HOLY CRAP! Betta just ate neon's eye!!!?

Question

Okay, I just do not EVEN know what do do here. My male betta (whom we just put in yesterday) has apparently eaten the left eye of one of the 5 neons that are in the 10 gallon tank with him. This happened at feeding time, about 10 minutes ago, when food pellets were sinking and the fish were doing that darting around eating thing, and we believe that perhaps it was not necessarily aggressive. We think this because he is not at all being aggressive toward Mr. One Eye or any of the other neons and is, in fact, in among them without any aggression. (My husband just walked in and said, "I think it was just a food mistake.")

My question is what to do about One Eye. Should we humanely euthanize him, or see if he recovers? (And, obviously, we should watch the betta's behavior to see if he continues aggressive or not).

Answer 1

You might want to treat the tank with melafix, or the like. If you are really concerned about infection there are direct apply antibotics. (Most likely it a little to late by the time you get it home.) As far as one eye there isn't any reason for euthanasia unless he suffers a major infection. (I'm sure it hurts in a vague fishy sort of way, but not that much.) I've known fish who lost an eye and lived full lives.

As far as aggression. Betta aggression is really obvious. He'll flare, and puff up his fins. If the neons are small enough it's possible that he's trying to eat them. Honestly neons are simply too fast to be at risk from poor swimmer like a betta.

I'd chalk it up to an accident if you don't see him chasing the neons. Bettas are often very enthusiastic eaters. My females are known to leap for my hand if I fail to drop the food fast enough. Even to the extent of clearing the tank.

Answer 2

Betta fish are not aggressive until they see another Betta, so this was probably not the Betta. Fish of the same size will eat each others eyes. If you saw the Betta actually eat the eye, then it was a "food mistake". Just wait and see what happens with the other fish. He should be fine.

Answer 3

I've never had a good experience with having neons in a tank along with neighbors larger than them. Often they will be attacked just because they are so shiny and little (very attractive as a meal to some!). I'll bet that the betta, who is by nature agressive, will continue to attack the poor little neons even if he isn't doing it now.

If I were you I would separate the neons and the betta, but don't put the betta in those little bowls that are popular now... bettas need the same water conditions as any other tropical fish. As for the "one-eye" neon, I am not sure, but he must be in pain. Separate him from everyone else just to be safe because his wound is an invitation for bacteria.

Answer 4

your one eyed fish is fine as long as you find the betta a new home. a betta that ate a neons eye will probably make the same "food mistake" again. the neons made themselves vulnerable during feeding and the betta took the opportunity to grab a snack. the only other suggestion i would have is put mr betta in a breeder net while you feed the rest of the fish.

Answer 5

Fish will be fine with one eye. You may wish to put in a little aquarium salt to protect against infection, but don't kill the poor thing because of a crazy feeding frenzy. You may wish to get one of those tank dividers to keep the betta separate though.

Answer 6

Fish usually recover from things like this - keep an eye on him, if he starts to swim funny, float, or sink to the bottom I would euthanize him. But first give him some time to see if he makes it ok.

I've seen a lot of fish who have lost eyes recover just fine.

Answer 7

bettas are naturaly agressive fish. i dont know about the kinds of fish they get along with. but i was always told never put a betta in a tank with another fish when there arent deviders dividing them. you can research what breeds of fish they get along with naturally but sometimes, it doesnt look like an act of agression but bettas are very territorial. if 'Mr one eye' was going after the same pellet that the betta was going for he could have been deffending his territory then gone back to feeding as normal.

i dunno if that helped but i hope it did

Answer 8

Poor guy well I found a link to a site that happened to someone before
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Fish-1472/fish-lost-both-eyes-2.htm in his case his fish lost both eyes. I'm sure your fish will be fine but you may want to put him in a quarintine tank or something that way he can recover.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

lol! happened to me once cept it was a puffer fish stead of a betta and a clownfish stead of a tetra