So My Betta Is Mad I Don't Want My Fish To Die Help!

[Imcanadieneh]

So I went out today and I got a swordtail platy to go into my 10 gallon tank with sam my betta. I already had a "plecko?" some sort of algae eater in there with him and he was fine and didn't care at all. Well today I added the swordtail and sam got really mad. Well at least I think. Anywayas sam has been fully flared for 20 min now and I need to know if I need to remove one or if I should let them try to get along. Sam hasn't done anything but swim around him. He did jump at him but the new guy is quick. Anyways will it be ok if they are together overnight? Will sam actually eat the new one, or is he just marking territory? Plz help me!

 

[ReMz]

So I went out today and I got a swordtail platy to go into my 10 gallon tank with sam my betta. I already had a "plecko?" some sort of algae eater in there with him and he was fine and didn't care at all. Well today I added the swordtail and sam got really mad. Well at least I think. Anywayas sam has been fully flared for 20 min now and I need to know if I need to remove one or if I should let them try to get along. Sam hasn't done anything but swim around him. He did jump at him but the new guy is quick. Anyways will it be ok if they are together overnight? Will sam actually eat the new one, or is he just marking territory? Plz help me!

No no no no no. Have you done any research?

That swordtail, especially if colorful, will be shredded. A pleco is not suitable for a tank that size either. What kind of pleco is it? Most common species can grow up to 2 feet in length and they produce a lot of waste.

Is this tank cycled? if not, you are going to kill all these fish really fast if you just start dumping fish in there.

 

[Imcanadieneh]

Idk the pleko if that is what it is called is like the smallest thing that I have ever seen. He is an algae eater he is just plastered against the side of the tank. I couldn't imagine him getting that big. Maybe I have the name wrong. And the swordtail is yellow so i'm guessing that is a no no. Anyways what should I do then take him out now because the betta hasnt done anything to him still and its been like an hour now i mean he looks mad but he swims by him and then swims away. I have heard that people have male bettas that dont care about other fish being with them.

 

[Imcanadieneh]

and I have read that plekos will grow big if they have room if not they wont grow big, likewise turtles. and as fot the swordtail I think that is what it is because it has two tails that are kind of long in the back.

 

[ReMz]

Is it an otocinclus cat?

Most Plecos grow very large. It is a misconception that they will not grow large in a small tank. They will grow more slowly because the water conditions are not acceptable in a small tank.

You should have looked into compatible tank mates before you put the swordtail in there. There is a chance that the betta will ignore him, as the rule does not hold true for every betta (rules don't hold true for every fish even). I would take the swordtail back before a disaster happens.

The people that sometimes have a male betta with other fish are usually referring to a community tank. Not a 10 gallon were the betta can take all his aggression out on 1 fish. Also, most people that keep male bettas in communities are usually oblivious to problems going on in the tank. They are solitary fish by nature.

I have tank mates. But they are compatible..... there is a difference.

 

[liz2]

the betta WILL attack the swordtail probably at night when you can see, bettas are better off by themselves. That is why they are called fighters....

 

[lilfishie]

sam will attack and possibly kill the sword, as said bettas do better on there own

as for the comment on the pleco only growing as big ass the tank, its a load of nonsense, visably they may 'stop' growing but there organs don't they contiue to grow leading to a very premature death, plecos can live a good 20/30 years (depending on species) if stunted probably a year or 2

 

[Spishkey]

and I have read that plekos will grow big if they have room if not they wont grow big, likewise turtles. and as fot the swordtail I think that is what it is because it has two tails that are kind of long in the back.

that is the biggest sentance of b*****s i've read today, and i read a lot in the mornings!!! you have been seriously misinformed there my friend!

plecos/turtles/goldfish/whatever will not just grow to the size of their tank. they will infact (for example say they are stuffed in a small tank) still continue to grow, but the growth will become stunted if they dont have the room, causing severe abnormalities/deformaties and an early death for the fish/beast.
get that pleco out of there matey and back to the shop. do your research properely next time! likewise with the swordtail, he's gonna be shredded if not killed

 

[tibby25731]

I agree with all comments, if you have a pleco then rehome him immediately. And the swordtail I would guess is dead or injured by now. Sometimes you have to learn the hard way.
I hate when people say the fish will only grow to the size of the tank and that it is ok to keep them in smaller tanks. I always say, so little chinese girls having their feet bound is ok, cos their feet will only grow to the size of the bandages they are wrapped in?? A bit extremem maybe but it gets my point across! When i bought a placo, not knowing how big he would get, i fell in love with him and couldn't bear to rehomehim... so I bought a 4ft tank for him instead! Fish love can be expensive...

 

[Imcanadieneh]

So I woke up thismorning and both of them were completly fine. Sam doesn't really care that the other guy is in there i mean he does when the swordtail get real close to him but other than that they chase for a sec or two then leave eachother alone. Not saying that its ok to leave him in there cause I think im going to remove sam to a small bowl because I want more fish and i looks wierd to have one fish in a 10 gallon tank. Anyways thanks for the help...and does anyone think people working at pet shops actually know what they are talking abut because I was told that the plecko won't get very big and obviously it was wrong.

 

[SharonCC]

Can you post a pic of the "pleco"...I'm thinking it may be an oto, if he's the smallest thing you've ever seen. BTW...a small bowl is not a suitable home for Sam!

 

[Imcanadieneh]

I tried to get him to cme out of his little cave but he just wants to suck on the inside. Anyways hes maybe an inch inch and a half long with a short tail. kinda cute...sry for not being able to get him to come out ill try later

 

[SharonCC]

Well, if it's in a cave, maybe it is a pleco. You can Google Otos and Plecos, and see what you've got.

 

[ReMz]

Don't put your betta in a an unsuitable tank because you decided you would rather keep other fish now........ my god. Go buy a 10-20 tank solely for the purpose of having small community fish if that is what you want to do.

*ReMz is really starting to shake his head*

This is an oto:
http/badmanstropicalfish.com/Image/ron/oto1a.jpg

 

[Syphoniera]

I tried to get him to cme out of his little cave but he just wants to suck on the inside. Anyways hes maybe an inch inch and a half long with a short tail. kinda cute...sry for not being able to get him to come out ill try later

How about parotocinclus, if not an oto?

Approx. 1 & 1/2 inches

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/speci...?species_id=808

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/speci...?species_id=535

I'd like to get some myself one day, if I can find any out here.

(signed, I'm Canadian, too.)