Marine Betta

[Starfishwoman]

I’m interested in purchasing a Marine Betta. I have read they eat small fish. I have read posts that some are model citizens with small fish and a few that say they have eaten small fish. I’m wondering if more are model citizens or not, based on people’s experiences? I have 2 small cleaner gobies that I’m worried about. I do have lots of rock work in a 75 gallon tank. Thank you for your help!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I’m interested in purchasing a Marine Betta. I have read they eat small fish. I have read posts that some are model citizens with small fish and a few that say they have eaten small fish. I’m wondering if more are model citizens or not, based on people’s experiences? I have 2 small cleaner gobies that I’m worried about. I do have lots of rock work in a 75 gallon tank. Thank you for your help!

This issue is mostly based on the size differential between predator and prey....in this case, neon gobies would be fine with a smaller marine betta. However, many times, only adult marine bettas are available, and those could possibly go after your smaller neon gobies.

I just checked - Biota Marine doesn't have captive raised marine bettas in stock right now, those would be your best bet, hardier and smaller.

 

[Starfishwoman]

I’m interested in purchasing a Marine Betta. I have read they eat small fish. I have read posts that some are model citizens with small fish and a few that say they have eaten small fish. I’m wondering if more are model citizens or not, based on people’s experiences? I have 2 small cleaner gobies that I’m worried about. I do have lots of rock work in a 75 gallon tank. Thank you for your help!

This issue is mostly based on the size differential between predator and prey....in this case, neon gobies would be fine with a smaller marine betta. However, many times, only adult marine bettas are available, and those could possibly go after your smaller neon gobies.

I just checked - Biota Marine doesn't have captive raised marine bettas in stock right now, those would be your best bet, hardier and smaller.

Thank you, my LSF sold the smaller one. He’s had this one in there for a few months. I’ll have to see if he has anything small in there, like a shrimp goby. He has them in a lot of his tanks. I’m hoping since he’s had him for months, if he’s not captive bread, then he’s happy eating what is fed to him, and not have to hunt.

 

[Warthenstein]

This issue is mostly based on the size differential between predator and prey....in this case, neon gobies would be fine with a smaller marine betta. However, many times, only adult marine bettas are available, and those could possibly go after your smaller neon gobies.

I just checked - Biota Marine doesn't have captive raised marine bettas in stock right now, those would be your best bet, hardier and smaller.

With a Marine Betta, would you have any advice on an acceptable size ratio? I'm considering one for a system where the smallest tankmates would be around 3".

 

[littlefoxx]

With a Marine Betta, would you have any advice on an acceptable size ratio? I'm considering one for a system where the smallest tankmates would be around 3".

Should be fine. My marine betta was very shy and never ate tankmates. I had small gobies and dottybacks in as well

 

[Marine Betta]

I’m interested in purchasing a Marine Betta. I have read they eat small fish. I have read posts that some are model citizens with small fish and a few that say they have eaten small fish. I’m wondering if more are model citizens or not, based on people’s experiences? I have 2 small cleaner gobies that I’m worried about. I do have lots of rock work in a 75 gallon tank. Thank you for your help!

My previous marine betta that I had for 17 years was a model citizen. He never ate any tank mates, and I had tiny nano gobies with him at one point. This included neon gobies. He didn’t touch any of my inverts either. The only thing that wasn’t safe around him were ghost shrimp. If you want a captive raised one, just know there’s a pretty big price difference. A wild caught one should be somewhere in the range of $150-200. A captive raised one will probably run $300-400.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

With a Marine Betta, would you have any advice on an acceptable size ratio? I'm considering one for a system where the smallest tankmates would be around 3".

No issues at all with that ratio. Just be aware that some fish may harass the betta, especially if it doesn’t have a good cave to hide in.