New Fish... Please Help

[saykota]

I am new to fishes. I have a several tanks. My smallest is my 10 gallon tank. I use my 10 gallon tank as my starter tank. Atleast its the concept I have, that the small fish will get big enough to put in my bigger tanks. For about 2 weeks I've had a dinosaur eel (Polypterus) and dragon fish in this tank. Well I bought a betta today and put him in there. He was doing good but I walked away to go get food for them and I come back and half his tail is gone. I think it was the dinosaur eel because hes the only one who swims. My dragon fish doesn't come out of his hiding spot unless he comes to eat, so I don't believe it was him.

I don't know what to do. I don't want my betta to get hurt but I want colorful fish in that tank... and to get bigger. Now my betta is scared. He just stays in the corner. I need advise. I once had my dinosaur fish in my big 110 gallon tank but he is with much larger fish and he is scared. The fish has never bothered him but i felt bad for him so I moved him into my 10 gallon tank. But now that hes picking on my betta I don't know whether to move him into the big tank, move the betta into a tank by him self (one of those smaller tanks) or just to leave them alone... they'll get over it idea.

I hate my betta being so scared.... Please help!! Plus I want to be able to add other fish. What should I do??

 

[xostrawberryox]

Yep move the betta into a separate tank, theyre better off on their own. Their finnage is an attractive snack to some fish and bettas like to be territorial so he wouldnt get on with many other fish! What size are you thinking of moving the poor lil guy to??

 

[saykota]

I actally had to take him out last night earlier... I was going to let them try the night. He had more fins picked off him so I got him out. I'm thinking of getting another 10 gallon tank to make him happy in.... I feel so sorry for him. He looks so pathetic

 

[xostrawberryox]

A lot of people will argue against putting bettas in 10 gals as well as people argue that they love larger tanks. Bettas are very territorial lil things and especially as your betta is under stress from being attacked i wouldnt advise 10 gallons to himself until hes looking a bit better. Swimming around frantically to protect his 10 gallon territory would tire him out something chronic!
Does his flesh look white/grey around his face and belly? If it does, thats a sign of stress. Keep him in a smaller tank for the mean time, you can always upgrade in the future. Anything from about 1.5 gallons is great