male and female bettas in the same tank

[timatah]

I've done alot of reading on here and understand that betta seem to like to be alone....

I went away for 3 days and left my male and female in a divider tank. When i came back, i was shocked to see that the female had gotten through a tiny hole which was covered by gravel, and was hanging out with the male.

I observed the fish for 20-30 minutes to see how they would act, and everything seemed fine. The male would flare up occasionally, and then the female would get out of his way, but he didn't seem agressive, like I have seen him when he lived in the community tank.. More than anything else, it seemed like he was trying to impress her by flaring. Never trying to attack her.

Since then, I have moved them to a larger tank without a divider and the 2 seem to be living together great. Neither attack each other, and the male is building a bubble nest, while the female is showing some vertical stripes.

Is it possible that they will breed this way??? Or is something terrible going to happen if I leave them like this.
Any sign of aggressive behavior and I'll split them up.

[BettaLu&Meg]

Both can happen, it seems like they're getting along which is a good thing! but leaving them both in the tank with out protection for the female can be fatal. When breeding its best to keep your female in a vase or a bottle so they can't physically touch each other. This way there is no contact until the nest is big enough for your female, If your male keeps worrying about showing off(which from your statement, is what he is doin) he wont concentrate on the nest. Now if she was in the vase and placed in the center of the tank. without having a chance to go anywhere, your male will see it as he's not doing a good enough job for her, Thus making him in more active in making an big enough nest to impress her.

I would take precaution as in the breeding/spawning process there are fatalities, tearing of the fins and rippage. This is why breeding takes alot of patients and constant watch! i will not advise leaving them unsupervised in the tank together... thats just asking for trouble. Check out ways in [Registered users only can see links. ]
and how in [Registered users only can see links. ](another link)
Check those links out, i posted those threads to help, and if you have any other questions feel free to ask in those threads or back on here!

[timatah]

I'll take your advice and seperate them. How do you put the female back in the tank without disturbing the bubble nest that is made??

[BettaLu&Meg]

you can easily scoop her up with a deep soup spoon or a cup would work. also did you read my threads on the breeding section? definitly check those out to make it a little easier on "how-to's".

[bettalvr]

Hey Luis, I've seen a couple of posts about moving bettas and what to use. Think it would be a good idea to post a sticky and explain why we are careful with what we use to move them? I have found that many people don't realize that the frame of a net is quite hard and that hitting the fish with it, even accidentally, can cause bruising, even massive internal injury - and of course the out of water issue. I've seen so many people just reach in with something and grab them, no concern about how they get the fish - scary. . . then they wonder why they die in a couple of days! I like the spoon method and I like the styrofoam cup method also (cup is usually pretty soft & I dip it in conditioned water before use), but whatever I use I have to be careful not to injure the fish. This could be a very helpful thread. . . It's an issue I often take forgranted that we "just know"!

[BettaLu&Meg]

I don't want to take all the credit on this... how about you post it, including me in it and i'll make it a sticky, even tho you did help out in ideas and experiences on how we do it and why! and i'll make it official for ya

[bettalvr]

Can't you post it using both of our names in the thread starter? I'm not sure how this forum is set-up but some will allow you (moderator/admin) to show two names in the thread starter. See if you can do that . . .

[BettaLu&Meg]

nope can't do it. it doesn't have to be my name as the starter that i don't mind at all. If someones ideas and how-to's can help out this forum and its members, i will post them as a important(sticky) and permantly keep it up . It was your idea, wanna do the honors? i will add a reply if needed to help out, and i'll keep it a open thread so questions can be ask deal?

[bettalvr]

No problem. I just thought it would be good if we could show both names - but it's the info that's the most important. And yeah, you better add to my post cuz you know I will forget something . . . these fingers work so much faster than my brain cells do!!!! LOL

[BettaLu&Meg]

Ditto, don't feel bad! lol