Marine Bettas, Should I put one in my reef?

[tcmfish]

I don't think I would trust them with shrimp although it is fun to watch them eat them. I have three right now at FIT and one is in with seahorses and the other two I'm trying to breed because I think they are a pair so they are by themselves. But they aren't that aggressive. They mind their business. Shrimp you could prolly get away with a big coral banded shrimp but cleaners and pepermints IMO I wouldn't try them. I've fed them little guppies before and they even have a hard time catching those, they get most of them but i think a few have made it down the standpipe. They are an awesome fish but it doesnt get much more peaceful that a seahorse and they are doing great together.

[Amoore311]

say good bye to your small fish. you realize the betta is a grouper dont you? or alternatively, if the other fish eat the food too fast, then that may pose a problem as well.

I love people who post w/ this kind of attitude. I'd like to see a clumsy ol' Marine Betta catch a fish as quick as a Royal Gramma.

As long as you cater your feedings toward the slow eating nature of the Betta he will do fine. It's great that he was eating prepared food at the pet shop. If you do run in to trouble w/ him eating dead food, you can train them on live black worms.

Good luck with your new addition

[luke33]

I wouldn't think a mandarin would be a good idea, would get tagged as it was crawling around hunting if the betta got to hungry. I do like the betta's as well and if i found one for $20 it would be in my reef. I'm sure it would leave cleaners alone but not peperment shrimp.