Weird Betta behavior?

[revdon64]

I recently set up a 5gal freshwater tank on my office desk with the sole intention of keeping a male betta for their noted amusing behavior. My lovely wife bought me a TopFin model with a cartridge filter that hangs inside the tank. It's nice for bettas as it doesn't create a current, something I know bettas don't care for. When the tank was cycled, I introduced a black orchid half-moon male betta into the habitat. The only other living things in the tank at the moment are two green corys, a mystery snail, and some anubias nana that's wilting a bit.

Anyway, I came into my office yesterday and noticed that the betta was gone. I thought maybe he got wedged between some decor and the side or something, but I couldn't find him. I took the lid off the tank to get a closer look, and I saw an iridescent flash inside the filter. This silly fish was in the filter box, alive. I dumped him out, back into the tank and reset the filter. Ten minutes later, he was gone again. Seems he can get in and out of the filter box at will. Should I be worried about this? Does anyone have ideas about how I can prevent him from getting in there? I think he thinks he's Nemo.

I'll try to attach a video.

 

[gwand]

Male betta prefer to live alone. The mystery snail is fine, although my betta bit off the snails antenna. But the corys may be the problem.

 

[MaloK]

If a betta can get inside any filter... There's a problem there. What is the model of that "thing" ?

 

[sharkweek178]

Male betta prefer to live alone. The mystery snail is fine, although my betta bit off the snails antenna. But the corys may be the problem.

Not to mention that corys are a schooling fish that need to be kept in a group of 6 at the very least. Preferably more.

 

[MaloK]

Not to mention that corys are a schooling fish that need to be kept in a group of 6 at the very least. Preferably more.

In fact betta imo should never be kept with any armored fish that cannot live nearly hidden.

Their dorsal fin spine bone can and will be used as a very effective weapon.

It really depends on the fish. Some betta are a lot chiller than others.

 

[sharkweek178]

In fact betta imo should never be kept with any armored fish that cannot live nearly hidden.

Their dorsal fin spine bone can and will be used as a very effective weapon.

It really depends on the fish. Some betta are a lot chiller than others.

I believe that even the ones that are chill shouldn't be kept with other fish. They might not act on it, but they are still territorial. The presence of other fish stresses them.
When I got mine and put his bag in the tank to temperature acclimate him, he immediately started flaring at the snails. And when he could, he killed them. Only snail free tank I have. I can't imagine he would tolerate another fish.

 

[revdon64]

If a betta can get inside any filter... There's a problem there. What is the model of that "thing" ?

It's the filter that came with the tank - TopFin ES-F.

 

[revdon64]

So if the corys are the problem, could I move them to my 35gal tank and move a black loach to the 5gal as cleanup crew?

 

[MaloK]

His he jumping in the top part of the output ? like he is trying to go up the current.

If it's the case he's trying to see what is further upward. Curiosity kills the cat. check if you can put something to prevent that.

If he's trying to go up the filter at the moment... I still wouldn't think any of the fish you have represent any menace if not directly challenged.

 

[revdon64]

His he jumping in the top part of the output ? like he is trying to go up the current.

If it's the case he's trying to see what is further upward. Curiosity kills the cat. check if you can put something to prevent that.

If he's trying to go up the filter at the moment... I still wouldn't think any of the fish you have represent any menace if not directly challenged.

He's going in the outflow which is below the water level. As I mentioned, the whole filter box is inside the tank (something I'm not familiar with outside of a spnge filter). It takes two small cartridges like any other cartridge filter, but there's room inside for water to flow around the cartridges. It almost seems like he likes the dark flowing water.

 

[Essjay]

move a black loach to the 5gal as cleanup crew?

No, no other fish with a betta, and not in a 5 gallon.
You are the clean up crew.

Is there any way to attach some sort of mesh or net across where the betta is getting in?