Can a betta hurt an ADF?

Holly9937

Holly9937

AC Members
Jan 20, 2005
2,695
1
36
45
Michigan
I'm probably just being paranoid, but a couple of hours ago I picked up an ADF for my 10g betta tank (also has a snail in it). Finally put him in the tank, the ADF is really small and the betta has went up to it several times, taken a lunge and grabbed a hold of the frogs back leg :eek: !! I'd rather not be up all night babysitting, and I'm hoping with the lights out the frog will have a better chance! Should I be worried?
 
If the frog is that much smaller than the betta, you might want to put him in something else until he gets bigger. Most bettas will "peck" at a new edition for a bit, then leave it alone. But with the frog being that small, the "pecking" may injure it. Once he gets larger he should do ok, but, you'd want to keep an eye on them for a bit just to be sure. Some bettas do well with company in thier tank....some don't.
 
I added a snail a few days ago and the betta ignored that after circling it a few times, very close and staring, so I'm hoping he will/has lost interest in the frog already. I haven't seen the little guy yet today :look: ! Hope hes ok, hes got several good hiding spots though, so I'm not worried yet!
 
Yeah, those frogs are really good at hiding. If he's been harassed he may hide out for a bit. If you are concerned you can poke around and see if you can find him....just to be sure he's ok. (I read a post once where someone found their adf had crawled into one of the decorations and died in there...no tell how long it had been there like that) Once you find out where his favorite hiding spot is...you won't have to do the search mission.

Oh, they also have been known to vacate thier living quarters, though I have never had that happen...some have. Be sure there is something covering the top of the tank or the water level is low enough that he can't jump out. It's possible if he's bothered enough he might take that option.
 
Last edited:
I read the long article posted on here about ADF's yesterday and finally broke down and got one! So I was nervous about an escape and just wedged foam in a couple of the holes around the heater and on the side of the filter. Unless he can jump upstream into the filter (can he??) I think he should be alright. I'll probably leave him alone until tonight, I'm going to try and find tweezers or a turkey baster at the store so I can feed him!!
 
He shouldn't get out that way (up against the current)...at least not if its anything like on my tank - however, stranger things have happened!

As for the betta thing, as mentioned, most will do a little dominance thing until the betta thinks the frog has gotten the message. IME, the frogs are stubborn and won't stand to be bossed around! My bettas will flare less than 1/4" from the frog's face, ranting and carrying on, and the frogs just sit there like "So, what?"

Make sure your little frog has a lot of good hiding places, preferably some where the betta can't really fit. The frog should be able to out manuever the betta (they're really fast) but you may have a young (and possibly weak, sick, etc) new froggy on your hands thats not in tip top shape. Keep an eye on things. Most bettas will realize that they can be King of the Castle even if a frog is there and lose interest as we hope yours has now done.

Do try and get the feeding apparatus soon. Most frogs sold at stores are horribly underfed:(

Good luck and keep us posted:D
 
yes definitely get a turkey baster or something so you can get food down to the bottom of the tank where the ADF feeds. i would feed mine sinking shrimp pellets, he loved those. but you had to make sure they fell right by his mouth or else he wouldnt find it. my betta never really bothered my frog. at first, he flared at him and checked him out. but left him alone after that.
 
I think Mr. Betta may have forgotten about him, but then again the poor guy has been hiding all day! I went and bought a turkey baster and just moved some decorations to find him and some bits of the shrimp pellet fell right in his face and he ignored it! I also have frog pellets and bloodworms, so I guess I'll try again later. The ADF can wedge himself under a large rock in the tank and also go into a little cave where the betta can't get him. There is also a piece of PVC pipe that the betta could go in, but never has.
I definately need to find some of those tweezers though! After little success with the baster I tried to use a pair of kitchen tongs and was not very successful :rolleyes:
 
I'm having the same problem with my frogs. They don't seem to enjoy the frozen bloodworms I got just for them, but now my Betta seems to be addicted to them and eats it all up, and ignores a lot of the other food he used to enjoy. I'm going to try and find a pair of tweezers to make it easier, but for the most part I'd plop the food right in front of them and they won't even budge...Even if it's draped on their back they don't move.
 
yeah my frog was funny. sometimes i'd drop an algae wafer in there for my pleco and it would land on the frog. the frog wouldnt even move even when the pleco would start to eat the wafer, the frog would just sit still. finally, if the pleco would bother him too much he'd swim off.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom