New Owner, Is This Normal Behaviour?

[mfarrar]

Hi all,

I have just recently set up a community tank and have started off with a male beta and three platies. The platies are happy and respond to feeding etc, but the betta is behaving a bit odd, at first he was swimming all around the tank but now he stays on just on one side of the tank by the glass swimming backwards and forwards. He doesnt respond very well to feeding as he just seems to preoccupied with swimming backwards and forwards, but he eventually does notice the food and eats a bit. Is this normal behaviour or is there a problem. It is a 60x30x40cm tank.

 

[SoCalMom]

Are the platies picking on him? I'm not familiar with that type of fish, so I don't know their behavior. Male bettas really are better as solitary fish

 

[zippa]

i agree with mom. they should be kept alone. you may get some exceptions but i dont knwo about them and platties

 

[mfarrar]

The platties dont really take much notice of him, at first the betta would occaisonally flare up when one came too close but they would quickly move away from him so no harm done (no fin nipping). The guy in the store said they are fine in a community aslong as you dont get any fish that nip fins or any fish with long fins that the betta might attack.

 

[*Fishkies*]

He may just not be happy with the other fish. As bettas are not particularly community fish, however it is rare when they are. I would suggest you put him in his own tank. Be sure it is at least 1 gallon in size, however the bigger the betta for him.

Good Luck

 

[zippa]

i recently seen on a signature that a lfs is selling you something so they sont really care too much where as ppl on here give advice for free and they are betta keepers.

 

[SoCalMom]

The platties dont really take much notice of him, at first the betta would occaisonally flare up when one came too close but they would quickly move away from him so no harm done (no fin nipping). The guy in the store said they are fine in a community aslong as you dont get any fish that nip fins or any fish with long fins that the betta might attack.

In no way trying to be rude, but are you sure they aren't picking on him? Are you able to watch them at all times?

You could always get him his own 2-5 gal tank with an ADF or some ghost shrimp as company . You may find he'll be more happy

 

[faithless1294]

dont listen to any one in a store they dont no that much one place said danios and mollies are coldwater fish but are deffinetley not so i wouldnt listen to them but i personally keep all males on their own but many people have them in a community tank with good results but i wouldnt try that. no idea wat platties are like tho but i would not risk one of the fish getting killed.

 

[mfarrar]

I dont have the option of putting him in a seperate tank, I only have room for the one. If he was unhappy wouldnt he become slow and inactive and not eat? He is feeding and He is very active swimming around but just on the side of the tank. I was wondering wether it might be a territorial thing or maybe something about that spot in the tank he likes for instance the temperature?

 

[zippa]

maybe hes made that bit his

 

[SoCalMom]

I dont have the option of putting him in a seperate tank, I only have room for the one. If he was unhappy wouldnt he become slow and inactive and not eat? He is feeding and He is very active swimming around but just on the side of the tank. I was wondering wether it might be a territorial thing or maybe something about that spot in the tank he likes for instance the temperature?

Is the tank big enough to put a divider in, yet still have enough room on each side for him and the platties?

A 2-5 gal really doesn't take a lot of room. My betta is on my computer desk in his 2.5 gal and he only takes up about a foot of space

Here is a pic of my computer desk to show how little space his tank uses. Don't mind the terrarium lol

And I'm not trying to be pushy, just trying to show you

 

[mfarrar]

Wouldnt putting in a divider obstruct the flow of water from the filter?

How do you heat and filter a tank that size Mom?

I dont see them at night and when im at work but the tank is in my living room and I have been watching them a lot, and I haven't seen the platties approach the betta, they swim near him occaisonaly but not directly.

 

[SoCalMom]

Wouldnt putting in a divider obstruct the flow of water from the filter?

How do you heat and filter a tank that size Mom?

Don't dividers have the slats in them? I've never had to use one so I'm not sure lol

I use a Hydor mini heater. I don't use a filter. Filters aren't needed with bettas, although some people use them

 

[zippa]

i recently bought 2 dividers to replace the ones i had. and ive managed to remove heaters and extra filters as they have holes in them to allow water to pass thorugh them

Wouldnt putting in a divider obstruct the flow of water from the filter?

How do you heat and filter a tank that size Mom?

I use a Hydor mini heater. I don't use a filter. Filters aren't needed with bettas, although some people use them

i use a filter simply becaus ei have to crap machines in the tank to clean. a plec and a cory but mainly so i dont have to change the water as often. there set to minimum

 

[mfarrar]

ok well I have a couple of options to think about, I will give him a bit more time yet as it is early days so maybe he just needs more time to adjust. Thanks for the advice