My betta is being tail is being nipped by neon tetras

[Coffeetoffee17]

I just got my betta fish about 2-3 weeks ago his name is Martinez as well as that I got 4 neon tetras recently the neon tetras started nipping at each other a few days later they started nipping at my betta he didn't react straight away when my tetras fell asleep he practically went up to each of them and flared it was the first time too that I have seen him get so angry at them he is usually very sweet. What do I do?!



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[LyraGuppi]

Separate them. Having bettas with other fish is very hit-or-miss, and it differs wildly from fish to fish. Sometimes, bettas will develop aggression after being kept with tankmates for too long, as yours might be doing.
A lot of members on here disagree with having tankmates in the same swimming zone as a betta for that reason.

 

[Demeter32]

Schooling fish like neons and other tetras often become nippy when they're not in a proper school of 6+
I'm not saying that adding more neons will fix the problem, but it will make the neons happier. I would be moving the betta to his own 5gal+ tank. I don't like keeping bettas with tetra species for this very reason. Bottom dwellers are the way to go if you insist on keeping bettas with other fish.

 

[Byron]

Adding more neons will not solve the problem, guaranteed. You must separate the fish. While having too few of a shoaling species will turn them aggressive (there is now scientific proof that this happens), here you exacerbate the problem by also having a sedate fish which to the neons is like waving a red flag in front of a bull.

Now other members will see why I so frequently write that Betta is not a community fish and should never be housed with other fish. Situations where this is alleged to work may still be harming the fish because they are sending out chemical signals even if no physical interaction occurs. But it is more than likely that over time it will get physical.

Betta should be on their own. It is cruel to the fish to do otherwise.

Byron.

 

[Coffeetoffee17]

Adding more neons will not solve the problem, guaranteed. You must separate the fish. While having too few of a shoaling species will turn them aggressive (there is now scientific proof that this happens), here you exacerbate the problem by also having a sedate fish which to the neons is like waving a red flag in front of a bull.

Now other members will see why I so frequently write that Betta is not a community fish and should never be housed with other fish. Situations where this is alleged to work may still be harming the fish because they are sending out chemical signals even if no physical interaction occurs. But it is more than likely that over time it will get physical.

Betta should be on their own. It is cruel to the fish to do otherwise.

Byron.

Thank you for the information I'm really new at this and while I was at the pet store they said that having neon tetras and betta together was not a problem so I was miss informed when I bought them I will admit that I rushed into it a little. I would never try to put my fishes in bad environment but I have nothing to seperate them with and I don't think my pet store has a return policy.


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[Coffeetoffee17]

Separate them. Having bettas with other fish is very hit-or-miss, and it differs wildly from fish to fish. Sometimes, bettas will develop aggression after being kept with tankmates for too long, as yours might be doing.
A lot of members on here disagree with having tankmates in the same swimming zone as a betta for that reason.

Thank you for the advice


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[Coffeetoffee17]

Schooling fish like neons and other tetras often become nippy when they're not in a proper school of 6+
I'm not saying that adding more neons will fix the problem, but it will make the neons happier. I would be moving the betta to his own 5gal+ tank. I don't like keeping bettas with tetra species for this very reason. Bottom dwellers are the way to go if you insist on keeping bettas with other fish.

Thank you for the advice I feel like the only option I have right now is two get a few more neons because I don't have another tank to seperate them with right now.


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[Byron]

Thank you for the advice I feel like the only option I have right now is two get a few more neons because I don't have another tank to seperate them with right now.


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No, please...getting more is not going to solve this. Once fish exhibit signs of aggression they do not change. You cannot somehow punish them into another path.

You are also describing issues from the Betta, his flaring at the neons. This too is common, some think because of the bright colouration. Whatever, there are two reverse problems and you need to remove either the Betta or the neons.

I appreciate the fish store misled you; sadly this is often the case. But the solution is still separation.

Byron.

 

[Demeter32]

Thank you for the advice I feel like the only option I have right now is two get a few more neons because I don't have another tank to seperate them with right now.


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Please don't get more to try fixing the problem. There will end up being more fish to nip the betta's fins. Highly recommend getting another tank or taking one or the other back. I only said to get more neons as 4 isn't a good number to keep them all happy. If you are set on keeping all the fish, then please get another 5gal+ tank for the betta. He will be much happier on his own.