Swordies fin nipping

[Katchan]

I have two swordies continually fin nipping. One is a female lyretail she is continually nipping at angels and gouramis, I havnt seen her nip any one else though she may of. The other is a male sword he nips at th lyre tail and gets aggressive at other fish but has never nipped. Any thoughts on why or what what to to do would be great thanks.

tank stats
3' / 40 gallon tank
medium well planted
2 blue/3 spot gourmi
2 red tail black sharks (living nice together)
3 swordies (1m/1 large f/1f lyre)
2 bettas (1m/1f)
1 cory
1 angel (up until yesturday I did have three but 1 died and the needed to be moved)
1 Bristlenosed
2 butterbly rams

Katchan

 

[Kiarra]

Mollies are nippy fish, in my experience. I put a female Betta in with my Mollies, expecting there to be trouble from the Betta if there were going to be any trouble at all. A few hours later, I found my female Betta smushed into a corner with a female silver Molly nipping mercilessly at her.

I see also that you have a male and a female Betta in the same tank. Is this correct? If so, that is very dangerous, and they will likely kill each other. Peace may reign for quite a while between them, but they will probably eventually battle. I have seen this in spawning tanks on numerous occasions, as I breed Bettas.

Edit: I see you have Swordtails, but they're close to Platies, and my Platies are nippy butts, too. I just didn't expect it from livebearers. Pardon me. Million things on my brain.

 

[Katchan]

The male betta is a great guy, good enough (not violent enough) to take care of himself easily in a large community tank and still have fun while being VERY peaceful. The female we have tried many thing with since we got her, a community tank with other female betta and small fish, a small betta tank, the original cup she came in (which she was happiest) the we tried the big tank and shes happy again . The occasionally come across each other, he flares for 2-3 minutes tops then they go seperate ways.

Katchan

 

[Kiarra]

I'm amazed, and I sincerely hope they stay that way.

I had a male and female living together in their spawning tank for two weeks, closely watched. One day, I went back after an hour to check on them, and they had torn each other apart. Male and female fins strewn throughout the tank. Before this, they had been companionable, and she was even trying to breed.

The moral of the story: watch them closely. If either of them show the slightest nip in their fins, or have the slightest argument, it could turn into a massacre.

I'm also surprised they put up with the Gouramis, but it sounds like you do have one good, calm male there, so more power to him on tolerating the Gouramis. Bettas have a tendency to get all worked up over Gouramis, but it CAN work, with the right male.