..has suddenly started flaring and nipping my Platys... I have a community tank and the Betta has been happily living there for 2 months now, with no agression to the other fish at all. I watch my tank all the time (that's what it's there for, after all...!)
He is totally ignoring the other fish & is just flaring at 3 of the Platys, the 3 silver ones (I also have 1 orange wagtail)...
I've been watching for the last hour and he seems to be guarding one corner of the tank - when the platys come close, he flares and rushes towards them... and a few times has nipped a platy.
The platys keep going back though, instead of staying away from him..
Can anyone tell me what's going on??
Thanks
2007-08-15 08:36:25 · 9 answers · asked by Shazza 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
My tank has 1 betta, 4 platys, 4 cardinals and 2 oto's...
2007-08-15 09:56:16 · update #1
As others have said, you are seing territorial behavior from your betta. That can come and go and he might stop again or might keep it up until he really damages one of the platys. The platys might start to get the message and stay out of his corner before they get hurt, but that could also encourage him to claim a larger and larger part of the tank. If this doesn't stop in the next few days, or if he starts ripping the fins on the platys, you may need to remove him for a week or so.
MM
2007-08-15 09:27:14 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately I don't think there's much you can do at this point besides removing either the betta or the fish he is chasing. For some reason he seems to see the other fish as a threat to himself. Betta males can be territorial and are known to be moody sometimes. Maybe he was shy at first and now he feels pretty confident and thus is going after the other fish.
It is also very likely that he is trying to establish a territory for himself and is now on guard protecting it. Carefully watch the tank for a few days and see if this continues, he might stop after a while.
2007-08-15 15:46:42 · answer #2 · answered by fishbone 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Bettas are very territorial. Sometimes they do ok in community tanks, but it's always best to have a back-up plan. Your betta is asserting himself now and warning the other fish to evacuate his area (right now it might just be one little area, soon it could be the whole tank!), if they don't he will start to get real nasty and you are going to wind up with injured and/or dead fish. It's best to get your betta set up on his own.
2007-08-15 16:19:30 · answer #3 · answered by Donna 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Betta's can be territorial and aggressive especially to other males.
He is probably reaching maturity and he will probably be like this from now on.
some options are put up a tank divide, re-home him or if he is not harming them and stressing them out to much then you could just leave him.
2007-08-16 06:49:47 · answer #4 · answered by Pete 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a psychological question and I think that owing to the other fish that keep swimming in all areas of the tank the beta is beginning lose his area of the tank and he does'nt like it.
2007-08-15 16:17:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Look carefully at the place he is guarding. Maybe he has built a bubbles nest that he is protecting and waiting for a female to come a long so he can breed
2007-08-15 15:54:02 · answer #6 · answered by Cambridge Aquatics 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
it could be,your beta has found a quiet corner of the tank,and doesnt want to give it up.you dont mention what other fish you have in the set up.
2007-08-15 16:49:31 · answer #7 · answered by lenny 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
bettas nip at fishes that have long fins
please choose me as best answer
2007-08-15 16:03:39 · answer #8 · answered by Patrick M 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
He ha been planning his attack for the last two months. He is a japanese fighting fish, that's why they live by themselves.
2007-08-15 15:48:11 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋