Bettas & Sinking Wafers - Enemy Sighted?

[Roan Art]

Why on earth does my betta chew up algae or sinking wafers and spit them out?

I've had corycats, a pleco and now otos in with Jakers. Every other day I drop in a wafer or pieces of one to make sure they are getting enough food. Every day Jakers swims down, grabs the wafer and swims with it. He moves his body from side to side like he is trying to dismember it. Then he drops it and waits for a fish to start eating. Then he attacks the wafer again, driving the fish away.

He pokes it with his nose. He bites it. He swims with it and drops it. Then he attacks it again.

Tonight he is actually annihilating the wafer. He is chewing it up and spitting it out all over the place.

So, why?

Roan

 

[ParadoxLiz]

I don't know why, but it sure sounds entertaining!

Liz

 

[Roan Art]

I don't know why, but it sure sounds entertaining!

Liz

ROFL! Well, yah, it IS entertaining, but I worry about my little guys not getting enough food and being harassed by Jakers.

Heh.
Roan

 

[patoloco]

When a fish can't eat the whole piece of food will try to dismember it. However, that behavior sound to me a little psycho.

Don't worry about the other fish getting enough food, since those bottom dwellers will soon eat the trashed food. Think as if the betta is processing the food for them

Maybe, distracting the betta with floating flakes while feeding the waffer might help. I use this technique with my gouramies to make sure they let the meaty food get to the bottom for other fishes. Else, they will eat most of it before it reaches the bottom.

Be careful though since a peaceful betta can become agressive with no apparent reason in no time.

Psycho fish.... ... ... ...

 

[sumoschro]

To be honest, it's probably just trying to handle the whole thing at once.....And failing miserably. But I doubt he has a grudge against a wafer...

 

[Hannys_Papa]

Have you had a psychologist talk to him yet ?

 

[Roan Art]

You guys suck :sim:

Where's the LOVE here?

Geez! I have a pyschotic fish and all I get are jokes *snort*

Maybe I'll call that Dr. Wellfish. He must do SOMETHING besides make aquarium salts

Roan

 

[Hannys_Papa]

If this helps... i got a plant shipment from bviking today - and my betta has been biting the end of the anacharis stems all night long.... no clue why.

 

[Jericho]

If you are worried about the other guys drop an extra wafer in for them, your betta can only destroy one at a time

 

[Roan Art]

If this helps... i got a plant shipment from bviking today - and my betta has been biting the end of the anacharis stems all night long.... no clue why.

ROFL! Has to be someone who knows why they do this stuff. Obviously has to do with territory or something. Maybe this just dislike change and since wafers and anacharis can't fight back . . .

Roan