BE WARNED!!

[eudielynn]

I knew all the pros and cons of putting a betta in a community tank and I have told many others that it just depends on the betta if it can live in a community tank or not. I have always been able to keep a betta in a community tank without any major problems. That is until yesterday...

I always check my babies before I go to work in the morning and when I get home in the evenings. Everything was fine yesterday morning. Very peaceful. Yesterday afternoon when I got home and checked on the tank, I found the carcass of my little golden gourami Prince, laying right out in the middle of the tank and the other fish eating him. I was broken hearted because I'd kept him alive when the other golden gouramis attacked him and almost killed him. Treated him for weeks for all kinds of infections and fungus. He was finally starting to grow his fins back and was able to swim around like a normal fish again.

I'd barely gotten over finding him, when I found my little guppy girlie, Trixie floating in a back corner of the tank. I was devastated. She and her sister Dixie were the sweetest little girls with a lot of personality. Dixie was hiding in the corner obviously terrified.

It didn't take long to figure out why. Booker, my betta, was stalking her. I yanked him out and put him in a critter keeper for the time being until I can get something permanent set up for him.

I had no indication that this was going to happen. Booker has been in the tank since I got him in early May when Jericho died. He has gone after the ghost shrimp a couple of times, but never any of the other fish.

This will be the last time I ever put a betta in a community tank. I know it is not Booker's fault. It is his nature. But it is my fault for putting him in a community tank and allowing him access to kill Dixie and Prince. They didn't deserve to be trapped in there with him and I am beating myself up because I let it happen.

If you are considering putting a betta in a community tank, please don't do it if you value your other fish. If you already have a betta in your community tank, be prepared, your peaceful community tank can turn ugly in a moment's notice.
Mine looks very empty and sad right now.

 

[Mariah]

I am very sorry for your loss

 

[OrkyBetta]

Very sorry to hear of your loss. It must have been heartbreaking.

Not meaning to make you defensve or offend anyone, but it is stories like this that I want to bring up to people who say "my betta is better off in a community tank" or if they think they have mild mannered bettas. It is hard to tell the temperment of a betta until it has injured something.

Once again, sorry for your loss. gourami and guppy!

 

[OohFeeshy]

OOI, had he started bubblenesting? I've found mine are fine until they start, then they get territorial.

 

[BettaMomma]

Aaah, I'm so sorry to hear this.

Hang in there, and DON'T feel guilty or beat yourself up about this. You were doing what you thought was good for your fish. You love them, and they knew that.

Maybe you can transfer Hunter (I think it's Hunter that will be going into the minibow if I remember right) into his new tank and give Booker his old one?

Keep your chin up.

 

[SRC]

This is that inevitability that I always post about in the "betta in community" threads.

I'm sorry you lost your 2 fish, that really sucks.


Maybe your loss will move others to not keep their bettas in confined spaces with other fish.

I am a firm believer that it may not happen today or tommorrow or next month..but eventually this can and will happen. For whatever reasons...Bettas will just snap and go off. I guess they can only take it for so long, or something...and until they create a device that allows us to ask them personally...I'd say just don't do it at all. It's just not worth the risks IMHO.

2 still alive fish is worth more then a betta in a community setting. (following the old addage...2 birds in the hand is worth more then 1 in the bush)

Trixie and Prince

 

[eudielynn]

Orky-No offense taken. I know how tempermental they can be. I had thought about taking him out several times before because he had trouble with the current from the filter, but I thought it would be cruel to move him to a 1 gal tank after he'd been in a 20 gal. That's what I get for thinking.

Ooh - No, he has never bubblenested. The current in the 20 gal was too strong for him. He liked to stay at the bottom of the tank in his cave unless he was going up for air.

Mariah - Thank you.

BettaMomma - That's exactly the same thought I had. But it's hard not to blame yourself, when you've been told so many time that this could happen.

SRC - That is why I posted here about it. I hope it may stop someone else from losing their babies if they know it can happen anytime.

 

[OrkyBetta]

Well, it is only a mistake if you do it again. Unfortunately it cost you two fish, but the rest are still ok. Sorry again. You were just trying to care about your fish.

 

[Saucy]

So sorry for your loss... it can be really hard. One thing, though (and no offense intended) is that gouramis and bettas are in the same family. It's REALLY bad to put them together because they're both really aggressive fish.

I hope your other little girlie guppy is ok and not too freaked out. And I hope you can find a nice home for your agressive little boy... obviously alone.

 

[eudielynn]

I was aware of that Saucy, but after having Jericho in there, who was so laid back, I guess I got spoiled. I had him in with 3 gouramis and never had a problem with any of them. Just different natures I guess. And yes, Booker will be residing in his own bachelor pad from now on.

 

[Saucy]

Yeah, it's so amazing how different their personalities can be. At least he'll enjoy his bachelor pad!

 

[Maroonostrich]

Nasty shock that, sorry for your losses, and so suddenly..


Errrr very aside here but your fish have GREAT names...

I don't want to show myself up here but did your fighter guys get their names somewhere specific... sorta tv related...?


Hope things go ok from now on.

 

[eudielynn]

Yes, you've figured out my secret. I'm a closet professional wrestling fan. I also have a bristle nose plec named Cactus Jack.

 

[Maroonostrich]

Yup, outed, and me too! ... I just finished watching the latest PPV so it was all kinda fresh in my head..!!

Cactus Jack for a bristlenose, most EXCELLENT!!

 

[eudielynn]

Thanks, I thought it fit. In addition to Jericho (deceased) and Booker, I also have Batista, Hunter, and Vince (of course).