Killer Betta!

[willquinn]

I've had the betta for over a year, a nice blood red one with a hint of blue/purple sheen, he's been my favourite fish up until this week. Until now he was living happily with a few guppys, neons etc. I felt the tank was a little under stocked (70l tank) ,after a little negligence on my part, I'm ashamed to say a few fish had died. I've turned over a new leaf and bought a few extra plants and a couple more guppys. That was last week. Since then the Betta has savagely killed 2 guppys. I know it was the betta as I seen him about 4 months ago attacking a previous guppy, I thought at the time it was just because that one guppy was sick and considered it a one-off.

The strange thing is he killed one of the guppys that he had been living with quite happily for a good 7 or 8 months!

I'm thinking now I'll have to remove the betta and put him in a small tank on his own, thing is though, I'll have to buy a new tank for this and plants and stuff, could cost a little bit by the time it's all set up

Opinions?

BTW I think one of my Neons is preggers! She's got very big over the last week and never been that size since I got her a year ago! The tank had got into a pretty bad state, I change the water and added a lot of extra plants. I also added an extra light and I reduce the light level 1 hour before everything goes lights out! I've since learned this is a classic recipe for baby neons so wish me luck, just hope some survive as I've no extra tank to put them in.....

 

[Curiosity101]

It's highly unlikely you'll have neon fry unless you actually plan for them. I can't remember everything off of the top of my head, but the eggs are photosensitive so have to be kept in darkness to stand any chance of hatching.

Also I can't see any other way of fixing your tank other than seperating the betta. You could do this by buying him a new tank or separating off a section in the 70l using a tank divider.

 

[willquinn]

Don't like the idea of a divider though, it makes the tank look bad IMO so will get another tank methinks. So what you're saying is that it's very possible the neon will lay eggs, but they prob won't develop unless kept in a dark place?

 

[Assaye]

Neons almost never breed in home aquariums. I'd be more inclined to think the fish was constipated, had parasites or some kind of internal infection. Do you have test results for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate? How often do you do water changes? Stressed caused by sub-optimal living conditions can very easily cause fish to get sick.

The betta - unless you saw him do it you can't really say he did. Fish bicker all the time - one incident several months ago doesn't mean he's a killer. However, bettas tend to hate sharing tanks with guppies so it could have been him. He mightnot have apppreciated you adding more fish to his terriatory. IMO, bettas are better kept in dedicated betta tanks.

 

[Curiosity101]

That's not true Assaye. Neons often spawn... it's just that cause the eggs are so delicate you have to put a real effort in to hatch them.

 

[willquinn]

Yea the tank is now back to prime condition, Ammonia is 0, Nitites are 0 and Nitrates are 10 and it's been steady at that all week (tested every day since water change using Tetra liquid test kit). I had done a near 100% water change last Friday so 20% change due today but as far as stats are concerned everything's fine.

I'm pretty sure it's the betta as the tail has been bitten off, I've seen the Betta perform this exact manouver a few months ago, The Betta is the only fish in the tank big enough to do it.

He basically grasps the tail and shakes the guppy about until either he looses grip on the tail or the tail fins come apart, in this case the tail fins came apart.

 

[Assaye]

That's not true Assaye. Neons often spawn... it's just that cause the eggs are so delicate you have to put a real effort in to hatch them.

Ah!

Thanks for the information =)

 

[silverrabbit]

I think moving the betta is best - he is obv seeing the guppies as colourful competition, and they can quite often fight.

Hopefully you can get a tank sorted out soon have you looked on ebay or anything? Sometimes some good bargains on smaller tanks. He'll need preferably 4-5gals for is tank, but could be done with 3gals if there aren't any better options

 

[willquinn]

I have a 3gal which I use for quarantine, I'll give it a clean out I think and stick him in there. He'll have to make do with fake plants for a while though. Don't have a light for it either so he'll have to do with daylight until I get something sorted. ah well it's his own fault for making life difficult for himself lol.

 

[Shred]

ah well it's his own fault for making life difficult for himself lol.

Well not really, if you had researched before you bought your fish you would have known that most bettas don't do well with guppies.

 

[Curiosity101]

Well not really, if you had researched before you bought your fish you would have known that most bettas don't do well with guppies.

^^ Seconded. It's his job as a mature male betta to defend his territory against anything that resembles another male betta.
When you go him he wont have been fully matured, and also didn't see the tank as his territory. But had you done a bit of research beforehand then you would have been ready for this.
Often people want to mix guppies and bettas. We always give them the warning that it's likely the betta wont accept them, but even if he does it's no guarantee of peace and you should always have a back up plan.

Having said that, the 3gal sound perfect as a temporary home for him. Just be careful that the plastic plants don't have sharp edges he could catch himself on. And make sure you keep on top of his water quality. Good luck.

 

[willquinn]

#92### this place has no sense of humour! naw, the plastic plants are fine, he lived with most of them for over a year until I got the real ones.

I wouldn't agree that everyone on here says not to mix bettas and guppys, there are actually a lot of conflicting advice goes on about it. When I first mixed guppy and betta it was fine, no probs so assumed adding a few extra wouldn't hurt, but obviously it did.

anyways ta for the advice

 

[willquinn]

ok the betta was looking quite stressed out when I went to clean out the tank at about 1pm. I noticed he had just killed another Guppy! He was just lying on the gravel and when another guppy swam past, he chased it. I intercepted to stop him attacking, I held him in a keep net and got the other tank prepped.

I moved the other tank to my bedroom, have put gravel from current tank and water as well (with a small water change to freshen it) in to the tank and got it up to temp. It's only a small 3 gal so didn't take long to heat up.

He's looking a bit better now so will keep updated. I reckon he may have been stressed with all the little guppys swimming around. Well now he has his own space so he should fair better

Thanks for all the advice so far BTW, much appreciated.

Have to go to lfs now to get a cheap quarantine tank and heater. Will also need a moisture cover for betta tank and maybe a small light.

 

[loraxchick]

for what its worth, ive never had a problem with bettas and guppies. i raise my fry in my betta tank until they are big enough to go back in with their parents. make sure there is enough cover for everyone.
think about making a small filter out of and airpump and fishfood container for the betta's new home. i will gladly give you instructions if youd like. all my betta tanks (from 2-6gal) have diy sponge filters. they work great and are very simple to make.
cheers

 

[willquinn]

Hey, I'd really appreciate the instructions if you don't mind.

Thanks