We have had a betta living with our algae eater for about 2 weeks now. The last couple of days the Betta has seemed to actually push itself under the algae eater (it's a long one that kind of looks like an eel) and remains there. It's very weird- is that normal? It stays under him a few minutes and then swims to top...sometimes they don't bother with eachother at all.
2007-02-01 05:07:50 · 5 answers · asked by Branmuffin75 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
When we bought them the pet store told us they would be okay with eachother.
The algae eater seems to swim around like a maniac sometimes and knock into the betta- that 's why I thought it was being aggressive.
The betta seems to move around slowly, which is what we were told he would do.
I am just confused because sometimes it looks like bumps into the betta on purpose and then other times the betta goes over and under him.
2007-02-01 07:52:49 · update #1
Your question is a little confusing to me. In your head line you state your algae eater seems aggressive to your betta, then you go on to say that your betta pushes itself under the algae eater.
If the algae eater you have with the betta is a Chinese algae eater it will become aggressive with the betta at some point if it is not already. These fish as they mature stop eating algae and start to feed on the slime coat of tank mates. Most starve in aquariums because the fish they put in with are to fast to allow the algae eater a meal. Your betta however is not a fast fish and spends most his time floating in one spot. A easy meal for this fish.
As far as the betta pushing itself under the algae eater that is a new one to me. I would say this is not normal behavior as we have breed and raised bettas for 10 years and have never wittnessed a betta doing this with any fish.
Does he seem to have a hard time swimming to the bottom of the tank? Does his tail appear to drag as he swims. Or does he seem to rest on his side? If so I would say he has a inmature swim bladder.
This is common in fry and most overcome it. However on rare occasions a mature fish will seem to show the same symptoms as fry. Some breeders assume this is a recurrence of the condition most fry go though. Almost none of these fish will overcome it.
2007-02-01 05:58:30 · answer #1 · answered by rsspecialtyfish 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
algae eaters are not a bettas best friend. they can will and do kill fish when they get older. i can't believe how ill informed people are about algae eaters. the betta "pushing" itself under you algae eater might just be mock mating. many bettas form special relationships with things in the tank because of lack of a lady betta coming by to visit. i have one that has bonded with his filter in ways that would shock the more puritanical.
if the algae eater looks like he is cleaning the betta maybe you should consider some kind of treatment for the betta to reduce muck groing on him. can you see anything growing on him? i fear its just going to give the little algae eater a taste for betta that will end with your betta having a hole chunked out of his side.
2007-02-01 07:13:54 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's quite possible that it's a symbiotic relationship. Since algae eaters have a rasp tongue for scraping algae, the betta may have figured out that this is an excellent way to get a good cleaning (and to scratch those hard to reach spots). It's not uncommon in the wild for different species of fish to do this.
If there's no damage to the betta, I'd let them be.
2007-02-01 05:17:27 · answer #3 · answered by Theresa A 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
this is actually quite normal. not harmful to either one of them. and i really despise how ill-informed people are about bettas. only if people do a little research.
2007-02-01 05:20:02 · answer #4 · answered by Twilite 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I always thought betta fish had to live alone
2007-02-01 05:15:47 · answer #5 · answered by Cindy V 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋