Red-eye Tetras Nipping My Betta

[MrNiceGuy]

I recently got myself a 20 gallon tank with a variety of small tetras, 2 corys, a weather loach, and a betta. After some trial and error with nipping tetras (red-eyes and silver-tips) I realized that the minimum number of each should be 6. Since then the silver-tips and the red-eyes have both stopped nipping other tetras, however the red-eyes have been taking cheap shots at my betta far too often. Today I noticed the betta taking charge a bit by nipping back and making a strong presence. I'm hoping this will eventually cause the red-eyes to lay off. As of now the betta spends most of his time in a hiding area he has claimed, although he does cautiously come out to eat and swim around every now and then. The red-eyes seem to only attack him when he is out in the open and his fins are an easy target. Is there anything simple that can be done about this? The betta is easily my favorite fish in the tank so I'd rather not remove him (especially because I have nowhere else to put him) and it would be very difficult to remove 6 red-eye tetras from my tank with all the plants and hiding places around. If anyone has any advice I'd really appreciate it.

 

[pippoodle]

seen bronze replying so thats all i can say

 

[bronzecat]

Hi and Welcome

I wouldn't leave it as it is Otherwise you are going to end up with dead fish. Thats the problem with housing a male betta with other fish, particularly Tetras. Its gonna end in tears

I would get a nice 5 gallon tank, heated and filtered, and give the betta some peace Or, divide off around a quarter of the tank with a tank divider to keep the betta seperate.

Andy

 

[LionMom]

I have tried twice over the years to have a betta in a "peacefull" community tank. Both times I lost the betta.

You don't have to keep hitting me over the head - no more bettas in a community tank for me!

 

[MrNiceGuy]

I have tried twice over the years to have a betta in a "peacefull" community tank. Both times I lost the betta.

You don't have to keep hitting me over the head - no more bettas in a community tank for me!

just out of curiosity, what ended up killing the bettas?

 

[LionMom]

I have tried twice over the years to have a betta in a "peacefull" community tank. Both times I lost the betta.

You don't have to keep hitting me over the head - no more bettas in a community tank for me!

just out of curiosity, what ended up killing the bettas?

Angels - young, small angels. The first was a veil tail & the second a plakat. Couldn't BELIEVE they got the plakat, but they did!!!

 

[MrNiceGuy]

I have tried twice over the years to have a betta in a "peacefull" community tank. Both times I lost the betta.

You don't have to keep hitting me over the head - no more bettas in a community tank for me!

just out of curiosity, what ended up killing the bettas?

Angels - young, small angels. The first was a veil tail & the second a plakat. Couldn't BELIEVE they got the plakat, but they did!!!

bummer, luckily I read somewhere to keep bettas and any other fish with long fins (like angels) apart. until then I was seriously considering mixing the two.

 

[LionMom]

Good for you! Sadly, I had to learn the hard way.

No, I just leave bettas on their own now and they seem to really enjoy it.

 

[GSD]

I have also learnt the hard way that bettas cant be kept with anything else.
I have tried tetras, livebearers, even catfish and eventually the betta ended up being nipped and dying from either stress, infection, or it was nipped to death. I only ever keep bettas on their own or with shrimp now.