Do Betta fish eat other fish?

Question

I have a Betta fish and I introduced two cory catfish to the tank. things seemed smooth the Betta checked them out but there was no aggression however yesturday morning I could not find one of the cory's. I searched all the hiding spots and he is gone I can't find him anywhere I am baffeled did the betta eat the whole fish? is this possible? the cory's really aren't that small compaired to the Betta. I am no expert with fish but have been doing research online and I have found nothing about Betta devoring fish whole.

I do have a lid on the tank. I did check around the tank and on the floor. and there is about an 1 1/2 inch of space befor you get to the top of the lid. It is a strange mystery to me.

Thanks for all the advice I am still at a lose as to what has become of the cory. I have no filter to check. unless the other cory devoured him completly overnight, for I can find no corps or anything. This may be the case.

Answer 1

No. In fact a cory catfish is the least likely of all tropical fish to be consumed by any other aquarium fish. They have very thick and prickly scales. If you don't have a lid on your aquarium or bowl and the water is all the way to the rim, your cory may have miscalculated a quick dash up to the top and found himslef on the wrong side of the glass. Check the floor near your tank or bowl.

Answer 2

The cory catfish is not a very hardy fish (gets sick easily) but has a spines on it's back to protect it from being eaten. I had a cory with an Oscar (small one) and it was always safe and left alone.
It is in your tank somewhere, Hidden in a spot, if it did die then you will find a cotton like substance in the tank. This is the fungus that forms on the dead fish. You will be surprised where catfish can hide. Hope you find him alive!

Answer 3

Betta generally don't bother bottom feeders. (Some are mean enough to kill snails.) Bettas will generally only eat fish that fit in their mouths. If the betta killed it it would still be in the tank. A betta's stomach is only the size of it's eyeball. Most likely it died and the other cory cat ate it. Or it's hiding. (One of my catfish I only see when remove everything from the tank for a major cleaning.)

Answer 4

Once he died, if he did, the other Cory and the Betta may have started to eat his body, but it would take them a while to eat the entire thing.
If you have one of those treasure chest aeration things, check it I had a fish disappear in one of those. he could also be in the filter as some have already said.

Answer 5

I dont think the betta fish ate it, it could have fought it and killed it or something like that because even when you don't expect it they fight. I had two betta fish a male and a female, i got the male first and then introduced him to the female they seemed ok, but then the female fish a couple of weeks later or about a month or something like that i couldn't find her and then she was on the floor dead.
Best is i think don't but betta fish together they are too territorial and aggressive, but beautiful though.

Answer 6

No bettas dont eat fish. They will attack them until they die, and if you dont remove the dead fish fast enough it might continue to attackk the dead fish until there is nothing left of it.

Answer 7

You will probably find him next water change
A

Answer 8

they will probably fight to the death and then eat each other

Answer 9

did the fillter suck him up

Answer 10

no