Hi, I've had my 10 gallon set up for about 3 weeks now, and I have 4 small guppies and a betta in it. All has been well up until today. The betta seems really agitated, swimming back and forth, instead of his usual, just sitting on the artifical log with plants. and one of the guppies seems to be attacking the betta. The guppies never bothered the betta, acually they would always swim the other way when they seen the betta coming. Please help.
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- Thread starter kimmarie0462
- Start date
Check your temperatures. Very high tempreatures greater than 78oF increase the metabolism of fish, thus increasing their energy, and thus increasing their agression. Many fish become "spaztic" at high temps, or nippier and more aggressive. Lower temps to 76oF or 74oF, that should chill them out 
. Check all your chemical levels (ammonia/nitrites) too, to make sure the fish aren't responding to some posioning stress.
It could also be that the betta has finally adjusted to his new environment and feels like exploring. My betta at home alternates between sitting on his plants and dancing around his tank. He's most active first thing in the morning when I pull the shade and let light into the room, and of course at feeding time. The guppies just discovered this new tankmate (they previously thought he was a plant) and take exception to him in their home.
And the guppy could be a male, and the long fins of the betta are just too tempting for the guppy, and it can't resist attacking and pestering it, seeing it as a rival male (even though it's a totally different species doh!) and doing what males do. Dispite their reputation, bettas are actually very peaceful fish that don't like to be messed with much. Their long fins hamper them in self-defense, so quicker fish like neons and guppies feeling their oats to go after a betta.
If the aggression doesn't abate after a few days, and it looks like the betta's fins are getting torn, and he's stressed out, take him out and put him in his own little one gallon tank. He'll be happier for it (and so would the guppies).
~~Colesea
. Check all your chemical levels (ammonia/nitrites) too, to make sure the fish aren't responding to some posioning stress.It could also be that the betta has finally adjusted to his new environment and feels like exploring. My betta at home alternates between sitting on his plants and dancing around his tank. He's most active first thing in the morning when I pull the shade and let light into the room, and of course at feeding time. The guppies just discovered this new tankmate (they previously thought he was a plant) and take exception to him in their home.
And the guppy could be a male, and the long fins of the betta are just too tempting for the guppy, and it can't resist attacking and pestering it, seeing it as a rival male (even though it's a totally different species doh!) and doing what males do. Dispite their reputation, bettas are actually very peaceful fish that don't like to be messed with much. Their long fins hamper them in self-defense, so quicker fish like neons and guppies feeling their oats to go after a betta.
If the aggression doesn't abate after a few days, and it looks like the betta's fins are getting torn, and he's stressed out, take him out and put him in his own little one gallon tank. He'll be happier for it (and so would the guppies).
~~Colesea
I checked the temp. It's sitting at 78, so I turned it back a bit and it's sitting between 76-78. I have one of those stick on the take kind of thermometers. I checked my chemical levels and the ph is 7.6 all others seem ok.
The one guppy that was bothering my betta was the smallest female. She seems to have stopped for the time being.
You said that the betta would be happier in a tank of his own. The only thing I have to put him in is a 2 gallon explorer. Basic black. LOL, I think I read somewhere that you didn't like those funky colours that they come in. So, my question is, would the 2 gallon be ok for him? It doesn't have a heater. I have tried to find one but the girl at the LPS said that there isn't anything small enough for that size of a tank. Also, do I run the filter or not, and does it need to have an air supply (airstone).
Thanks again Colesea.
Kimmarie.
The one guppy that was bothering my betta was the smallest female. She seems to have stopped for the time being.
You said that the betta would be happier in a tank of his own. The only thing I have to put him in is a 2 gallon explorer. Basic black. LOL, I think I read somewhere that you didn't like those funky colours that they come in. So, my question is, would the 2 gallon be ok for him? It doesn't have a heater. I have tried to find one but the girl at the LPS said that there isn't anything small enough for that size of a tank. Also, do I run the filter or not, and does it need to have an air supply (airstone).
Thanks again Colesea.
Kimmarie.
If you could get a heater, that would be good, but not an absolute necessity.
Yes, you should run the filter. Betta's like clean water just as much as the next fish. You don't need an airstone unless you think they look pretty or something.
What are your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels in your 10 gallon tank?
Josh
Yes, you should run the filter. Betta's like clean water just as much as the next fish. You don't need an airstone unless you think they look pretty or something.
What are your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels in your 10 gallon tank?
Josh
You can put a betta in a 2 gallon explorer, doesn't matter the color, and keep the filter running. I don't like funky color gravels, and personally, I'm a black trim tank person myself
(although I did see this really really neat cherrywood bookcase tank that was probably about 125gallons on a custom website, beautiful!), but whatever floats your boat.
Thus far, I have had great sucess with bettas in 2 gallon tanks, be they UGF or Explorer systems, provided they are given proper aquarium care. Heck, I've just stuck a betta in my Marineland system 6 and all he seems to want to do is play in the current all day. Strange betta...
~~Colesea
(although I did see this really really neat cherrywood bookcase tank that was probably about 125gallons on a custom website, beautiful!), but whatever floats your boat.
Thus far, I have had great sucess with bettas in 2 gallon tanks, be they UGF or Explorer systems, provided they are given proper aquarium care. Heck, I've just stuck a betta in my Marineland system 6 and all he seems to want to do is play in the current all day. Strange betta...
~~Colesea
The levels in my 10 gallon tank are, ammonia is between 0-.5 ppm and the nitrite is 0 ppm. I went to the LPS today to get a kit to measure the nitrate level and they don't have a kit for that. I asked the owner and he told me that I didn't need to measure the amount of nitrate. I just set up the 2 gallon so in a few days I will be able to move the betta to the 2 gallon.