MybettagotbeatuplastnightandIneedhelp!

[ryanp15]

First of all here is my tank setup.

- 29 gallon
- 5 cories
- 2 american flagfish
- 1 betta
- 1 pleco
- planted

Last night before I went to bed I was observing my fish and everything seemed okay. I did the same this morning (as I always do) and everything looked fine too. But a few minutes ago I was sitting at my piano (which is right by this tank) and I noticed that my betta had about 1.5 inches of fin! I looked at him and all of his fins had been shreded and bitten down to nothing. I don't know what did this though! I don't think it was the pleco or the cories. I can't see my flagfish doing this either. I think it was them though. What do you think? I really need help here. Right now I have him in a small betta bowl that's about 1 gallon. What should I do? And when he gets better should I put him back in there? Thanks. 8)

 

[tinylittledice]

:-/ umm... i m a newbie on fish... but then, thats wut i heard ffrom ppl else. they said betta is the best to be keep alone.. they r not friendly fish... even no fish wants to battle it, they will hit themselves to rocks... or if u put a mirror in front of them, when they see themselves. they will think it is some other betta then start to hit themselves to the mirror... and... also, when u go to IF, sometimes u will see betta wiz !$%!^-ed up fins.. but they were kept alone!... so... then... and... flag american fish?? ain't they peaceful???

 

[dattack]

Sorry to hear that but those flagfish are very territorial and they are probably the culprit that shredded your betta.  My betta does fine in my 60 gallon tank with neons and guppies but I had to make sure I don't get any fish that will nip (i.e. angels, guoranami, etc.).  Gotta be careful in what community fish that are in your tank when you place a betta.  If you want to punish your flagfish, pls ship them to me. hehe. j/k

 

[fishboy]

Sorry to hear that Ryan poor betta
Yah, i had a betta once. He was great until he died for no good reason I'm still pondering on how he died.But, to the Q. I bet the flagfish did it too. I don't think the cories would go after them or the pleco they would have no interest in them i would think or  this might have happened depending if you have rocks the betta might have scratched itself on the rock then the flagfish or any other fish might have noticed it was weak and attacked it. Just a thought  8) What to do well, first put an air stone in there put it in a dark part of the room ( so the fish can relax.) Put in some stress coat or another fish medications or slime coat redeemer.Once your injured is active again feed him some of his favorite live foods and keep up with water changes. I bet good clean water is the best solution. I think even every once a week do 25 percent water change. GOOD LUCK RYAN

 

[Matt Nace]

Maybe the flags thought his tail was some hair algae?

In any case, as I have seen it before with my bettas, someone must be moved. That betta tail is too tempting to some fish. If you decide you dont like the flags....I will buy them off ya!!

 

[ryanp15]

NO! You guys can't have my flagfish. They only cost me 99 cents. ;D Everyone seems to have trouble finding them. I didn't. They are so great.

I pretty much knew it was the flagfish but I just wanted to make sure. I have had him in there with them for a month or two and nothing ever happened to either fish. I hate this because he is in this tiny little bowl and I know he feels cramped. I will have to buy him a new tank. ;D How expensive these fish get. His fins are really bad. They are down to almost nothing and I feel horrible for letting this happen. I don't know why they did it though. I will put some stress coat in there for him and get him a bigger tank. I love this fish.

I don't think they thought his tail was hair algea! It's bright red and blue! Hehe. If they did they're stupid. I'm thinking that about them anyways. > ;D