Tetras nipping Betta

[Whales7]

my neon tetras (10) have been nipping my betta to the point where he spends most of his time hiding and not coming out. He even blew out his fin flaring at them. They were both introduced last week to my twenty gallon which until now has just had corys. I’m wondering if I should move the tetras to my dad’s tank (sixty gallon, five angels, one gourami and one discus) but they are so small I feel like they would die. Otherwise I will probably take them back to the store or try to add more plants to the tank to prevent territorial nipping. What do you guys suggest?

 

[squidneh]

I would say take them back to the store. This is a known issue having tetras with bettas. You either get lucky and they leave the betta alone or they don't.

Adding plants is an option, but might not work and you may lose your betta by the time you figure out it didn't work.

 

[Byron]

This is exactly what one should expect. Male bettas are not community fish and should always be on their own. Small fish like any of the tetras often find fin nipping bullying fun when placed in close confines to a sedate betta with its flowing fins. This is not at all unexpected and it is normal behaviour. In reverse, some Bettas are so inflamed by the tetras they will attack them; I had a Betta easily eat a neon many years ago before I learned this.

Certainly separate them immediately. The stress this causes to the Betta is considerable and may become irreversible, meaning the Betta will have further problems and a shorter lifespan.

 

[Colin_T]

Hi and welcome to the forum

Besides what the others have mentioned, if you put the neons in a tank with big angelfish or big discus, they could get eaten. They do need to be separated from the Betta but if you have no other options, perhaps get a breeding net and put that in the tank with some plants, then put the Betta in the breeding net. it will keep them separate and will buy you some time to work out what you are going to do.

The best option is getting another tank for the neons.

 

[Whales7]

Thanks for all the advice. I will probably take the neons back. I should have consulted a forum before I bought them, since a lot of fish websites say neon tetras can be beta tankmates. If that doesn’t work out I will get the beta his own tank.