Neon Tetras and my beta

[skateopia]

Hi! My beta i Know was attacked by my frogs that are all separated between three other tanks now, so he is missing some of his fins. I Know he was always at the top trapping himself between two plants too, that i had to move so he had more room.
I have 5 neon tetras almost 2 inches long.
I havent witnessed any aggression towards the betta, but is it possible for neon tetras to nip off betta fins?
Ty

 

[GaryE]

A lot has to do with the tank size. If it is too small, it's almost inevitable that a neons will try a taste. In a larger, deeper tank, they will probably ignore the Betta.
I never had nipping with cardinals, glowlights or rummy nose in with Bettas. In my teens, I had neons with Bettas, and it was never a problem. But as Betta fin sizes have gotten larger and larger though linebreeding, the fish are not very mobile and can struggle just to move normally. That would make them targets for almosr any fish looking for a snack. Getting their fins (which have no nerves) trimmed might even improve their lives.

 

[sharkweek178]

Even if they don't physically attack the betta, the betta is liable to be stressed by the just the presence of tank mates.

 

[GaryE]

It's a myth that Bettas live alone. There are other fish in their habitats. Even fancy bettas won't have lost their instincts. They do have to adjust as they are kept apart by farms to protect their money fins, but even then, they see other bettas all around them through the walls of their jars. One jar can have a view of 4 to 6 others, right there, centimetres away. There are hundreds of jars per table.

The fish have been bred to the point where their fins are a handicap, and that is an issue that affects them with other fish. If you purchase a Betta splendens with moderate fin growth as you would have seen 20 years ago, the fish is fine in a community. The fancier the finnage, the harder it is for the fish to function normally.

 

[Byron]

It is a two-way street, whether the neons will make the betta's life intolerable until the betta dies, or whether the betta will be frustrated with the colourful neons in his space and kill them in time (or sooner more likely). And make no mistake, the entire tank is the betta's territory.

I had a betta easily eat a neon as I sat in wonder many years ago. As for the neons nipping the betta, this is even more likely because the neons are in too small a group. There should be ten or more, not five or six. Scientific studies clearly proven increased aggression from neons (Paracheirodon inessi) when kept in such small (to the neons) groups. You are only asking for trouble, and this is just not fair to the fish.