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Post by karma on Aug 27, 2005 11:38:08 GMT -5
Hey everyone! I have an unheated cycled 10 gal. tank with 5 Black-Skirt Tetras, I Cory Catfish, an African Dwarf Frog, a really gentle Betta, and a lot of plants and driftwood. I have been having a problem with the Betta and the dominant tetra: I have been noticing that the Betta's tail was shredding slightly and I assumed that it was due to a combination of artificial plants, and a very Happy-to-be-out-of-the-bowl Betta. Lately, I have caught glimpses of the Betta being attacked by the tetra, having his tail nipped at and whatnot. (occasionally, the Betta fights back nonviolently via a slight flare) What is the best solution? I can't bear to part with any of my fish, and I would hate to transfer the Betta back to a bowl. Thanks for your help!  |
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Post by accountingchick on Aug 27, 2005 15:11:13 GMT -5
To save your betta, I would transfer him or your tetra to another tank. It sounds like they do not make good room mates.  |
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Post by Minaku on Aug 27, 2005 15:16:18 GMT -5
A 5.5 All-Glass (which only really carries 5 gallons) is under 10 dollars and is a great size for your betta. You can keep the two tanks next to each other so that he won't feel so lonely. It's not surprising for your betta to be attacked by the tetra - because they're so slow, and their fins are large and showy, bettas in a community tank basically swim around with a sign that says "BITE ME" on them.
I'd go with the 5 gallon, cycle it, get a heater, add plants, and add the betta. He'll be less stressed and much happier with such a large tank all to himself.
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Post by karma on Aug 27, 2005 16:19:11 GMT -5
Thank you all for the prompt replies.
All I have at the moment is the good ol' 1 gal vase he called home up until the new tank was purchased, and a new tank isn't in the pocketbook at the moment.
but... (long story short) a friend of mine is giving away a 30 gal -free- and I am one of two who are interested.
So I have a few questions:
1. Does he feel the bites from the other fish, or is like how we can't feel our hair?
2. Will his tail grow back? (and how can I accelerate this process)
3. How much is this stressing him out?
4. How urgent is this problem? (should he be removed immediately, like tonight?)
5. For a month, two of the tetra's, the Cory and the Betta lived in peace...now that I have completed the school (added three more tetras), this problem has surfaced. Is this because of the addition of the new fish?
6. Is it possible to introduce the Betta back into the aquarium at the later date? Or will that tetra continue to pick on the Betta.
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Post by Minaku on Aug 27, 2005 17:48:12 GMT -5
2. His tail will grow back, and Melafix (a tincture of tea tree oil) is the best thing to help him do it. Personally I would take him out so that the tetra doesn't attack him anymore, but putting him back in may aggravate the tetras more, as he's coming into their territory. (As for the cory, they're schoolers I believe, and do best in groups of 3 or more.)
3. I can't say exactly how much it's stressing him out, only that having a fish continuously nip at another is stressful.
If you get the 30 gallon, I'd move the tetras over and give the cory a school of his own. Not sure about the frogs - my bettas were very aggressive towards my frog, so I ended up giving her a tank and a group of her own. I'd leave the betta in the 10 gallon, with the frog if he's not aggressive.
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Post by karma on Aug 27, 2005 19:00:20 GMT -5
Thanks I have moved him to a bowl while I wait for better housing for him. I have Melafix, but it says for aquarium use only. Can it be used in a bowl? Edit: I have found out that it can be used in a bowl, but I have another question: Is it an appropriate thing to use in this situation? Because I'm not sure if the damage is due to scratchy plants, aggresive fish, self infliction, or fin rot. Can it be used just to repair fins that have been slightly damaged? |
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Post by Minaku on Aug 27, 2005 21:37:59 GMT -5
Melafix doesn't really do anything it's advertised to do *except* heal fins that have been damaged. It may have slight antibacterial properties. Whatever it is, damage is still damage, and if the wound is clean, go ahead and dose with Melafix. The recommended dose is okay, but if you feel nervous about it, you can start at half dose and move it up as the days pass.
To heal damage fast, keep your betta warm and in a stress-free environment. I usually will cover my tank so that my fish cannot see any reflections (to avoid flaring) on the sides or bottom of the tank and leave him there overnight, or for a day. I monitor the temperature, and let his body do its work.
Edit: A clean wound should be just that - clean. There shouldn't be any withered-looking parts, brown or black edges, or fuzzy things attached or growing from it.
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Post by karma on Aug 28, 2005 12:42:46 GMT -5
He is really dark blue, and so I am having a hard time determining whether or not it's fin rot.
I have given him a dose of Melafix along with a partial water change according to the directions. (I will continue this daily for a week)
When should I expect to see re-growth?
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Post by Minaku on Aug 28, 2005 13:42:50 GMT -5
Depending on what conditions you keep him in, immediately to a few days. Feed him high quality food and keep him calm. You don't have to do a partial water change every day - Melafix dissipates in the water from day to day, which is why the instructions say to dose so often. You can do an extra water change on top of your normal water change schedule to keep the tank clean, and keep the bottom clear of substrate so you can see poop and uneaten food.
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durbkat
Junior Bubble Nester
Posts: 127
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Post by durbkat on Aug 28, 2005 15:12:35 GMT -5
Karama not to be rude but what were you thinking? Black tetras need a heater and you can't put a betta in with black tetras thats murder! You should of asked the lps what was compatible with the black tetras. And they would have told you in a heart beat that you CAN NOT DO THAT! The black tetras will kill your betta!! So PLEASE get that betta out NOW!! And put a heater in there NOW! I feel sorry for that betta.
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Post by amanichen on Aug 28, 2005 15:15:13 GMT -5
Karama not to be rude but what were you thinking? Black tetras need a heater and you can't put a betta in with black tetras thats murder! You should of asked the lps what was compatible with the black tetras. And they would have told you in a heart beat that you CAN NOT DO THAT! The black tetras will kill your betta!! So PLEASE get that betta out NOW!! And put a heater in there NOW! I feel sorry for that betta. The heater issue has already been mentioned =) |
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durbkat
Junior Bubble Nester
Posts: 127
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Post by durbkat on Aug 28, 2005 15:20:54 GMT -5
Sorry must have missed that part. Sorry amanichen.
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Post by Minaku on Aug 28, 2005 15:47:37 GMT -5
Oh yes, and regrowth will come in clear, and then slowly gain color. Forgot to mention that.
Because Durbkat mentioned it, keep your betta from 78-80 degrees with as little fluctuation as possible.
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durbkat
Junior Bubble Nester
Posts: 127
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Post by durbkat on Aug 28, 2005 15:52:13 GMT -5
But I was talking about putting a heater in the 10g tank not the bettas tank.
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Post by Minaku on Aug 28, 2005 15:56:22 GMT -5
They're all tropical fish, so they all need heaters.
We don't know where karma lives, so we don't know if the ambient temperature is warm enough to sustain a tropical freshwater tank. It could be that she lives in Florida, where many people keep aquariums without heaters, because it's so hot. Simply put, I didn't make a big deal out of the tank being heaterless because I don't know what her other conditions are.
But it IS time to look for heaters again, since winter is coming... at least, in the northern hemisphere, it's coming.
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