I have a betta fish and I got a chinese algea eater,(didnt know that it was agressive when I got him), but he has been sucking on my betta and so I have now switched him to a contaner I am gonna take him home in and put him in a bigger fish tank with around 8 fish(it is my mom's), is this a bad thing or should I just leave him with my betta, I am just worried he is gonna kill my betta if he keeps sucking on him so much?
2006-12-22 11:40:16 · 18 answers · asked by sinful777 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
The betta is not the one causing the problem it is the algea eater, he was sucking on the betta's head and body, it was weird
2006-12-22 11:46:09 · update #1
Chinese algae eaters usually stop eating algae when they reach a certain size, and it is common for them to suck on other fish. It is predatory as well as territorial behavior. They are NOT good tankmates for slow swimmers, especially flat-bodied fish. If you want an algae eater for your betta tank, you'd be better off with an otocinclus or three. They're peaceful and very small, but speedy enough to stay clear of the betta if you give them hiding spots (though I'm definitely in the school of believers that you can keep bettas with other fish, just not other bettas, flowing finned fish, or labyrinth fish.) Any other algae eaters will be far too large for your tank (unless your betta has a huge home. :))
And no, you're not a bad fish owner, because you care about your betta enough to ask. Next time, just research in advance. Good luck!
2006-12-22 19:50:43 · answer #1 · answered by ceci9293 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Of course you should never say you are a 'bad fish owner' but just maybe a little inexperienced. So first lets see, if your Betta is being sucked on by the algae eater, then seperate them immedietly. It might be because he can't find enough algae to eat (their main food). Bettas are very solitary fish and prefer still waters and when another fish is in the tank it causes stress on the Betta because the water is moving and the other fish is invading their territoty (Bettas are very territorial). You can keep your Chinese Algae eater with fish of around the same size as them in a tank with a habitat similar to both species
2006-12-22 11:47:03 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
you should probably take him out of the bowl/tank your betta is in. Its a good idea to put the algae eater in the other tank.
your not a bad fish owner. and what others say is not true. Betta fish are not agressive towards other fish except for their own kind. Except if the fish happens to look similar to a betta. I keep a betta in my goldfish tank. He is very friendly in there.
You might want to try a snail in your betta bowl? Your betta will nip at him a little when he first gets in there but dont worry about it. Its just his curiosity. He'll stop.
good luck.
2006-12-22 12:08:27 · answer #3 · answered by Heather 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you should isolate algea eater from betta fish! Aggressive fishes can really kill other inhabitants of aquarium.
2006-12-22 11:46:14 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No your not you just didn't know. Remove the algae and put it in the bigger fish tank. Try having your betta with other fish like I do.
2006-12-22 14:08:36 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your not mean some alea eaters are agressive. i had one in a big tank and it was attacking my fish. If the alea eater is not attacking the fish in the tank that is bigger then keep him in that tank or take him back to the pet store that you bought it in and they should give you another one and if you do this get a smaller one that should not attack the fish.
2006-12-22 11:48:39 · answer #6 · answered by mouses_moyer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get rid of the chinese algae eater. They only get more aggressive as they grow. IMO, they shouldn't even be sold. It will suck the slime coat on your mother's fish too.
If you want a good algae eating fish, get otocinclus catfish. If you have a bad algae problem, researching to get to the root of it is the better solution.
2006-12-25 10:08:39 · answer #7 · answered by j s 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You'd be best to move the algae eater, they're viscious to some fish, but the pet shops rarely tell you this. They look so innocent though...
2006-12-22 11:47:43 · answer #8 · answered by Pulsar 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
there's these nets that are kind of like a mini fish tank. get one of those and put him in it. do NOT put him with the other fish. Especially with beta. they could kill each other.
2006-12-22 15:15:21 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bettas should always be by themselves, except (in SOME cases) if they are female. The Bettas in pet stores are almost always male. Keep them separated - I'm surprised your Betta hasn't killed it by now.
2006-12-22 11:43:13 · answer #10 · answered by sarah15203 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋