ALMOST aggressive betta

[KeddyPie]

I brought some new fish home today, They have limited color and are supposed to be compatible with Betta's. My betta is very relaxed, not timid, but has never shown aggression... Well, he chases my new fish... But he doesn't flare at all, and if he gets to the fish, he doesn't bite. Sometimes nudges it, and them swims away. He doesn't do this constantly, just randomly. They run like hell, and are quite afraid of the betta, so they stay away from him.

Since he's not doing any damage at all, not flaring, or showing normal signs of aggression... Is it possible he's just trying to play? He only does this occasionally, but he hasn't done it since their last feeding. He isn't aggressive to them at all except that chasing, and often is right next to them without any aggression... Does it sound like I'm safe to keep them together?

I think he just might be annoyed, because he is normally at the top, and these guys have been right up there, even though they're supposedly mid-water dwellers.

Thanks, Katy

 

[bettaboi]

what kind of fish r they

 

[KeddyPie]

They are Bloodfin Tetra's, the least nippiest of ALL tetra's!

 

[KeddyPie]

I suppose I'm not worried now, as after dinner, there has not been one single shase. The Bloodfins are finally calming down enough to go explore the tank, since they're not being charged at. I guess it was just his way of saying "I own the top 2 inches of this tank, go find somewhere else and there wont be an issue"

 

[KeddyPie]

I seem to have a problem with overly replying to my own post... I promise I'll work on that

Anyhow, reading the betta forum, I'm just getting more and more paranoid... So even though he's not bothering anyone, I think tomarrow I'll set up the five gallon I gave and move him on his own again in a bit... Or I'll stop reading the betta forum. I tell ya, those people scare you into keeping a betta away from any living thing if you read too much

 

[Kiarra]

I don't know much about the species in question, especially not in their relation to Bettas, but, if no one seems harmed, he leaves them alone, and they leave him alone, then things may be all right. I do believe that Bettas can go into community tanks when the proper species are added, though I wouldn't usually consider a Tetra of any sort to be one of the candidates, as the only Tetras I am familiar with (Neons) are terrible fin-nippers.

If you would feel more comfortable separating your boy from the Tetras, then, by all means, do so. But sometimes Bettas do fine in communities with blandly colored fish with short fins that don't nip.

 

[KeddyPie]

They try to stay a full tanks distance away from Mr. Betta at all times. But he has been chasing them around again...

I think I will leave him in there until I see an injury on a fish or watch one occur. As soon as I see a split fin or a scraped up fishie, the Betta is going back in isolation. It's nice to just have one tank, so I suppose I'll try and keep him there.

 

[Synirr]

Even if no fish has an injury, I'd move him if he doesn't stop chasing them in the next couple of days. Being constantly chased is very stressful for them and no fun at all

 

[JoLtNbolt]

Well... I have a fairly new 25 gallon tank with 6 madagascar rainbows... and then a week after they were put into the tank, I added 2 silver mollies. For the first day after i introduced the mollies, the rainbows were chasing the mollies, but after 1 day they stopped and now it seems that the rainbows have gotten used to having the mollies around. Perhaps this will happen with your betta and tetras... Good Luck!!!

 

[FalconStorm]

To be honest with you, I break one of the cardinal rules of betta keeping. I have a betta in a ten gallon with ten neons. He's a pretty laid back fish and they leave each other alone for the most part. Now, I don't recommend this to anyone, because I'm pretty certain that I am the exception rather than the rule. However, I wanted to say that my betta exhibits similar behavior, occasionally chasing the neons. Actually, he tends to herd them together. Sometimes, he will even flare at them. For 3 1/2 months, there have been no deaths. My neons are so laid back that they don't even freak out when I'm siphoning the tank anymore. They are comfortable enough in their environment to spread out instead of shoaling constantly and the betta's fins are completely whole with no nips whatsoever.

I think your fish can probably get along. The betta is probably feeling a bit territorial since he was there first. Something you could do is to remove all of the fish, rearrange the tank decorations and plants, then add them back in at the same time. What that will do is create a whole new territory and the betta will feel like the tetras have always been there, so they belong.

Also, as long as the chasing is not constant, I think you're fine. Bettas have very distinct personalities and they do like to play. Give it a few days. Watch for injuries and be prepared to move the betta if need be, but I think if you give it a week or two, things will settle down and they'll get along just fine.

 

[abstract]

Well... I have a fairly new 25 gallon tank with 6 madagascar rainbows... and then a week after they were put into the tank, I added 2 silver mollies. For the first day after i introduced the mollies, the rainbows were chasing the mollies, but after 1 day they stopped and now it seems that the rainbows have gotten used to having the mollies around. Perhaps this will happen with your betta and tetras... Good Luck!!!

i know you weren't looking for advice with this post, but 6 madagascar rainbows in a 25 gallon + 2 mollies is just a nightmare waiting to happen....these rainbows get 5-6" each and grow pretty fast....not to mention mollies also get fairly large...you will need to rehome the rainbowfish in the very near future...they should be in at least a 45 gallon tank IMO

 

[SRC]

I can speak from experience with neons...don't move them around very often. The least amount of times moving them out of the tank the better. They stress out veeeery easily. I had to take mine out this last time (I had 7..and I've had them for quite some time..all healthy up until..i\I decided) to clean the tank out really good (as I hadn't in quite a while and the ornaments had some algae on them)..and I thought it'd be better to take the neons out while I rambled around in there.

Boy was I wrong. Since you have to chase them around so much (little buggers are fast as greased lightning) it really stressed them out. Having to be confined to a smaller tank while I cleaned the larger one stressed them out. Then being put back in the tank and things had been moved around...evidently was the final straw. Out of 7 only 2 are still alive...and those 2 look mighty poor . Very pale and lethargic.

I feel like a jerk for having done it, but then again I didn't figure it would have stressed them to that point either. But it did..so just a warning that it could happen.

 

[FalconStorm]

Hmm...I have found this to be true as well, although the most that I have ever lost were one per move and usually it was the move from the LFS. I put that there as a suggestion. Really, if they seem to be calming down, I'd leave them as is, myself. That's a good point, SRC. Thanks for bringing it up.

 

[LifeBear]

SRC, now you can add having a small school to the list of things that have stressed out your neons. If you can, I would add a few new members to their little family.

Most worries about bettas being with other fish are either fin nipping by the others or aggression by the betta. So, if they aren't nipping him and he isn't beating them...leave them if you like. Be alert for any changes in the "group dynamic" and be ready to re-house Mr. Betta, but don't stress yourself out too much about it. Things seem to be going fine.

 

[SRC]

Well there are 4 harlequin rasboras in there and 4 pristella tetra's too (now)...the neon stock at the store didn't look healthy..so I didn't buy anymore. When these die..I'm gonna get another rasbora and another pristella to make each group have 5.