Chewed Guppy Tail And An Angry Betta

[finalfantay85]

I bought some male guppies yesterday and added them to my tank with my flame tetra, copper harlequins and my betta. Overnight it looks as if the betta has gotten very teritorial and he's taken a sizable chunk out of the tail of one of the guppies.
The chunk taken out of the tail is large and almost right down to the body of the fish. He seems fine and is swimming around without and problems and is just as active as the rest of the guppies.
Could anyone give me any advice on healing his tail and also what to do about the betta as he's taken up residence under the filter and chasing anything that comes near him, including the tetra and harlequins that he previously left alone.
Thanks

I forgot to add that I got the betta and the guppies from the same supplier and they were previously kept together

 

[shane87]

he might of been added to the lfs tank after the guppys so it was ther tank, now that you have moved them and he was put in first hes took it as thats his territory, my male fighter was alrightwith corys till i removed them and then put them back in and he did nothing but bite them

 

[Curiosity101]

It is well know male bettas should not be mixed with male guppys. The male guppys long flowing fins seem to make male bettas think that the guppys are rival males.
Hence the betta has become extremely territorial to absolutely everything.

The only thing I can recommend is re-homing the guppys ASAP and then seeing if the betta calms down once the guppies are gone.

What size tank are they all in?

 

[finalfantay85]

It's a 57L tank.
He was kept with other guppies before i bought him so i thought he'd be ok with them. He's also started going after the tetra and harlequins too and these were in my tank before i bought him. I've just noticed that one of the tetra has had their tail nipped too.
I don't really want to have to give the betta away but I can't see any other alternative if he keeps attacking every other fish kept with him.

 

[Curiosity101]

You could get him his own 20l tank? If you have the room that is.

Alternatively I would re-home the guppies and see how he changes.

 

[finalfantay85]

I'm stuck for a few days til i can rehome either the guppies or the betta so do you have any suggestions on minimising the damage caused until then? Also is it worth getting some Melafix to try and heal up the bitten tails?

 

[Curiosity101]

Hmm, any chance you could pop to the shops and by a storage tub or something? If you can find a large storage tub (2gal+) then that would be fine to house the betta in for now.
I'd suggest the guppies stay in the main tank as ANY ammonia cauld cause real trouble due to having an open wound. But with daily water changes the betta will be fine for a few days in the storage tub.

Alternatively the only thing I can think of is putting the guppies or the betta into a breeding trap if you have one? Or a large plastic tub with holes in it floated in the main tank.

 

[finalfantay85]

I've got a large glass flower vase that is easily 2 gallons. I could keep him in there for a few days i have a spare pump to keep the water quality up but no heater to keep the temperature up. Would that do as an emergency stop gap measure?

 

[Curiosity101]

If it's a choice between that or some of the fish possibly being killed, then yes. Just find the biggest thing you can to put him in, stick it in the warmest room in the house with the filter (remembering to take some mature media out of your current tank), and he should be ok in there for a couple of days.
Oh you might also want to try and find a lid of some description. Don't want him jumping out!

 

[finalfantay85]

Thank you for the advice. I am gonna get him into a vase now and try and get him his own tank tomorrow. I will keep him near a radiator overnight to keep it warm.
Seeing as i need to set up the new tank in a hurry would it be best to syphon part of the water from my current tank into the new one and then top it up with fresh water?

 

[Curiosity101]

It depends, the nitrifying bacteria live in the filter not the water, so you don't move any across for this reason.
And if the tank water is very similar to the tap water in pH then you shouldn't have any problems just filling with de-chlored tap water.

 

[finalfantay85]

Thanks you've been a great help.
He's been stuck into the glass vase now and is being kept by a radiator for warmth. Already all the other fish in the tank are a lot happier without him in there and the betta has calmed down considerably.