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I have a betta that lives in a 1 gallon bowl and I've had him for about a year and a half. Well my question is that when ever anyone goes near him he always puffs his gills out. He doesn't attack he just swims around all puffy....does anyone know why?

I believe this is just the betta's normal response to anyone entering his "territory". My bettas will flare at anything that comes near their tank! As fas as i know this is completely normal!

HTH
Sam

does anyone think that he would be ok in a comunity tank? Right now (and until we move) I only have 4 adult platys and 5 babies. I do plan on adding alot more fish just not for a little while.

betters are best by themselves. u can try, but u have to keep an eye out.

betta's can be very nice community fish. as with many fish, you just have to be carefull what other fish are with him.
you cannot place him with fin nipping fish such as tiger barbs. also not with any fish with large fins like he has, such as a guppy or long-tailed black skirt tetra's as he will think they are another betta and fight till one dies. Different betta's have different personality's, so some betta's may be much more of a problem. I have a betta in a community tank with snails, frogs, glowlight tetra's, a bumblebee goby, ghost shrimp and a dwarf gourami. the gourami picks on him but my betta does not fight back. I've had my betta in with molly's which are very much like platy's. There should be no problem placing him in with the platy's. however you should watch him closely for a couple days to make sure. As for puffing out the gills "Future Mrs. Henry" is absolutely right. my betta acts all tough too, however i've seen my african dwarf frog put that fish is his place (he's actually a real wimp)
One little tip. if all is fine then all of a sudden he starts being a bully when you add more fish or no real reason then take him out for a couple weeks, create a new scenery in the community tank then plop him back in. this will make him a "new fish" and re-arrange the pecking order a bit. he'll usually calm down then.

depending on his attitude, he may be ok. but one problem i have found, is once you add him to that tank, those will be his only mates. anybody you add after him, he will chase and attack.

i had one in a 29g with some cats and tiger barbs, and everybody got along great. but when i added my CAE, he just tore after him, wouldnt let him sit at all.

Fish tanks are an expensive addiction