Fish in jail

F

fishphreak

AC Members
Sep 12, 2005
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We have a relatively new 55 gal tank (almost 2 wks now). We have 7 fish in it:
1) black mollie, male
2) powder blue gourami, males
1) betta, male
1) pictus cat (beats me)
1) silver lyretail mollie, male
1) pleco (again, don't know)
About half of the betta's tail has been nipped off and we think the black mollie is the culprit--every time the mollie gets within half a foot of the betta, the betta flares it's frills. Are mollies typically fin nippers?
We bought a floating nursery tank today and right now the mollie is in solitary confinement.
Are we right in assuming the mollie is the bad guy, based on the betta's reaction? He (the betta) doesn't do that to any of the other fish.
Also, I'd like to set up a quarantine tank for whenever I have a sick fish; any suggestions on size, etc?
Thanks!
 
I'd keep an eye on the gourami's more so than the mollies. And a 20 high is a great tank to use for a quarantine tank. Bare bottom..sponge filter, small air pump and a heater and you're all set.
 
i don't know about the mollies but from my understanding gouramis and bettas should not be kept together.
 
Also, what are your water conditions?? If it is a new tank it might not be cycled and bettas fins are pretty sensitive to poor water conditions. Can you post your test results?
 
There is a great article on QT tanks in the article section, it should tell you everything you need to know. For the kind of fish you have, a 10g should be fine.
 
hmm...

That's interesting because the betta only puffs it's frills at the one (black) mollie; I've never even seen the gouramis look at any of the other fish.
Thanks for the info, though, I'll be watching them. If the betta and the gouramis do start fighting I can always put the betta in the "time out" tank until I can get him his own bachelor pad.
And thanks for the suggestions on quarantine tank size, too. :bowing:
 
I am going to be the odd ball here, I think it is the mollie. The reason I say this is because I had a betta in a 30 gallon tank. I had him with several mollies and he did just fine, however I purchased 2 new mollies and the next day my bettas fins were ripped to piesces. The best advice I can give youon this is to have mercy on the betta and put him in a tank or 1 g bowl by himself. This way you will not have to worry about your other fish picking on him. This is wha I did with mine and he has never been happier.
 
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