Betta becoming more aggressive

[VulcanNinja]

This may be nothing, but I've noticed recently that my male metta is chasing a golden algae eater around my tank. He flares at it too. The AE has grown bigger in past months, and that may be what is setting him off. I doubt he has injured it, it can always get away, but I was just wondering if this is pretty normal, or should I be concerned.

It is a 10 gal.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I would be much more worried about the golden algae eater, more commonly known as golden CAE(chinese algae eater)- these fish have a reputation for becomming very terrotorial and vicious as they grow and tend to go on killing sprees in tanks- when they are small they are generally no problem in community tanks but watch out once it hits 4inchs+ as this is usually when their terotorial anti social behavior starts to kick in.

Your CAE will grow to 10inchs+ which is way too big for a 10gal and will need a tank of its own eventually since they are not community fish when adults. They will attack eyes. long flowing fins, skin and anything else they can get a hold on, your betta is a big target as it is not faster enough to avoid the CAE- your betta is most likely trying to make himself a terotory to protect himself from the CAE but since they are stuck in a small tank together, one of thems going to kill the other. personally i suggest your rehome the CAE as he'll need a large tank of his own at some point which you don't have currently and its behavior will shortly take a turn for the worse- they are most active at night so the best time to catch them out trying to kill other fish is 30mins after the tank lights have been turned off.

 

[VulcanNinja]

Is it possible for one algae-eater to eat another smaller one? I recently had one go missing.

This is not good, I don't really want to have anything bigger than a 10 gallon, since I dont own a house, and am always moving around. Do you think my LFS would take it from me?

 

[RandomWiktor]

Its worth asking. My LFS had the CAE labeled as a "community fish" that would only grow to 5 inches. Boy were they wrong! I had him in with my male betta, who harassed him often. As the CAE got bigger, he started fighting back, and finally latched right on to the betta's face when he came in to bother him. The betta was mildly injured, but recovered. The CAE now has his own tank.

 

[Bloo]

Please see my thread in the Chit Chat (in which you asked the same question - you should stick to posting to one section at a time ).

Do you have a Golden Chinese Algae Eater or and Otto ??

I'm confused.

 

[VulcanNinja]

Sorry haven't updated my sig in a while. I have 1 oto and 1 Golden Algae Eater. Come to think of it, I used to have 2 Otos, I had no idea the Algae eaters were so violent.