Cave dwelling Betta

[Moe]

I got a betta for my tank bacause I wanted a fish that would hang out in the top half of the tank. I brought home this beautiful betta, put him in the tank he swam around for a while and then went into a cave. There was a red tail shark calling the cave home until this crazy betta came. The only time the betta comes out is to chase the shark. He actually flares his gill things and chases the shark. LFS said to give it a day or so and the shark would "put him in his place". It's been 3 days and still the betta is in the cave and the shark has started hanging out near some rocks (in shame no doubt). Has anyone ever heard of a cave dwelling betta?

 

[Alien Anna]

Your betta is probably terrified - my own experience of a red-tailed shark "putting a betta in his place" involved his fins being torn off. RTS are probably one of the worst tank mates for a betta - even if yours is relatively gentle, the stress of his presence could well lead to the death of your betta. If the betta isn't injured now I suggest you either take him back to the LFS or get him a tank of his own.

 

[Moe]

I don't think so. The shark is terrified, the betta seems happy.

 

[Alien Anna]

I don't think so. The shark is terrified, the betta seems happy.

OK - then take the RTS back to the LFS or get him his own (bigger) tank. Either way, we're agreed there's a major compatibility problem there?

 

[Kossy]

Those two fish living together is a big nono. You really should remove the betta or the rts. You could get the betta 5/10g tank and add a few females and corys or something Either way those two really need to be seperated

 

[Moe]

OK I'm taking the cave dwelling betta back to LFS. They told me it would be fine as betta stay on top and shark stays at bottom.

 

[Alien Anna]

OK I'm taking the cave dwelling betta back to LFS. They told me it would be fine as betta stay on top and shark stays at bottom.

Then they're idiots! But at least no fish were injured following their insane advice. I'd like a red-tailed black shark one day - I'd probably keep him in a species tank or with some compatible ditherfish. I had one once but it tried to eat my other fish - my male cherry is tailless to this day and my female betta was killed by him. I didn't know what I was doing at the time, which is sad, but we all live and learn.

I forgot to mention that my new betta is also a cave dweller, but he's very nervous and shy due to his difficult background (he was less fortunate than your fish and was ripped to shreds before he was returned to the LFS, from where I rescued him).