my beta

grotunno · 02-23-2006, 05:42 AM

Hello my name is grotunno & i have a beta but i am wondering why it chases my basic goldfish around so much sometimes. can anyone help me?

bunnicula · 02-23-2006, 10:36 AM

What size tank do you have them in?

Betta are aggressive and territorial fish. They often do not get along with other fish, unless they are in a very large tank and have lots of places to hide. Even then, some betta still will not get along with other fish. If your betta is chasing your goldfish, then he is probably being territorial. I would suggest separating the fish (putting one in another tank) because the betta is likely stressing out the goldfish. For information on betta care, see http://healthybetta.com/.

Also, I'm not sure if you are aware or not, but goldfish require A LOT of space (much more than a betta). Department stores often sell little bowls for goldfish, but it is actually recommended that you allow 10 gallons of tank space for each goldfish because they can grow quite large and they are quite dirty. For more information on goldfish, see http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/4468/ and http://www.koitime.com/goldfishguy/index.htm

Sorry if you know most of this already, but I am just trying to cover all of the bases. Hope this helps.

najiwench · 02-23-2006, 05:11 PM

i have two goldfish and my betta in a tank together, and they get along fine..

i've actually heard the opposite about bettas, that they are pretty much only aggressive toward other bettas..and in community tanks are often the ones getting beaten up by other fin nippy type fish....

so far, though, swimmy and his two buddies get along fine, there is a little bit of chasing but it seems to be more of a boredom thing than anyone getting stressed out, the only problem i have is swimmy trying to eat the goldfish food (which is WAY big for him) lol...he gets his own, but i guess that bigger food looks more appetizing lol...

bunnicula · 02-23-2006, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by najiwench

i've actually heard the opposite about bettas, that they are pretty much only aggressive toward other bettas..and in community tanks are often the ones getting beaten up by other fin nippy type fish....

I've heard that it can go either way: the betta can be the aggressor or the other fish can chase and nip at the betta's tail. I guess the main point is to watch how the betta gets along with the other fish in the tank and vice versa. If they get along, then fine. If they don't, then separate them.

grotunno · 02-24-2006, 04:45 AM

thank you much bunnicula & najiwench. i can see what you both are trying to say because before i bought the beta i had the goldfish & a black bubbleyed fish in the tank & the goldfish would chase the bubbleye as a game but just after i bought the beta the bubbleye died because a week before he got stuck on the plant & saw him floating massaged him a bit but didnt last long. my point is that the goldfish was al;ways playful but this time w/ the beta & goldfish alone in a 1 & 3/4 gallon of water the goldfish isnt chasing its the beta that is.

najiwench · 02-24-2006, 06:08 PM

i think the issue here is you probably (definately) need a bigger tank....i have my three in ten gallons and it is still not quite big enough...i mean, they are healthy and stuff, but would be happier with more space...that size you list really isn't big enough for one fish much less two good sized fish like a betta and a goldfish