Would Rasboras Stress Bettas?

[GuppyGoddess]

Hi Everyone,

When I brought my female betta home, she had a horizontal strip and was a bit pale. I bought her a 10-gallon tank and put three rasboras in there and I now wonder if that was a mistake. She's more pale than before and her and the Rasboras fight over the food. She gets enough to eat because I hand feed her, but like most Bettas she always wants a bit more and when I add food for the Rasboras, they kind of fight over the remaining food.

Would it be beneficial for the Betta to remove the Rasboras since they're so darty and buzz around while she is more casual? I don't have a tank to put them into and I don't want to buy another, so I'd have to hope that a LFS would take them in.

Thoughts?

 

[Rezatii]

Hmm, I have no experience at all with Rasbora's, but it sounds to me like they are stressing your girly, if I were you I would take them back to the shop...


-Rezz

 

[kelly528]

Any schooling fish will become pesky and aggressive when kept in schools of less than 6. They chase and nip eachother as a way of socialising and those that feel too isolated will start to substitute other fish for the buddies they are lacking.

 

[GuppyGoddess]

Okay, thanks. I guess I'll take them back because my tank is only 10-gallons and I don't want it close to being fully stocked by adding three more rasboras. My LFS does take returns (I won't ask for a refund - I'd rather just have my fish happy).

Any recs for other fish?

Would my betta be best left by herself or is there another more peaceful fish variety out there? (I love pygmy cories, but am having problems with them in another tank, so those cutie pies are out - even though I would LOVE to have them.)

 

[stickylove]

Okay, thanks. I guess I'll take them back because my tank is only 10-gallons and I don't want it close to being fully stocked by adding three more rasboras. My LFS does take returns (I won't ask for a refund - I'd rather just have my fish happy).

Any recs for other fish?

Would my betta be best left by herself or is there another more peaceful fish variety out there? (I love pygmy cories, but am having problems with them in another tank, so those cutie pies are out - even though I would LOVE to have them.)

I have no trouble with Harlequins and my Betta, but then I have a group of 20, other tank mates inc Panda Corys, yoyo loaches, I'm also thiking about adding something else to my set up

 

[GuppyGoddess]

Okay, thanks. I guess I'll take them back because my tank is only 10-gallons and I don't want it close to being fully stocked by adding three more rasboras. My LFS does take returns (I won't ask for a refund - I'd rather just have my fish happy).

Any recs for other fish?

Would my betta be best left by herself or is there another more peaceful fish variety out there? (I love pygmy cories, but am having problems with them in another tank, so those cutie pies are out - even though I would LOVE to have them.)

I have no trouble with Harlequins and my Betta, but then I have a group of 20, other tank mates inc Panda Corys, yoyo loaches, I'm also thiking about adding something else to my set up

What size is your tank? I talked to my husband last night and he says the Rasboras are his favorite fish of all the ones we have (the fish are all mine and he isn't into the hobby at all, so now I am thinking I should probably keep the ones he likes), so my option I take it, is adding in more Rasboras so they are in the group size they need. So, for the 10-gallon, it would be 6 rasboras and one female betta. Is there another fish that I can add to the tank so the betta isn't the only lone fish. . .another fish that doesn't need to be in a school?

 

[stickylove]

I have no trouble with Harlequins and my Betta, but then I have a group of 20, other tank mates inc Panda Corys, yoyo loaches, I'm also thiking about adding something else to my set up
[/quote]
What size is your tank? I talked to my husband last night and he says the Rasboras are his favorite fish of all the ones we have (the fish are all mine and he isn't into the hobby at all, so now I am thinking I should probably keep the ones he likes), so my option I take it, is adding in more Rasboras so they are in the group size they need. So, for the 10-gallon, it would be 6 rasboras and one female betta. Is there another fish that I can add to the tank so the betta isn't the only lone fish. . .another fish that doesn't need to be in a school?
[/quote]


I've got a 60 Gall tank, I have Copper Harlequins and they look really nice when they all swim together,

I would add the extra Rasboras to make 6 and possibly add a yoyo or a couple of Panda corys? I also used to have 2 black neons they were quite cool.

 

[GuppyGoddess]

I bought two more rasboras (for a total of five) and the betta is now hiding in the corner. She normally swims back and forth across the front of the tank. I'm trying to catch the Rasboras with my net but they swim too fast. Since my tank is only ten gallons, the most it seems (IMO) to hold would be 6 rasboras, the Betta, and one other fish. I'm going to attempt to capture them and take them back (may go buy a larger net first) and then just put in one quiet tank mate.

 

[stickylove]

I bought two more rasboras (for a total of five) and the betta is now hiding in the corner. She normally swims back and forth across the front of the tank. I'm trying to catch the Rasboras with my net but they swim too fast. Since my tank is only ten gallons, the most it seems (IMO) to hold would be 6 rasboras, the Betta, and one other fish. I'm going to attempt to capture them and take them back (may go buy a larger net first) and then just put in one quiet tank mate.

have you got plants in the tank also? i know my betta likes swimming amongst them and also the Rasbaras tend to stay on one side of the tank.....

 

[GuppyGoddess]

I bought two more rasboras (for a total of five) and the betta is now hiding in the corner. She normally swims back and forth across the front of the tank. I'm trying to catch the Rasboras with my net but they swim too fast. Since my tank is only ten gallons, the most it seems (IMO) to hold would be 6 rasboras, the Betta, and one other fish. I'm going to attempt to capture them and take them back (may go buy a larger net first) and then just put in one quiet tank mate.

have you got plants in the tank also? i know my betta likes swimming amongst them and also the Rasbaras tend to stay on one side of the tank.....

Yep, I have plants. My rasboras weren't sticking to one side of the tank. They swam all over the place. I took them back, though, after using a breeding net to catch them.