Can a betta fish kill a goldfish or a shrimp?

Question

pets

Answer 1

A betta who kills a shrimp isn't being aggressive, he's being hungry!! Bettas will eat shrimp. In fact, all fish will readily eat any other fish or shrimp that can fit in their mouths.

I do not believe a betta would kill a goldfish. They way display territorial behaviour and flare up at the goldfish, but would likely not attack because the goldfish would not be aggressive to the betta. In the wild, when two male bettas fish, they will do fiercely until one backs down. Then they stop. In the wild, bettas do not kill each other.

However, some bettas are more aggressive than others and if kept in a small tank, may be aggressive, even violent, towards other fish that could be perceived as male bettas, such as guppies, with their long flowy fins. Whenever you put a betta (or any fish, for that matter) in with other fish, observation is very important. Not all fish that should be compatible, are.

However, a betta should NOT be kept with a goldfish for the simple fact that goldfish are COLD waterfish needing temperatures of 67-72F, and bettas are warmwater fish needing temperatures of 80F.

Answer 2

I had a male betta and I put a ghost shrimp w/ him so that the shrimp could eat the scraps on the bottom of the tank and the betta ended up eating him. Bettas are very aggressive towards anything. If you put a goldfish w/ a betta I'm pretty sure it'll either kill it or injure the goldfish. Try looking up what type of fish you can put in a tank w/ bettas.

Answer 3

Most people fabricate a false image of betta fish. We hear the name "siamese fighting fish" and assume that they are some fierce aquatic samurai or something. The truth is that they are usually only agressive toward other bettas unless they feel that their territory or frey are in danger. So, I am inclined to believe that they are capable of killing a shrimp or goldfish, however I would find it unlikely. I have had several betta fish in the last 20 years. I know that the males bettas are quite hostile toward each other. Bettas are usually placid enough to exist in a comunity tank (only one per tank!!!!!!). I have had male bettas in the same tank as mollys and guppies without any real conflict. Infact, when in a community tank I have had to worry about other fish (like danios) picking at the elegant fins of my male betta.

Answer 4

Mine killed a ghost shrimp. I had one betta who got along with all my fish fine. It's a personality thing but generally they are aggressive.

Answer 5

Bettas will eat anything that they can fit in their mouths. This even includes pebbles!

Answer 6

This site says they will even kill a female beta..
http://experts.about.com/q/Fish-1472/Male-Beta-2.htm

So why wouldnt they kill a different kind of fish.

Once along time ago when first getting into fish put a mle in with my guppies and it killed half my guppies. Mind you I had tons of plants (live and fake) so my guppies had plants of places to hide.....Still didnt work.

here is some more info on a beta.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siamese_fighting_fish

Answer 7

Betta fish are mighty feisty. They might!