Betta compatibility

[Spidergrrrl]

Hi all,

*waves*

And now for my first post. About a week ago, I set up a 12 gallon Eclipse tank with some plants and a male betta. Today I bought 5 dwarf cories and immediately, the betta took an interest in them - started chasing them incessantly and (I think) nipped the tail fin of one of them. I say think because I didn't catch him in the act, I just noticed one of the cories looked like it was missing a bit of his tail.

Now I know you're not supposed to keep male bettas with other male bettas, or other fish that resemble them (like guppies), but I thought other community fish were generally pretty safe. Is it possible the betta will eventually lose interest in the cories, or should I move him somewhere else to be on the safe side?

Thanks!

 

[fishg33k]

All the bettas that I have had in community tanks were somewhat nippy at first, especially with new tankmates as they are extremely curious. But after a few days of them chasing the other fish and not being able to catch up, they lose interest . . . .

And also having a mirror in the tank helps to keep their interest off the other fish and focused on the "other" betta in the tank . . . And it makes for an awesome sight when they flare.

It all depends on the betta, but I would keep an eye on them and if it becomes a problem, I would give the betta his own home.

 

[fballguy]

Keep a very close eye. Some bettas are great community fish, but some will attack anything. It all depends on the individual betta's personality. It sounds like you have one that will not tolerate other fish. So keep a close eye and if he continues to chase your cories he will need to be separated from them.

 

[Aussie_hippie_2]

Welcome! I don't know much about males, I only keep females.

 

[fishcatch22]

has he continued to harass them, or is he starting to lay off them?

 

[YoFishboy]

Keep a very close eye. Some bettas are great community fish, but some will attack anything. It all depends on the individual betta's personality. It sounds like you have one that will not tolerate other fish. So keep a close eye and if he continues to chase your cories he will need to be separated from them.

Yea, I too have had a varied range of experiences with bettas over the years in a community setting..from great, to terrorist, to painfully shy, to victim! It really is hit or miss. I hope he settles down for ya!

 

[Spidergrrrl]

fishg33k and fballguy, thanks for the input - I think (hope!) he may have just been really curious, as the cories were going up and down and up and down when I first put them in there.

Aussie_hippie_2 - thanks for the welcome.

fishcatch22 - looks like he's laid off a bit. The cories have also settled down so he doesn't have as much to look at. They're doing their scavenging on the bottom of the tank, and the betta is mostly hanging out unless he happens to run across one of the cories.

YoFishboy - thanks! It's good to know that there is such a range of personalities - I'm hoping I just have a curious one, rather than an aggressive terrorist. I'll keep an eye out for a while and have his old home ready (a 5 gallon hex) just in case I need to get him out of there.

 

[fishcatch22]

fishg33k and fballguy, thanks for the input - I think (hope!) he may have just been really curious, as the cories were going up and down and up and down when I first put them in there.

Aussie_hippie_2 - thanks for the welcome.

fishcatch22 - looks like he's laid off a bit. The cories have also settled down so he doesn't have as much to look at. They're doing their scavenging on the bottom of the tank, and the betta is mostly hanging out unless he happens to run across one of the cories.

YoFishboy - thanks! It's good to know that there is such a range of personalities - I'm hoping I just have a curious one, rather than an aggressive terrorist. I'll keep an eye out for a while and have his old home ready (a 5 gallon hex) just in case I need to get him out of there.

most likely he'll calm down soon. he's just no used to other fish. my betta was like that when I first introduced platies to his tank, but after he got used to them he left them alone.

 

[Spidergrrrl]

most likely he'll calm down soon. he's just no used to other fish. my betta was like that when I first introduced platies to his tank, but after he got used to them he left them alone.

I think you're right. He's kind of interested in them, but not frantically chasing them. I think it's more of a "hmm, what's going on here" kind of interest.

I'll still keep an eye out just to be safe, of course.

 

[twodaend]

I have a male betta in my molly/platy tank and he is ok with them now. At first he would chase them, but he is way slower then they are. He kept this up for about a week and then he stopped. Now he only flares at them when they get to close, but for the most part there are no problems.

Even during feeding time, they all eat and play nicely together. I think after he gets used to the other fish or gets tired of chasing them without any results, he will calm down.