Siamese Fighting Fish Being Attacked

[danielc2384]

I purchased a siamese fighting fish a couple of days ago and had him in a fairly small tank. He wasn't moving around or eating at all for those two days so I moved him into my tropical aquarium.
He still isn't eating but is swimming around. He hasn't been chasing any fish at all in the aquarium but is being chased by the clown loach.

I have I have 8 tetras and 1 clown loach in the tank. The clown loach is the tank bully.

I heard that the clown loaches are supposed to be really peaceful fish and the siamese fighting fish are supposed to be the aggressive ones.

What can I do to stop the clown loach from attacking?

Also does anyone know why the siamese fighting fish wont eat? (he looks perfectly healthy).


Thanks

 

[Corleone]

Bettas are aggressive to their own kind and sometimes fish with long fins or bright colors that look enough like their own kind. In a community, they're more likely to be victims than bullies, since fish with even the slightest nippiness in their nature can't resist taking a go at their fins.

Anyway, clown loaches get a good size and are social fish. Since you only have one, that would be my first guess. Shoaling fish kept alone sometimes show odd behaviors. They may become shy and reclusive or they may become defensive and lash out at any perceived threat. You also do occasionally get "rogue" fish that are just more aggressive than is normal for their species.

Bettas are pretty prone to stress, just considering how they're transported and kept at the store. Mine took several days to start eating. Make sure the water quality is pristine and they'll usually come around. Putting him in with the other fish when he's not eating isn't a good idea - if he has a disease but isn't showing physical symptoms yet, it may be passed to the other fish, and if he's simply stressed, being around other fish is more likely to add to that than fix it.

 

[Athena]

Personally, I would have left him in the smaller tank on his own. He won't fair too well in the community tank - tetras are notorious fin nippers and with such long finnage as the Betta has, they will soon start at him. Also, if you have a clown loach that is bullying the Betta, this will cause stress and could lead to your Betta developing an illness.

Don't worry about him not eating at the moment - this is common in Bettas. It can take them a while to settle into their new surroundings. Also, you may not be feeding him what he is used to eating.

What have you tried him on? Are you using just flake food? If so, not many Bettas will take flake food so you may want to try him with some frozen foods - e.g. Daphnia, Blood worms, tubiflex etc - even better for a weekly treat would be some live baby brine shrimp. Once a week give your Betta a little crushed pea to help its digestion (especially if you have fed bloodworms in that week).

So my advice is really to take him out of that stressful tank and put him on his own. Most Bettas seem to flourish when in a tank on their own.

Hope that helps - Athena

 

[danielc2384]

Thanks for the advice guys.
He seems to be doing ok with the other fish. He is leaving them alone and they are leaving hm alone.
The clown loach has backed off a little but the second the beeta takes a glimpse of the clown loach is runs.


I'm going to feed them in an hour and if he doesn't eat I'll just move him back to his original tank.

He just seems so much happier where he is Swimming around in warm water with plenty of room.
He looked so depressed in that little cold water tank.

edit: I have been putting flake food into the tank. Not interested at all in it.

 

[tibby25731]

Hi there

Well he wouldn't be happy in a cold water tank, bettas need tropical temperatures! Get a small heater for the little tank and he will be very happy I am sure. My bettas live at 80 degrees. What size is the little tank? As long as it is a gallon or more (preferably 2 or bigger) then he will be very happy by himself. And a filter is always a good idea for a betta unless you want to water change every few days. Pop over to the betta section and you will get plenty of advice and support there. But really, I would move him - I once had a betta in a community tank - the tetras nipped him to death And they are such fun fish once they have settled in, full of personality! Give him his own space.

Oh, and lastly - most bettas will not take flake! lol. They are fussy eaters. get some Hikari betta pellets if you can, most bettas will eat these and they are only about £1.50 for a pack that will last ages. Feed him about 6 a day, in 2 or 3 feedings if possible. And occasional bloodworm and daphnia for a treat!

 

[danielc2384]

^ Thanks for the advice. I thought all Bettas ate flakes. I had a betta years ago and was fine with flakes.
I'll drop past the aquarium tomorrow and buy some Hikari betta pellets. I wouldn't be able to put a heater in the other tank. It's way to small to fit.

It has been around 8 hours now since I put him in the tank and the clown loach has stopped chasing him. The betta seems to be a lot lessed stressed then he was. If the bullying continues tomorow I'm going to buy a bigger tank for him and put in a heater.

Here's a pic of the betta in the tank:

 

[tibby25731]

How big is the small tank? You can buy little 25w heaters, these are usually fine in any small tank - even a plastic tank. And how big is your community - you could always buy a divider and make a section especially for the betta.

haha, your clown loach looks like he is standing up! I would definitely separate the betta though, even if the bullying seems to have stopped. One day you could find carnage that is what happened in my tank. The bettas tail was almost completely gone, as was the dorsal fin. it was awful. And I hadn't even noticed any bullying up until that point, i suspect it all happened when the lights were off.

 

[danielc2384]

How big is the small tank? You can buy little 25w heaters, these are usually fine in any small tank - even a plastic tank. And how big is your community - you could always buy a divider and make a section especially for the betta.

haha, your clown loach looks like he is standing up! I would definitely separate the betta though, even if the bullying seems to have stopped. One day you could find carnage that is what happened in my tank. The bettas tail was almost completely gone, as was the dorsal fin. it was awful. And I hadn't even noticed any bullying up until that point, i suspect it all happened when the lights were off.

Yeah I think I might just buy a separator. Some of those tetras are little nippers. I would hate for them to eat at his fins.

Not too sure on the exact size of the tak but I have a pic:

 

[tibby25731]

Hmmm. Looks a similar size to my 60 litre tank, in which case he would need 1/3rd of the tank really, to make sure he has enough swimming space. Do you know your clown loach will grow waaaaaaaay to big for that tank? They grow enormous! Lovely fish though! I saw some in a huge tank at a zoo and they were massive, i was so shocked!
If you separate, remember the other fish will have less swimming space too.

 

[danielc2384]

Really? I had no idea they grow that big. At the moment he is really small.

I saw something similar to this at a pet store the other day:

I take it those are ridiculously small and cruel.

 

[tibby25731]

Yup. But a good VERY SHORT TERM solution if you can't get a new tank immediately - at least he won't get nibbled to death. However, you can buy a small plastic tank at Wilkinsons and similar places, holds around 14 litres, big enough for a betta. You are fine to use a heater with this, just make sure it has a bracket and plastic suckers so that it is secured away from the plastic! My quarantine tank is plastic and I have no probelms. These tanks are only about a fiver. And you can get very small filters - by Interpet i think - for about £8, that are suitable for this size tank. Get a 25 watt heater, they are only tiny. Your betta will be much happier!
Um yeah, clown loaches grow huge. You will often be told that fish will only grow to the size of the tank you keep them in. This is true, however this is because their growth will become stunted. This will make them more prone to illnesses, and will likely cuase the premature death of the fish Not nice. Clown loaches are one of those fish that pet shops don't bother to tell you will outgrow your tank! I am no expert but I believe they grow up to 12 inches long so you would be looking at at least a 4ft tank, preferably bigger.