Urgent help please, my fish are missing

[Rox-e]

Hi everyone!

I have had a tropical set up for about 6 months now, but the last 2 weeks my fish seem to be missing.
I have 1x siamese fighting fish, 2x Guarmies, 2x sucker fish, 4 neons and 7 guppies, 1x sunset dorado? i think thats what its called! plus onehuge tropical snail.
I have am now missing 2x neons, no sunset dorado and am missing 3 guppies!
just missing!!!!! Me and my partner are very confused, the fish seem to have been fine for months!
Any ideas whats really happening?? all that money just gone!!

Thanks soo much!

 

[SRC]

Well first off....that betta shouldn't be in there with those type fish. He probably killed the guppies and the sucker fish ate the remains, same could be said for the neons.

I'm not sure what a durado is..but he could have fallen victom as well. Betta's do not make good community fish. Either they terrorize the other fish or they tear the betta's fins up...it's never a good idea.

 

[Rox-e]

Thanks for your reply? The betta? which is?
So they are being killed?
How do they kill eachother?

 

[Rox-e]

And would we not see them getting bullied?

 

[SRC]

The Betta is the Siamese Fighting Fish.

Not neccesarily, it may happen after you turn off the lights or while you are away...fish know when you are watching them lol...most can tell when you approach the tank..I knwo mine sure can. (no matter how stealthy I try to be)

They betta will bite them to death, tear their fins off, ect. Then they die from stress, and neons are bad about stressing out. It doesn't take long for a fish to be consumed by the "clean up squad". (for them to dispose of the remains)

Only other thing I can tell you is to check all around the room. If they jumped out...they can flip and flop for some distance away from the tank, you might be suprised just how far a fish can end up from the tank.

But my bet is on the betta bullying them to death, and then them being eaten up afterwards.

Have you checked your water apramiters? If your Nitrites are up, that can be a good indicator of a dead fish somewhere.

 

[Raechal]

Bettas can do well with other fish as long as the betta doesn't see them as a rival or threat. Avoid fish with long pretty tails...like guppies and gouramis. Bettas don't do well with these fish and will attack them and rip their fins apart. I agree with the sucker fish probably sucking up the remains of the fish. I am not sure about the neons though. I've kept my betta with neons and he never bothered him...the neons bothered the betta more than anything. The neons may try to nip your betta's fins so I suggest maybe taking the betta out of that tank. Go buy a smaller tank like a 5 gallon and set it up for your betta. Then all of your fish should get along just fine.

 

[The_Gilly]

female guppies are normally fine with bettas as they are not so fancy and only have small tails.

Stating that bettas will not do well in a community tank is not based on fact. It's all about the personality of the fish.

Firstly make sure you check in your filter and everywhere the fish or bodies could have got too.

I to would recommend removing the betta even if it's for the short term. You can get breeding tanks that fit inside your original tank. Might be better popping him in one of those if you're not wanting to get him his own tank.

I expect you have already but check your water condition. Neons need good quality water to survive so you want to be sure it's not poor quality water finishing off your little fellas.

All the best and keep us posted.

 

[Rox-e]

Thanks so much everyone, you have been awesome with your replys!
I turned the lights off and hid last night and kept an eye on my tank sure enough the betta was constantly chasing my yellow guarami around!!
The other thing is all my guppies are males so they all have fancy tails!!
I am sure my pert shop will take my betta back maybe i will do an exchange, i am really annoyed because hes so beautiful to look out, but far to naughty for my tank!
Thanks again!!

 

[Raechal]

Thanks so much everyone, you have been awesome with your replys!
I turned the lights off and hid last night and kept an eye on my tank sure enough the betta was constantly chasing my yellow guarami around!!
The other thing is all my guppies are males so they all have fancy tails!!
I am sure my pert shop will take my betta back maybe i will do an exchange, i am really annoyed because hes so beautiful to look out, but far to naughty for my tank!
Thanks again!!

Or you can pick up a small 5 gallon tank and keep the betta. Get maybe one or two live plants for him and a small heater if it gets cold where you live. You don't really need a filter if you do water changes.

 

[CTS]

i had a betta in a 10 gallon with 6 other fish. and he was fine. i guess it all depends on the individual fish.

 

[SRC]

Usually a betta will do fine..IF you put the proper fish in with him. Neons are nippers...they are going to nip at the betta's fins..becasue they are longer. The betta is going to feel threatened and in return retaliate. The betta, unfortunately, will usually win.

White clouds often do very well with Betta's. Usually docile (non-aggressive), and un-flashy fish work well with betta's....but of course who wants a tank full of non-flashy fish? Not too many people, unfortunately.

Betta's do wonderful in small tanks...if a 5 doesn't suit your spacing requirements..try a 1-2 gal tank. Although...the smaller the tank the more frequent your water changes.

If you aren't committeed to the water changes, then I would suggest you go ahead and take him back . And get something that better suits your work load needs. I would get more neons..as now you don't have enough to make the remaining ones very happy (ie they can't shoal).