I want to combine fish, help? :)

Question

i have a male betta and i want to put atleast one or two fancy goldfish in there (you know the ones that get like the size of a tennis ball maybe a little bit smaller), i thought maybe if i put the goldfish in there first the betta wouldnt be so territorial. What do you think?

I have a 20gallon octagon tank btw.

Answer 1

no you cant. the tendency is that the betta's might fight the fish, or the fishes/golfishes might nip on the poor betta's beautiful fins. BETTA'S ARE TERRITORIAL and youve said it. when ya' say territorrial, they ARE TERRITORIAL. even the fishes might nip on the betta's fins, it will get depressed and it will die. SO NO. you cant 'mix' em

Answer 2

You can't mix goldfish with any other fish because they release a toxic chemical that is fatal to any other fish except goldfish.  

Answer 3

u can do that betas only get territorial with there own kind ( other males) gold fish are no prob for betas they like the company of them.

Answer 4

hmm, no such thing as a "small" goldfish.

"round" species such as fancys and fantails and orandas and ryukins can grow up to 12 inches long, and get as big around as dinner plates! (although the largest goldfish ever is an oranda named bruce. He is 18 inches long)

http://cellar.org/2002/recordgoldfish.jp...

Bruce :)

Common goldfish like commets and shybunkins can get almost 25 inches long in the right enviroment, although 12-16 inches is a common size for them.

Goldfish produce three times the amount of amonia regular fish do. Because of this combined with their size, adult goldfish should be kept in nothing smaller then a 55 gallon with SUPERIOR filtration. Also because of this, goldfish should not be kept with other fish species (including bettas). Goldfish can stand the high amonia and nitrate levels in their water because they are adjusted to it and use to it, but other fish simply can not, and will die.

Also, if the goldfish are smaller, the betta will harass them. A rule with male bettas: If it is bigger then them, brightly colored, or if it has long fins, the betta will view it as a possible threat, and as another possible male betta.

If the goldfish is larger, it very well could eat the betta. A general rule in the fish world: If it can fit in the mouth and be eaten, it probably will fit in the mouth and be eaten.  

Answer 5

I have a male beta and a fancy goldfish in my 51 gal community tank and have not had any problems.  Actually my giant danio will randomly chase and nip at the beta and it hides behind the goldfish in a stump.  I guess what I am saying is that it should be ok.  Goldfish are more interested in eating plants and gravel then the beta.

Answer 6

Mostly it wont work, sometimes it does, from the other answers you can see there are mixed opinions so i'd say it is better not to. You could try but you would be endangering the life on one or more of your fish, Plus your tank is not big enough, it is big enough for quite a few bettas (only female though so it doesnt matter) or 2 fancy goldfish or 1 common/comet goldfish.

It's definately a possibility the betta will hurt the goldfish or maybe even visa versa.

good luck =]

Answer 7

Don't mix a goldfish with a betta, because they are aggressive and the goldfish is coldwater fish and betta is tropical fish, but if you really want get a pearlscale they are beautiful.

Answer 8

Goldfish are cold water fish, betta are tropical, dont put them together.

If you have a 20 gal tank there are plenty of cool tropical fish you could put with your betta. Cory catfish are always very peaceful and fun.

Answer 9

they will fight

goldfish are coldwater bettas are tropical (need heaters)

most if not alll goldfish will grow over a foot

none grow to tennis ball size

Answer 10

I think this is a mistake bettas are a tropical fish and should not be with gold fish bettas need a heated tank and gold fish do no do well in heated tanks also the food requirements for the 2 types of fish neither should be fed a lot of the others food

either go goldfish or tropical fish do not mix them

Answer 11

Oh, it's perfectly fine... If you like squashed fish, that is. A rule of thumb for goldfish is 20 gallons for the first fish and 10 for every additional fish. Furthermore, there's still a chance the betta will fight with the goldfish. I mean, maybe you'll get lucky. Maybe the goldfishes' already established territory will have some affect over the betta and he'll lay off... But, really, who'd want to risk that?

Of course, there is also the problem of feeding. The goldfishes will eat all of their food and Mr. Betta's food long before the betta realizes that dinner's served!

Also, with the whole will the goldfish eat the betta thing, yeah. Generally, with omnivorous and carnivorous fish, the fish will eat ANYTHING that is edible and can fit in its mouth. 7-12 inch goldfish eating a betta? Really, it's quite plausible.

Answer 12

the goldies will chew the fins off the betta, or just eat it.

all the fancy goldfish get AT LEAST 7 inches..

yes they'll eat it.

Even very small goldies will chew all the fins off of a betta.