Betta eating tankmates

Greendragon1128

Greendragon1128

Medium Fish
#1
Jan 31, 2009
81
0
0
Near LA
#1
I finally got the 10g tank cycled so I bought a male betta an 6 harlequin rasboras. The betta has shown no interest in the food, but goes after any rasboras that get too close. So far I've found two dead with bites taken out of them and one has vanished without a trace. I'm probably going to move them into the 47g tank if the parameters are good, but I don't want the betta to be alone. What could go in a 10g tank that's small enough for me to have a small school (at least2-3) but big enough to not be eaten? Should I continue with my plan of adding a pair of ADFs?
 

beckyd

beckyd

Large Fish
#2
Mar 16, 2009
381
0
0
#2
Interesting question about the ADFs. I have a pair and would love it if they could be with a betta. Seems like I have read not to mix them somewhere though. Will do a search on that. My ADFs have been fin nippers with other fish. Would hate for them to nip a beautiful betta. Mine have nipped guppies, neons, and mollies. I hope someone answers you about that. As far as the betta killing your rasboras, I have tried bettas in tanks with other fish with no luck. They kill everything in my experience. I have resorted to keeping them alone in the past.
 

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BlueStraggler

Large Fish
#3
Mar 13, 2009
314
0
0
Poconos, PA
#3
Hmm I'm scratching my head on this one. You want a school of something but I don't really think its gonna work., mainly because of the betta which have you seen them full grown? I'd seen some big healthy bettas at 5" easy...maybe bigger. So I'm thinking there isn't much room left for a school of small fish to survive getting eaten (they can't escape)

I say keep this tank as is for now....save up if you have to....and get a bigger tank for other fish (Theres so many to covet). When its time to cycle that tank....you can do it off the ten gallon. (You'd probaly be happier with a 30 or bigger)

Craigslist is a good place to look for awesome deals on used tanks which will cut the cost drastically.

But if you are set on adding a school to the betta tank, there are some detailed profiles of freshwater fish here on mft. Look them up and see which would be suitable for your tank.
 

homebunnyj

homebunnyj

Superstar Fish
#4
Jul 13, 2005
1,299
4
0
Western NC
#4
Wow... 5"? Really? I've never had one get over 3. That's not including the fins, right? Because bettas' fins are so long and flowing I never included them in calculating fish per inch by that rule of thumb.

Bettas have differing degrees of aggression. If your betta won't tolerate rasboras I doubt he'll tolerate anything else. I wouldn't worry about his 'being alone'; with his personality he probably prefers it that way. Some do.
 

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BlueStraggler

Large Fish
#5
Mar 13, 2009
314
0
0
Poconos, PA
#5
homebunnyj said:
Wow... 5"? Really? I've never had one get over 3. That's not including the fins, right? Because bettas' fins are so long and flowing I never included them in calculating fish per inch by that rule of thumb.

Bettas have differing degrees of aggression. If your betta won't tolerate rasboras I doubt he'll tolerate anything else. I wouldn't worry about his 'being alone'; with his personality he probably prefers it that way. Some do.
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I probaly did include the fins. These fish I'm referring to were spotted in this awesome fish place where the owner took excellent care of all his fish.

I couldn't believe how big and beautiful his bettas were as I had never seen them look so healthy. You never see them look like that in say walmart for example. Thats not to say 5" wasn't an unintentional exaggeration though. lol.

I'm never the best judge at size guessing.

Honestly my point was that it is easy for the betta to claim this territory as his own and a school of small fish cannot escape him.

Maybe you can add a female betta if there is plenty of cover to hide and escape from the male. I've seen it done in even smaller tanks than 10g.

I believe (after seeing those bettas) that with optimal care and a varied diet, they can gow over the 3" that is listed as its max size. But that is just a personal belief.
 

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BlueStraggler

Large Fish
#6
Mar 13, 2009
314
0
0
Poconos, PA
#6
I just read the sticky on faqs posted by precious gems. I learned at least two things
1)females are ideally kept in groups of 3 and its better to not have thm with males unless for spawning purposes (so please disregard my previous post recommending a female to go in with the male)...oops. I've seen them kept together though.
2)They (bettas) do have the ability to grow over 3".

I wouldn't be surprised if they can grow bigger than that even.
With fish, there is an indeterminate growth factor to keep in mind.
That means fish have the ability to continue growing all the way up to their deaths much unlike humans.
 

jo3olous

jo3olous

Large Fish
#7
Aug 6, 2008
909
1
0
Philadelphia, PA
#7
Greendragon1128 said:
I finally got the 10g tank cycled so I bought a male betta an 6 harlequin rasboras. The betta has shown no interest in the food, but goes after any rasboras that get too close. So far I've found two dead with bites taken out of them and one has vanished without a trace. I'm probably going to move them into the 47g tank if the parameters are good, but I don't want the betta to be alone. What could go in a 10g tank that's small enough for me to have a small school (at least2-3) but big enough to not be eaten? Should I continue with my plan of adding a pair of ADFs?
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your betta isn't eating them alive... they are probably being stressed by the betta and the betta or the other fish are munching on the corpses, hence when you find them they are missing parts.

Bettas have an upwards mouth, so they generally dont like to eat things from the bottom; however they can adapt.
 

Dustmite

Dustmite

Small Fish
#8
Apr 22, 2008
27
0
0
Cleveland, OH
#8
I kept a betta with 5 harlequins, 2 ADFs, 3 cories, and 2 GBRs. He did chase the rasboras around a little bit, but it was only during feeding, and he was much too slow to actually do any damage to them. He did bother the rams a good deal, especially when they were breeding. I would never try a betta with rams again, but all those others were easily able to fend for themselves and had no problem with him. After I lost the rams, I added 4 Buenos Aires tetra, and those calmed the betta down considerably. They were too big for him to chase around, and he turned into a docile little guy.
 

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BlueStraggler

Large Fish
#17
Mar 13, 2009
314
0
0
Poconos, PA
#17
(I) am a young woman if thats who you mean. And certainly I wouldn't harass or begrudge you your right to an opinion. I just disagree (Bettas are beautiful) and easy to care for thats why they are so coveted in this hobby.
If someone IS harassing you, let the moderators know so that they can handle the situation.
 

Redpixy

Redpixy

Small Fish
#20
Mar 9, 2009
11
0
0
#20
dollsteak said:
bettas are gay and ugly
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What does this ^ have to do with this thread? Completly random. Lol
Anyways...on topic...if you decide to get an african dwarf frog, make sure it is an ADF and not an African CLAWED frog...I've read they can rip the bettas fins. I have a ghost shrimp with my betta and he doesn't bother it, but I've also put ghosties with my females and they ate him. Lol. So like everyone else says...it really does depend on your bettas temperment. Check out this website---> UltimateBettas (Powered by Invision Power Board)
You'll find it VERY beneficial and more directly related to your fishy. *BOUNCINGS
 

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