Why does my betta fish flare up at the other 2 guppies?
7 April 2010
16 Comments
My betta fish, i've had for about 2 months. Recently, i put 2 small guppies in his tank because I read that thats a good type of fish to put them with and he keeps chasing them around and flaring up to them. Does this mean he wants to kill them? And if not, what does it mean?
It means your taking a pretty big risk!
It is true that in a 20 gallon tank it is possible to have guppies and Bettas somewhat coexist…. but its playing with fire!
If the tank is small… forget about it!
Guppies, especially males with fancy fins are a very bad tank mate choice for a male Betta! They tend to think that the guppies are other male Betta as they also have flashy long fins! Betta are loners and don’t appreciate company…and if that company reminds them of another male Betta then they are less than welcome! XP
Guppies are very passive fish and your Betta won’t have trouble eventually killing them! Its also bad for your Betta because it is very stressful for him to be flaring all the time, and it saps a lot of his energy as well! Not to mention that it is stressing tremendously the poor guppies who don’t feel safe… (and with very good reasons! ).
Even if the guppies are not fancy looking at all, their bright colors can be enough to stir up a very aggressive tempered betta! Mine flared at a shiny purple cadburry eggy WRAPPER I had left near the tank, until I realized this and threw it away! :P
So sometimes it does not take much at all for them to think its another male! And trust me he wont stop harassing those poor guppies!! Even if he seems to eventually get used to them, he will nip at them now and then and the situation will remain very stressful for all the animals, and the repeated and lasting stress itself can take up their tolls on all of those poor fish!
Another thing to keep in mind as well is that, Betta are very intelligent (for fishes of cours ), and all have particular and distinct personalities! Some Bettas can somewhat tolerate other fish species (even colorful ones) while others will relentlessly go after anything that moves until its dead! There are Bettas that are more aggressive or tolerant than others, you have to learn what yours is like! :P
Because hes sick of their shit.
Usually when betas flare up, that means their angry. Most likely, he wants to kill those guppies.
It means he wants to kill them. Sooner or later, he may get a little more territorial and actually do it.
It sounds like it. Do they have places to hide? If they have the big tails, he may think they’re a threat (by looking too similar)……..
Yeah, he’s challenging them. I wouldn’t get too attached to the guppies. My beta ate the two guppies I put in his tank.
Best way I’ve found to keep a beta from being bored is to buy two. Set up two bowls, one fish in each (make sure they have a cover, or this may cause them to jump out of the bowl and that’s bad.) Keep them away from each other most of the time, but everyday put the two bowls next to each other for like half an hour, and they will puff up at each other and show their colors and put on a show for you and no one gets hurt!
Good luck.
idk where u read that but i’ve always heard even from pet stores to never put them w/ any other fish bc they will kill them idk y but they just don’t like other fish even if u put them by a mirror they will end up killing themselves bc they will try 2 fight their reflection i don’t think it’s a good idea 2 put any other fish w/ it so my advice would be 2 get another tank or bowl for the guppies
Your Betta is going to eat your guppies!
Betta’s EAT other fish. Betta’s fight other Betta’s. Put one Betta in a bowl and enjoy it. It’s the best you’ll ever get with a Betta. Sorry.
these are male fancy guppies aren’t they?
yeah guppies and bettas dont have a good track record together… try getting fish with more muted colors and/or shorter fins… female guppies for example.. or lemon tetras.
fish with bright colors and long fins usually trick the betta into thinking they are a rival male and initating a territorial streek.. of which the guppies would probably lose…
Yes, it means he is going to kill them, and I know from experience!!! Your Betta is territorial ! He wants his space, and he wants it all!! You better get those guppies out of your Bettas tank, because they won’t be having such a good time!! I tried everything with my Betta, and the best thing that I could come up with was a snail, the size of my little finger nail!! He is now the size of a golfball, and my Betta loves him!! Don’t get two snails unless you want a million snails!! Good luck to your guppies!!! lol
No they are fine betta’s tend to flare at anything the moves. Bettas and guppies go great together. In a few days he will get used to his new tank mates. I currently own 7 bettas all males in different community tanks and they all reacted the same way to the new tank mates it’s more him showing dominance then being aggressive.
Hmm, I’ve heard it all when it comes to Betta fish. I’ve heard they will kill any fish in their tank. I’ve heard they can get along with any fish as long as they are not other Betta. I’ve heard that guppies are bad for Betta’s because they will pick at the Betta’s tails. I’ve read that Betta’s CAN be with guppies.
In the end, I don’t know what literature to believe, haha! But I have a ten gallon tank with a Betta and four other fish, and not ONCE did my Betta pay attention to the other fish. Which is funny because he lived alone most of his life.
This is what I think happened, though. I had once tried to put a new fish in his tank, and he chased it around for about two minutes. I decided to take it back out after seeing that spectacle. However, after I got my bigger tank, I put both fish from their individual tanks into one tank. My Betta spends all his time flaring at his reflection, and that’s about it. I think that he was territorial in his own tank, but in the community tank, it wasn’t anyone’s territory, and he didn’t care. I even added another fish after one died (from a deformity), and he didn’t pay any attention to him.
Betta’s flare because they are challenging the other fish. Since other fishes can’t accept the challenge, the betta may not do anything. But some Betta’s will go insane on your fish and attack. It depends on the Betta, I suppose. Also tank size could be a major contributor to his aggression.
The betta thinks that the 2 guppies are other bettas, because of their flowing tails and bright colours, i would take the guppies out as soon as possible, unless you want them dead. I don’t know where you read that guppies are compatible with bettas, because they are not.
Hope i helped,
TropicalFishMaster
Oh man, who told you guppies were a good idea? They’re definitely on the ‘don’t’ list.
As far as he’s concerned, they’re encroaching on his territory. He’s wants them gone. He won’t get used to them or suddenly start putting up with them.
Bettas don’t get lonely and don’t need any tankmates.
he’s asking them if they wanna be fried.. or battered and deep fried..
cause he intends to munch those fish.
Your Betta fish probably flares at the other 2 guppies because your Betta is territorial and wants his own space to live in. He might even attack them if you don’t separate them…. When a Betta flares up, that means he or she is angry.
Leave your response!
Search
Recent Posts
Our eBay Store
Categories
Most Commented