Betta nippin at my guppy

[MyShrimpDied]

I wasnt sure if this was the case so thats why i came to an intelligent group of fish lovers such as yourselves. Recently i posted a thread about tiger barbs attackin the betta, well i took the barbs back so they're gone but the night after i took them back, i looked at my guppy's tail and there was a BIG chunk missing, and this wasnt missing at anytime when the barbs were there, so i wonder, if my betta is nippin at my buppy, which would really suck. do you guys know of this happening at all?

~ MyShrimpDied

 

[conconbettas]

I know exactly what you are going through. I sadly made the mistake of keeping a male betta with male guppies. See the thing is that guppies sometimes have large flashy fins and well bettas do to. Even though they look totaly different the male betta thinks that the guppy is another male betta on his territory and he will deffend his territory. I would reccomend that you remove either that guppy or that betta. Now this does not always happen but it does sometimes. Well I am sorry for you tough luck!

 

[jacblades]

maybe you should take the betta out and give him his own tank. if his fins are still ripped, you should put him in some bettaMAX (not to be confused with the bottle of poo known as bettaFIX) or melafix.
i have kept a female betta with guppies before and everyone was fine. the theory about the males does makes sense though.
other people may beg to differ but i dont think bettas should be in a community.

 

[kikuchiyo]

Bettas can be in a community tank with cory cats and peaceful tetras, but they don't get along with livebearers, generally speaking.

 

[MyShrimpDied]

Thanks a lot guys for all the responses, but i have another question, Would the betta continue to do this with other long finned fish such as angelfish or any other fish with long fins? if he does then ill take him, thanks again.

~ MyShrimpDied

 

[kikuchiyo]

Most (but not all) male bettas will attack anything with long flowing fins. Male guppies, maybe angel fish (but angel fish quickly become too large for that kind of setup anyway), goldfish, and other related species like gouramis and paradisefish.

 

[brookelyn]

Generally (and there are always the exceptions) Mollies, Guppies, Angel fish, Gouramis, Paradisefish, Barbs, Goldfish (they thrive in cool water, whereas bettas do not -- just an all around bad mix here), Cichlids, and certain larger Tetras (Lemon, Serpae, Black Phantom, and Black Skirt) should be avoided with bettas. There is just too much of a chance that one or both fish are going to end up injured if not killed.

Cories, snails, shrimp, otos, ADFs, and smaller tetras (such as the neon and glo-lite variety) usually will make good tank mates for a betta. However, it should be noted that whether or not your betta accepts his new company depends solely on his personality and level of aggressiveness.