I noticed some quarrel between my two betas in the past few days but I didn't pay attention to it. I thought it was just fish being fish you know. I went over to feed them today and one of them was dead.
My older beta killed my newer beta (even though they were the same size). From the damage on my old beta - i know they were in a serious fight. The retailer never mentioned that I'm not supposed to put two males in the same tank!!!
My question is..if they fight like this, how the hell can they reproduce? Also, how do I help my older beta? Does his wounds heal on its own? How do I stimulate his healing so he can heal faster?
2006-11-14 05:23:20 · 13 answers · asked by Jerry H 5 in Pets ➔ Fish
I wouldn't go back to the petstore that you went to if they didn't tell you that you can't keep two betas together (male or female), and I'm sorry you had to go through this.
First things first, to help your beta heal, move him to a hospital tank if he is in with other fish right now. Do a 20% water change so that he has some fresh, clean water. Add 1 tablespoon of freshwater aquarium salt per 5 gallons of water to his aquarium to reduce stress and aid in healing. Then, remove the carbon from the filter (the little black granules, usually you need to just remove the whole filter cartridge). When you use a medication, the carbon neutralizes it, making the medicine worthless. You need to get some Melafix from your petstore. Follow the directions on the bottle for putting it in your beta's water. It will help the fins grow back faster, and it will prevent his wounds from getting infected. Watch him closely for signs of fungal or bacterial infection until he is healed. If his fins begin to shred or rot away, if a cottony fungus starts growing on his fins or body, or if he develops a white film over his body, you will need to get a stronger medication to combat infection. I suggest a combination of Maracyn and Maracyn-2.
As for how betas are able to reproduce, males and females are only together long enough to breed, in which they do beat each other up, but it is usually not life threatening. In the wild, one may kill the other one after they breed, and in captivity, the breeder removes the female from the aquarium as soon as they have produced eggs.
FYI, you can keep a beta with other types of fish that are not aggressive and that do not have long flowing fins.
2006-11-14 06:40:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Don't listen to most of these folks. All betta male, and female fight. Females if the tank is big enough, and there are places to hide will generally work out a pecking order. Males will just kill each other. Males and females will kill each other or mate then the male will kill the female.
In nature betta live in huge shallow pond, rice paddy, and slow moving streams. A male stakes out a territory and drives off any males that come along. Any females that come along he mates with or if they aren't interested he drives her off. Once mating is finished the male protects the nest from all comers including his former mate. (Females tend to eat the eggs.) Often a betta's pond, paddy, or stream will shrink in the dry season. In which case he may need to kill off the competition for greatly reduced space, and food.
The problem is in a tank the loser of a battle can't escape, and a fight to the death ensues.
2006-11-14 11:23:09 · answer #2 · answered by Sabersquirrel 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
NEVER keep 2 male bettas in the same tank unless you have a divider to seperate them. They will fight to the death. Thats y the stores keep them in those little cups.
Generaly the male bettas isnt as agressive twords the female because her colors are more subdued (dull) but i still dont recommend houseing them together long term. Most breeders keep them together just long enough to mate.
In asia, they often put two male bettas together and bet on which one will live.
Consider this a lesson learned and good luck in the future.
2006-11-14 05:28:32 · answer #3 · answered by GuZZiZZit 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Bettas are also called "Siamese Fighting Fish". Males should NEVER be in the same enclosure, which is why they are sold in seperate cups at Petstores, instead of in the tanks like the rest of the fish.
They are not always aggressive like that, towards females, which is how they are able to reproduce.
2006-11-14 05:27:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I beleive there are suplliments for his healing. They reproduce because males dont fight with female bettas which arent as pretty and fufally so they can reporduce. Now for teh retailer he sux!HOPE YOUR BETTA GETS BETTER!
2006-11-14 11:18:22 · answer #5 · answered by ziddyziddy 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
WOW, SHAME ON THE RETAILER BUT DIDN'T YOU NOTICE THERE WERE NEVER 2 IN THE SAME TANK. I'D USE THE STRESSCOAT & JUST HOPE HE WASN'T INJURED TOO BAD. THEIR NATURAL HABITAT IS MUCH LARGER THAN ANY TANK & HAS MORE VEGATATION & COVER FOR ESCAPE IS PROBABLY HOW THEY SURVIVED. HOPE THINGS WORK OUT, GOOD LUCK
2006-11-15 16:02:03 · answer #6 · answered by DEWEY 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well when they reporduce usually the female kills the male because she gets mad at him. sometimes after they are finished he gets really mad at her and does her in. if you have a Petco near you they have everything, keep his water clean, and if you do nothing there is a possibility that he could get fin rot or a majority of other desieses. HOPE HE LIVES
2006-11-14 11:28:14 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Two betas in the morning next day you will only have1 you should tale it to the vet or pet or fish store.
2006-11-14 05:27:23 · answer #8 · answered by ♥Confused♥ 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The females don't fight with the males. The females aren't pretty like the males, so they don't get jealous. haha Thats my blond thought of the day.
2006-11-14 05:37:55 · answer #9 · answered by YoMamma 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
beta's are also known as SIAMESE FIGHTING FISH. you should never keep two betas together because they can and will fight to death.
2006-11-14 05:26:32 · answer #10 · answered by scolex89 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋