Advice? My New Betta Is Aggressive!

[LRRoberts0122]

Please excuse me if this is in the wrong topic, I can not create a post anywhere else but this thread.

I had a Betta fish in a 10 gallon tank, along with 7 Harlequin Rasboras and a guppy (wild type). They all got along great. Unfortunately, my Betta passed. I recently got a new one about three or four days ago. He didn't seem to bother any of the fish, but today, I saw him aggressively attacking one of the Rasboras, and yesterday, he was chasing the guppy. Today, I also found a Rasbora with a nipped fin. It also looked like fin rot might have been developing, so I quarantined the affected Rasbora in a 1 gallon "goldfish" bowl, and put in half a teaspoon of aquarium salt, (conditioned the water), and put about a teaspoon of Melafix in there as well.

I have a quart Betta tank laying around that I also have for a secondary emergency quarantine, that I could put him in, but that seems a little inhumane.

What should I do?

Should I give away the Rasboras? I really love my Betta, and the tank was "made" for a Betta. Do you think he's just aggressive towards all types? He doesn't always seem to be chasing them, but I really don't want these fish to suffer.

What would YOU do?

Thank you for any help. It is very much appreciated.

 

[lilfishie]

hi, the problem with Bettas is, there all different, some will have tank mates like your old chap, others will tolerate certain tankmates some kill everything in sight

guppies are usually 1 to avoid when keeping bettas as they think its another male betta, personally i'd get a divider for now (you can get them off ebay search penn plax) so he can see the fish but not get to them, this should calm him down and get him used to having them about.

the other option would be to have him in a tank of his own

 

[LRRoberts0122]

Thank you. The guppy is wild, having no "rival" Betta colors. He's brown, with a little spot of black here and there. Maybe a small touch of yellow and orange here and there. There is a picture of him here: http/www.photobucket.com/theaquarium

Right now, I don't have any place to put him. Do you think I should get rid of the Rasboras? He wasn't acting like this at all until today. One fish is already hurt. I don't want any more to get hurt, either.

I'm also not sure if I should wait it out... Maybe he might accept the fish in a few days time?

Thank you for your input!

 

[lilfishie]

i take it Berry is your current Betta? Hes a Plakat, there usually more aggressive than longfinned bettas from experience, i have also found them to turn on tankmates more sudden, having 1 of mine kill a Cory more than double his size

Personally for a temperary thing i'd find a tub of some sort to float in the main tank for your betta, atleast until you can sort something out.

then we can decide what to do from there

 

[LRRoberts0122]

i take it Berry is your current Betta? Hes a Plakat, there usually more aggressive than longfinned bettas from experience, i have also found them to turn on tankmates more sudden, having 1 of mine kill a Cory more than double his size

Personally for a temperary thing i'd find a tub of some sort to float in the main tank for your betta, atleast until you can sort something out.

then we can decide what to do from there

Yes, Berry is the betta. He's not a Plakat, he's a Dragonscale; He's only about a month old; His fins haven't even had the opportunity to grow long. I do have a one-qt. rectangle... bowl... tank... "thing" that I could put him in if need be. :[ But I'd really hate to. I can probably get another tank in the next week or so, though my boyfriend would KILL me. He's mad as hell I have a two tanks (esp. a 60-gallon). If I got one more, boy would he be angry. He's the type to say "if they die, so what" but I don't believe in animal cruelty!

I might be able to put the Rasboras in with my Oscar. He's a baby right now, so he wouldn't be able to eat the Rasboras. Right now, they're too big. I have 10 guppies in there now, which he won't eat. I think I've got him loving the insects a little too much, hehe.

***EDIT: On second thought, he may be. It's a little disappointing. I was really hoping for a long-finned betta fish. He has gorgeous colors though. Might be good to breed him.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

This is true that all bettas are different. My boy Flare is in a 10g with a school of harlequins, and occasionally jumps at them, but has never hurt them. I have been monitoring that. I have another Betta that doesnt like plants and filters, and another that is just chill. I had a betta in the past that would flare at ME! The divider does seem like the best option. I wouldn't put the harlequins in the 60g. You may find yourself going to get them and missing a few. I hope that whatever you do works out.

 

[loraxchick]

if you cant get another tank, take the betta back. Simple.
cant train them not to attack. He certainly sounds like an aggressive one. would not be fair to put the rasboras in with the oscar, even if he is small. He will grow faster than you can imagine and then what.
see if you can trade for a new boy. might have more luck than with this one.
sorry, but thats the reality of the situation
cheers