Aggression Or Curiosity?

[Kekmet]

Hi all, I have another weird question, this one about fish personality! (And a couple other things.)

Anywho, I have just recently purchased a blue and white halfmoon from the lfs (lovely boy, just a little nip on the tail when I got him, will get a picture if I can!) He's been added to a 5-gallon with a couple small peppered cories, probably about a quarter of an inch or an inch right now. They've been coexisting for a few days, but I have never kept a community tank and some of the betta's behavior is puzzling me.

The first few days he was darting around the tank, and I figured- fine. He's getting used to the size of it after being in that tiny cup for so long. He also freaks out whenever I turn on the filter, which has lead me to turn it off for now until I can get a quieter one with less current.

All of that is pretty normal- he flares at the cats and at me- but I think he's stalking the cory cats. Either that, or he's curious.

He will approach them slowly, not flared, getting slower the closer he gets. They will either FLEE or turn around, which makes him swim for it. He also 'stalks' the end of the filter and heater.

So far, I haven't seen any nipping evidence on the fins or anything. The cories seem pretty relaxed, the betta only seems anxious when the filter is on and when he's 'stalking.' Is this normal behavior? When should I start worrying?

 

[Just_Another_One]

My betta boy does the stalking thing as well. I think most of them do anyway, they are very curious creatures.

Its so funny and entertaining to watch them stalk. After 3 years of my guy living alone in a 6 gallon I decided to try him with some albino corys. That didn't work out so well as he would slowly stalk around behind them for a bit then violenlty attack them. they were immediatly removed

I would only worry if you start to notice him attacking the cories or you can check their fins for bite marks and promptly remove one or the other if needed.

As for the filter you can try some Nylon pantyhose over the output to "dilute" the current a bit so it doesn't bother him as much.

 

[bronzecat]

Hi
If you leave your filter off, the beneficial bacteria will die and kill your filter, thus rendering the media useless.

 

[Kekmet]

There has been no nipping, and no signs of it- just stalking. Thinking about it now, I doubt he's ever seen anything like the cories before, but the cories were in a community tank with tetras at the lfs.

I've been running the filter in 15-minute intervals several times a day- would that keep the filter material OK, or is it just an exercise in futility? I'll try the pantyhose trick once I can... pick up some.

He is finally- finally!- starting to explore some of the caves.