Betta has had enough!

[Greeny]

My betta's tail has been nipped again by the Cardinals. Thankfully he's obviously had enough as he's flaring and chasing them around the tank. About time! He's far too docile normally.

 

[Salt]

You have him in the tank with a cardinal fish? They can be aggressive. My betta isn't even overly fond of baby guppies so I have him in a tank of his own.

 

[Greeny]

Yeah, they usually all get along fine but now and again the cardinals have a nip. My betta is a very docile fella but sometimes he has to show who's boss. He never actually attacks them, he just flares and chases them around if they get too close.

 

[Salt]

Yeah, they usually all get along fine but now and again the cardinals have a nip. My betta is a very docile fella but sometimes he has to show who's boss. He never actually attacks them, he just flares and chases them around if they get too close.

Fish definitely have personalities

 

[Greeny]

They sure do! My cardinals have been chasing each other for the past few days and I suspect they're getting a little too cock and decided to have a go at the betta. Hopefully they will think twice now as he's clearly annoyed. He's a lovely little guy but we all have our limits!

 

[Colin_T]

SEPARATE THEM

the male betta has had enough and can kill everything in the tank if it gets really pissed off

 

[Greeny]

On the contrary, he's calmed down now and peace reigns again. He's a very good natured little guy, sometimes he just has to remind his tank mates to behave themselves.

 

[Slaphppy7]

With very few exceptions, bettas do not belong with other fish

The betta may "seem" calm when you see him, but you can't monitor the tank 24/7....nipping and aggressive behavior can happen at any time

 

[Sgooosh]

With very few exceptions, bettas do not belong with other fish

The betta may "seem" calm when you see him, but you can't monitor the tank 24/7....nipping and aggressive behavior can happen at any time

my betta is so lazy
when i drop some food into the water, he just stares at me wondering what to do
i have to put my finger in the water and wiggle it for him to notice that there is food like a cm away
that's how i learned to hand feed my betta in a day LOL

 

[Greeny]

Thanks for all your comments but I have to say I must have the most docile of bettas. He really doesn't show any aggression and, even after yesterday's show of frustration, he just minds his own business. The cardinals swim alongside him without any fear and everything in the tank is back to normal. I get what people are saying about bettas but they really do have their own personalities and mine just has a very calm temperament...sometimes he's just too laid back for his own good.

 

[PlasticGalaxy]

Without any intention to patronise, you shouldn't only look out for the betta being aggressive. As you've said, the cardinals are nipping at his fins. This can stress him out and leave him withdrawn. Even if it's hard to detect just from looking at him, stress can really do a number on fish, especially territorial species like bettas.

Tetras - as I've noticed in species like Congo tetras, neons, and bloodfins - can act like bratty children sometimes, in that they pick on others way bigger than themselves and will end up getting themselves upset when the bigger bully fights back. As a result, both fish could become stressed and unhappy paired with one another.

 

[Byron]

Thanks for all your comments but I have to say I must have the most docile of bettas. He really doesn't show any aggression and, even after yesterday's show of frustration, he just minds his own business. The cardinals swim alongside him without any fear and everything in the tank is back to normal. I get what people are saying about bettas but they really do have their own personalities and mine just has a very calm temperament...sometimes he's just too laid back for his own good.

There is a serious misunderstanding here, and I am going to take the time to explain it in order to help you.

Bettas (male anyway) are not community fish. Their being docile has nothing to do with it, because the fish's inherent behaviours are in the genetic makeup of the species. Attacking other fish is their natural instinct, even though there may be some individual fish that do not show it--it is still there because that is part of what defines the species.

There is another side to this, and that involves the other fish. Placed in company with a betta, many normally peaceful fish become fin nippers; its something akin to waving a red flag in front of a bull. You will find a number of threads on this forum alone where this occurred.

We must recognize the requirements and needs of the fish we acquire, and be careful to provide what they need and eliminate what can harm them. The betta deserves his own space so he can be himself and free of stress.

 

[TheTenthDoctor]

You have him in the tank with a cardinal fish? They can be aggressive. My betta isn't even overly fond of baby guppies so I have him in a tank of his own.

I think they meant cardinal tetras

 

[TheTenthDoctor]

Just to drop my two cents in here.....personally I have kept bettas as community fish....it really depends on the betta, some were super peaceful and were fine with the bottom dwellers, others chased them and had to be removed. It depends on the fish. I found that raising the betta, since babyhood is the most effective way to keep them as a community fish. Otherwise its a hit and miss game. Frankly its better to keep the betta by themselves or to have them with peaceful bottom dwellers.

 

[woyzeck]

Spot on Doctor Who, and to run further with it, it can be little things like lighting, fish colour clashes, inadequate or not enough hiding spaces for a breather and water quality fuelling a fight. My male Spadetail (Disco) as soon as I turn up the light setting runs around the tank going "you looking at me Pal ?" Otherwise he's sweet az, and that's with 4 femaile Bettas, 2 angel Fish, 2 Gourami, a few Mollies, handful of Endlers that look like theyre out of the movie TRON, various other Tetras, Swordtails and a few others in 200 Litre tank..

When introducing new tank mate(s) - its timing, subtly, (after youve feed the community, minimal immigration, changing the scenery). My advice is reach for the lasers and go for it, it is your tank. but probably best to have a rescue tank if things do get nasty.

I did however lose patience with the dwarf rasboras, (friggin goon squad) and colourful male Guppies just wont mix Bettas, instant fight club..