to only stock up to 9 fish.

 

[OrionN]

At the LFS, they may need to be together longer than that. They need to be comfortable for a while. Just netting them together does not count. They have to get over from the stress of getting net first, then get comfortable, then you can see the interaction between the two. 15 min, from the time you put them together may not be enough.

 

[Zionas]

If that’s the case, then how long do you recommend I observe them before deciding they will pair up?

 

[Fishy212]

I’ve asked my lfs to watch a tailspot Blenny and then later on a mandarin dragonet for 2 weeks prior to purchasing them. Kept coming back in to the store to check them out and make sure they were healthy. Having a good relationship with your local guy is key for trades and trade backs.

 

[OrionN]

It really depends on if they are comfortable. If they are comfortable and together for 1 hr in a small tank it would be enough IMO. If the LFS can use a divider if they don’t fight across the divider he should then remove the divider and see how he interacts.
I pair mine in my 40 gal breeder reef. Usually I have to separate them within the hour if it does not work.

 

[Zionas]

My LFS has said they are willing to hold fish for me before I purchase them, up to 3 weeks.

 

[Fishy212]

See if they are willing to share the same tank , you can come back periodically to make sure their fins are all good and that everyone is playing nice I really want a beta but I love invertebrates too much.

 

[Zionas]

Would my tank size be okay for two?

 

[Fishy212]

Guy at my lfs has one is his 150 main display tank. He says they are generally shy. Online it says 50 gallon minimum tank size but they are huge in person. 2 might be too risky unless you are sure they are a pair.

 

[Zionas]

I’ll see what happens once I get to my LFS. If they only have one (and then it has to be a healthy specimen) I’m afraid I may only be able to get one.

Are they a big bioload fish?

 

[OrionN]

Wait. If you don’t have room, it is still much better to get them pair at the LFS. You don’t have to get them right away. They don’t. Eat much and does not produce a lot of waste.
ThRoewer a Reefer from Europe frequent the ReefCentral reef fishes forum is really knowledgeable about Marine Betta. You may want to ask him.

 

[Zionas]

I asked him. He told me to buy one below 4” and another that is 25% to 50% larger. My hope is LFS will have two, and two healthy specimens.

 

[OrionN]

I always have my pair in large tank. 420 and 320 gal tanks. Never seen torn fin in any of my pair. Only see torn fins when ever I tried to pair them.
Check with ThRoewer at ReefCentral Reef Fishes forum who is a lot more knowledgeable about Marine Betta than I am. I never heard of a "harem of Marine Betta". Thomas was one of the earliest reefer who successfully raised these fish in captivity years ago. He is raising a few right now.

 

[Zionas]

Would my tank size be too small for two Marine Bettas when I try to pair them up?

 

[OrionN]

No. But a pair should not torn each other up with mating. I don’t think your LFS owner isn’t right.

 

[Zionas]

I see. If there are torn fins, but they don’t kill each other, will the torn fins heal or should I be concerned?

 

[OrionN]

Keeping and breeding fresh water Siamese fighting fish (fresh water betta) the male would mate, pick up the eggs put them on the bubble nest that he built. Female would eat the eggs so he chase her away after mating. If the female not remove, she can get kill by the male. The male then look after the eggs until the baby can swim and eat. If the newly hatch fry fall off the nest he would pick it up with his mouth and put the fry back on the nest.

Maybe your LFS owner thinks of this when he said that the female will be all torn up after mating. Fresh water Betta have nothing in common with Marine Betta other than the name. Even wild type fresh water Betta does not look at all like the along fin Betta that we see today.

 

[OrionN]

If th

I see. If there are torn fins, but they don’t kill each other, will the torn fins heal or should I be concerned?

If there are torn fins, you should remove one. The torn fin will heal, but the looser will not do well in the tank.

 

[Zionas]

This makes me hopeful. I’ll try with a larger one and a significantly smaller one (one I will buy at around 3” and the other at around 4-4.5”) and hope for the best. Hope I can find two healthy specimens.

 

[mort]

No. But a pair should not torn each other up with mating. I don’t think your LFS owner isn’t right.

The reply from post 12 is from throewer on reef c. From what I have read and seen it is pretty common for them to shred each other during mating but it's normally cosmetic.

I've also seem betta harems mentioned several times before, plus people keeping many mature fish separately and only introducing them to mate, which is how I plan to do it one day.