My male Betta turned violent!!!!

I am in the process of moving my mystery snail from the Betta tank to the 36 gallon community tank. ( acclimating him now )
My male Betta, who is normally very docile and never flares, started biting the snail, flaring and otherwise showing aggression.

Seems this all came on today ( they have been together in the tank since day one ) when Rango made his first bubble nest. I am guessing he was feeling threatened?

Is this something the males do to "protect" their nests?

I just can't take the chance of having a dead snail

Junne

 

Good, take the snail out...he is probably looking after his nest. He doesn't want any potential predators around his new nursery. Too bad he doesn't know he'll never get to use it

 

Sounds like he is maturing and doing what many bettas do.
So often we advise members that things can change (or not) rapidly with a betta.
We just never know.

My gals would never tolerate anything in their tanks.

 

Wow really caught me off guard!!! This morning, he was fine and by afternoon, he turned in to a black belt!!! I've never seen him so adamant about "getting" the snail!!!
Poor "Gigantor" is now in the community tank while Rango is still flaring at himself

 

This is why we suggest to keep bettas alone

You never know when they will turn on tank mates. They are more aggressive than most people realize.

 

wow really caught me off guard!!! This morning, he was fine and by afternoon, he turned in to a black belt!!! I've never seen him so adamant about "getting" the snail!!!
Poor "gigantor" is now in the community tank while rango is still flaring at himself

lol

 

Lol guess Rango has turned from a boy into a man same thing happened with Malcolm and upon reflection a mystery illness must have been Malcolm the red assassin considering I was losing one fish overnight over the course of 4 days

 

This is exactly why, as others have said, I always recommend bettas be left alone. Once they get those raging hormones, anything can and usually does happen.

 

I hope he doesn't get too upset when I do his water change later today..... He seems back to his normal-non-flaring-peaceful self today. Put my hand in there to feed and as usual, let me pat him on the head a few times! I wouldn't have done that yesterday!

 

This is exactly why, as others have said, I always recommend bettas be left alone. Once they get those raging hormones, anything can and usually does happen.

So you're recommending that the Betta tank have no snails at all? I only had this one snail who he never bothered until the whole bubble nest thing.
I was planning on putting the Betta in my new Fluval after its done cycling with some MTS snails... Do you think that would that be okay?

Thanks!

Junne

 

MTS usually hide in the substrate. They are much harder to notice. Still, he may try to attack them from time to time.

 

How about putting a fake snail in the tank

 

How about putting a fake snail in the tank

or a fake male Betta

 

They have fake neon anemones. Those are pretty, add a splash of color, and have no chance of hurting his fins.

 

Thanks Dria! I am actually all set on decorations and such for my Fluval. Its pretty much ready to go ( with the exception of a few more plants to add to the background )
Now I just wait until the fishless ammonia cycle ends.....
Here's what it looks like:




Junne

 

Oh! I forgot that was the Japanese tank you had set up. Never mind.

 

Thanks Dria! I am actually all set on decorations and such for my Fluval. Its pretty much ready to go ( with the exception of a few more plants to add to the background )
Now I just wait until the fishless ammonia cycle ends.....
Here's what it looks like:

View attachment 90505

Junne

I would suggest adding a Crypt Lutea as a background plant for that tank. It is definitely a beautiful plant.

 

My betta nips at my MTS, but I wouldn't be concerned for the snails' safety. I've seen him grab a tiny one off the glass, chew on it for a bit, then spit it out! I was worried, but the snail crawled away a bit later. If he couldn't even harm an itty bitty one, I wouldn't be worried about larger ones.

 

I would suggest adding a Crypt Lutea as a background plant for that tank. It is definitely a beautiful plant.

Great idea but I may have to look online - no one around here that I know of carries anything like that. Where did you get yours?