Mystery snail and betta issues-

So a few weeks ago i went to pick up some melafix at a store because my betta go in an accident- while i was there they had these tanks that were 5 gallons and it had a overstocking of fish with the goldfish that have the things on the top of their heads guppys etc. they were also housing snails in there with them- mystery snails- i felt bad for those fish because they were in a tiny home with a bunch of other fish and snails- i have a ten gallon tank at home with a female betta so i just decided to get a snail- [i have done research on mystery snails so i knew about them-]

my betta, mark, didnt seem to have a problem with my snail, ethan, she just left him alone- but a few days ago i got these rocks so i could change up the scape of my tank because i had this root ornament and i just thought the rocks looked nice- i took out the ornament to put the rocks in and i placed them in a way to where theres a cave big enough for the mark and a other cave big enough for ethan but mark can go in there if she wanted to-

mark is now antagonizing ethan a bit but i think shes just curious and thinks hes food- but idek man should i place ethan in another tank or should i place the ornament back in the tank..?

 

How long has this been happening, if just for a few days, I would wait for a week, and then if it continues give him his own tank.

 

Give it some time but keep a close eye the first few days. My betta Oil picked on my mystery snail Olive for a little, but he mellowed out and leaves her alone now that he knows she’s not food. Just monitor Mark’s behavior and if she’s too aggressive after a few days then separate them…

 

it just started today

it just started today

but i put the rocks in two days ago**
okay thankyou!! i think its just the change of environment that they just have to get use to- im working on getting more live plants and a real piece of wood rather than a fake one to make it look more like a realistic environment- maybe that'll help
UPDATE:

i did relocate ethan to the other side of the tank because ethan was in marks spot that she likes to go in- so thats most likely why she was bothering him- i also added the root ornament back into the tank for the time being till i can get the actual wood this weeked. im just hoping theyll get along because they used to- but if that doesnt happen it'll be okay- things happen bettas are a territorial fish. ill put ethan in a new tank if it does come down to it

 

Your betta was bored, you gave him something to play with and he is playing with it. Bettas are territorial when it comes to other bettas, but they are not the solitary fish that they are made out to be. In a 10 gallon or larger many bettas do well with carefully selected tankmates to stimulate natural behaviors.
I am not saying that you have to do this, just explaining the behavior that you are observing. Most importantly, DO NOT USE MELAFIX! Or BETTA FIX can coat a betta labyrinth organ and prevent it from getting oxygen.

If Your betta continues to pester the mystery snail, consider a nerite snail, as they do not have the tempting antena

 

They are in 10 gallons and i got you man- but ive only heard bad things about betta fix- not necessarily melafix- i havent been giving that treatment to my betta anymore because shes healed up- i also used almond leaves and epsom salt bath- so im kinda confused - also the only reason i put my snail in with the betta was because ive heard people have had no problems with it- and yes it varys from fish to fish so thats why im looking into getting a separate tank for my snail- thing 5 gallons and up- roughly in that area. but thankyou for explaining it really helps a lot!!

 

Betta fix is diluted melefix. Melifax is 5 times as strong as betta fix. The company seems to be aware of the problem, or they never would have created the diluted version for bettas. It's not medicine, it's a tonic like vix vapor rub. Clean water is the best medicine for minor cuts and scrapes.

 

okay so what do i do now because i did give it to my betta- if you know the answer to that

 

Hi, Just don't use it again. I assume that if there is any oil build-up, it will dissipate. Save the melafix for other species of fish, as long as it is not an anabantoid fish "gourami, paradise fish..." Or if your own nose is stuffed up, you can take a sniff of the melafix. Smell it, dont eat or drink it!

 

thankyou so much!! I think im going to get carbon for my filter so it can suck up any left over melafix and do a 25 percent water change every other day- because i did notice that mark was a bit more lethargic than normal with her water parameters fine- no spikes in anything- shes still eating like shes been starved for 100 years ‍♂️ even though i feed her on monday wednesday and friday- the girl could eat up an entire buffet if she wanted to- off topic but what you were explaining is most likely the reason shes lethargic- other than that shes acting normal- but she does gulp for air while shes still underwater which raises some concerns- ill monitor her for the next few weeks to see if everything will be alright :-] thankyou again!

 

wouldnt hurt, just don't remove the cycle filter cartridge. you can add a second filter cartridge containing fresh carbon if there is any place to shove it in. If not, you can cut open the old/ cycled filter, remove old carbon and add fresh corbon. It is not important to remove the old carbon, but if there is no room for ne stuff you can. I urge you not to remove the filter sponge, as it houses a lot of nitifying bacteria, and you dont want to lose your cycle.

 

yea thats what i plan on doing- i put the old filter cartridge in with the new one when i got a different filter so i would keep some of the beneficial bacteria so i think im going to put the carbon where the old filter media is-

 

They are in 10 gallons and i got you man- but ive only heard bad things about betta fix- not necessarily melafix- i havent been giving that treatment to my betta anymore because shes healed up- i also used almond leaves and epsom salt bath- so im kinda confused - also the only reason i put my snail in with the betta was because ive heard people have had no problems with it- and yes it varys from fish to fish so thats why im looking into getting a separate tank for my snail- thing 5 gallons and up- roughly in that area. but thankyou for explaining it really helps a lot!!

I have had a rabbit snail for at least 2 years now. Gone through a few bettas (they get sick and die for some reason). Each betta has pestered the snail, but eventually it stops. And every once in a while the bettas would watch him. I would stand near to make sure the bettas weren’t nipping at Turbo the snail. Most of the time they just watched, well after the initial few days of nipping. I will say to be careful what meds you use with a snail, they do not react well with most meds unless it is specifically safe for inverts. Basically, I think it is normal for bettas to nip at the snail until they form an understanding in their fishy ways.