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[naomilovesherfish]

hi i have had my betta 3 weeks now he was fine with his tank mates until today now i have a guppy with barely a tail.
what to do with him??

the culprit

naomi
xxx

 

[wilsonnw8]

Yes Guppys arent good tank mates for bettas they see their long flowing tails and think they are a threat and so attack, bettas are really better off kept alone but Im sure people on here can give you a list of good tank mates, general rule is no guppies and no tetras.

 

[naomilovesherfish]

Yes Guppys arent good tank mates for bettas they see their long flowing tails and think they are a threat and so attack, bettas are really better off kept alone but Im sure people on here can give you a list of good tank mates, general rule is no guppies and no tetras.

he has only gone for this one which is a red tux i have a yellow cobra guppy which swims right past his mouth everyday and doesnt budge. he doesnt bother with the females. he likes to lay on top of the filter so i wonder if this poor guppy was in the wrong place at the wrong time. i have no where to move him to, any suggestions??

naomi
xxx

 

[tibby25731]

Either rehome him or the guppies unless you want a massacre on your hands Not a good mix, and now he has attacked once, I am pretty sure he will continue.

 

[Truck]

Livebearer + betta splendens = disaster.

 

[naomilovesherfish]

oh dear oh dear, looks like i will have to get rid of him the place which i bought him from will most likely take him back in exchange for some other fish. dont want to have to get rid of my guppies had them since i first set my tank up. will miss him thou such a beautiful fish

naomi
xxx

 

[Honeythorn]

Or if you have space ( and I would find it difficult to believe that anyone doesn't )you could set up a temporary tub tank for him until you either have room for or can afford a glass tank.

To be fair, tub tanks are fine as permanent homes, they just don't looks so snazzy.

All you need is a large clear plastic storage tub ( wilkinsons sell big ones for a fiver, but one half the size of the £5 one will be fine ) with notches cut out of the lid for any wires to come out, a sponge filter, a small heater ( no it won't burn the plastic ) and some fake plants for him to hide in. Gravel or other substrate for the bottom is entirely up to you.

Although to be honest, most pet shops have large clear plastic tanks that are fine for bettas for under or around £10 . Or look for a second hand tank in the paper or on Ebay.

Your choices are endless and none of them involve taking the betta back to the shop.

I would also complain to the store as they should have told you that Bettas and Guppies are very well known as being very incompatible fish due to male guppies having long bright tails.

 

[naomilovesherfish]

Or if you have space ( and I would find it difficult to believe that anyone doesn't )you could set up a temporary tub tank for him until you either have room for or can afford a glass tank.

To be fair, tub tanks are fine as permanent homes, they just don't looks so snazzy.

All you need is a large clear plastic storage tub ( wilkinsons sell big ones for a fiver, but one half the size of the £5 one will be fine ) with notches cut out of the lid for any wires to come out, a sponge filter, a small heater ( no it won't burn the plastic ) and some fake plants for him to hide in. Gravel or other substrate for the bottom is entirely up to you.

Although to be honest, most pet shops have large clear plastic tanks that are fine for bettas for under or around £10 . Or look for a second hand tank in the paper or on Ebay.

Your choices are endless and none of them involve taking the betta back to the shop.

I would also complain to the store as they should have told you that Bettas and Guppies are very well known as being very incompatible fish due to male guppies having long bright tails.

he explained about this at the pet shop but told me they would be fine as they have already been mixed with fish. i think it would be best to rehome him as i have two guppies ready to drop and a platy, and i have a tank of baby fry from a comet, i would not have time to care for him properly and if someone else could care for him, i believe this would be better for him.
dont want to get rid but thinking of him and my poor little guppy thats suffering to swim properly because he has barely got a tail.
thanks
naomi
xxx

 

[Honeythorn]

He is either misinformed or lying. Just because they have been mixed with other fish doesn't mean they won't suddenly attack. They are called fighting fish for a reason. A guppy's bright long tail is like a flapping rag to an angry bull. Just not worth the risk.

I hope you find a good home for him.