Aggressive Betta!!

[sw33tpeachy]

My betta is VERY aggressive. I put a finger near his tank, he flares. I look at him from afar he flares. Its like he's stalking my every moment in my room and flaring at me. He swims around violently, taring his fins a couple time.

Is there a way to calm these fishes down?? I know people that own much calmer betta's than mine. Mine is just absolutly nuts!

Additional Information: Had my betta for about 5 months now and he's very big! almost twice the size of baby betta's you buy from the pet stores. Water is clean (I change it 1-2 times weekly since I have filters). I use a bit of aquarium salt.

[BettaLu&Meg]

the tearing of the fins... do you have fake plants in the tank.
If you do, i recommend getting rid of it, and replacing it with live plants, if your betta swimming by a fake plant there fins can definitly get caught in it and tear it. also sounds like swimming ick from the darting and swimming fast near , plants, gravel, and decor. to ich himself. Does it seems like he's actually stratching himself?

[Oscar Betta]

Thats why they are called "simese fighting fish" Some bettas are just pretty aggressive im not sure theres anything you can do about it. Sorry about the teared fins. Like BettaLu&Meg said, you could maybe get some real plants if you have fake plants.

[sw33tpeachy]

Hmm, he's not itching himself bettalu&meg, just very aggresive and darts whenever he feels like it! crazy fella eh? and yes, it is a fake plant. His fins are healing though

I have thought about using real plants but my tank is only 1/2 a gallon and therefore already very small. I dont want roots to grow all over.

[BettaLu&Meg]

plants are definitly a good idea with bettas but its your preference. there are smaller type plants you can buy. once you can try to upgrade to a 2 gallon tank. you'll notice that he'll be happier with the space. 2 gallons is recommended per betta for health and happiness. but in my situation also $$$ is hard to come by these days. maybe when you can upgrade live plants can be of some thought, you wont regret it and niether will your betta. And i'm very happy to hear he's doing better and his fins are too. Best part in watching them right!

[Fivestar68]

Hi, another thing that makes them aggressive is dark colors. Anytime I wear dark reds, blues and of course black they just go ape s**t! But you may just have a Betta that needs Prozac...lol

[FishMomma]

If you only have a 1/2 gallon tank, how much of the water are you changing when you do the water changes? If you DO HAVE a filter, change out 25%-50% of the water once a week. If you DO NOT have a fillter, change 75%-85% water once a week but not more than twice a week since that will stress your fella out. Darting fish are usually a big sign of ammonia and nitrIte toxicity and if you only haave a 1/2 gallon tank, that might be a possibility. Check the ammonia and nitrIte levels in your tank and if they are higher than 0, change out 50% of the water immediately and then again, 2 days later. Check out the link below my signature that deals with water changes. That will give you some helpful info regarding water changes and such.

For a live plant, try some JAVA MOSS. Java moss is a "rootless" plant that will grow anyplace and is perfect for small tanks! It grows off your fish's pee and poo thus helping to keep ammonia and nitrIte levels from spiking and being harmful to your fish. If it gets too big, just tear off what you don't want and put it in another tank or toss it. It is also quite soft and adds a nice place for your Betta to rest. Most local pet shops don't stock it, so you can purchase it online where I've gotten mine at Aquarium Garden. Once on their website search for "Java Moss" and it will take you directly to it.

Hope this helps! One other thing to remember . . . Aquarium salt doesn't evaporate or get filtered out so be careful to not oversalt your fish. Instead of adding the salt with every water change, add it every 3rd or 4th. Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions!

[sw33tpeachy]

There goes his fins again, jetting back and forth from side to side. He was healing greatly too! I was so happy until this morning.

So I changed the water this morning, like FishMomma said, 75%-85% of the water. So far, he seems "OKAY", not perfect. He doesnt seem to want to eat anymore. I guess Ill fast him for a day, let him chill out.

As for purchasing a new aquarium, ideally, I do want a 2 gallon tank but I have no space for two in my room. I have two 1/2 gallon betta tanks. If I get one and not one for the other fishy, its not really fair for lol.

As for the aquarium salt, since I changed about 85% of the water, I shouldnt add aquarium salt? I just threw in a little bit. Btw, what happens when you over salt your fish?

[FishMomma]

Bettas that are stressed don't eat too well but Bettas that are sick don't eat too well, either, so WATCH HIM VERY CLOSELY! The water change should help if ammonia and nitrIte levels are high. With only having a 1/2 gallon tank, it's going to be VERY HARD to regulate any of the levels very well. I would recommend that as soon as you get some extra space, upgrade your tanks.

Also, on the salt, make sure that you dissolve it in conditioned water BEFORE adding it to your tank. Adding too much salt to the tank can kill your fish! Here is another link to a webpage that has GREAT info about Bettas and water: [Registered users only can see links. ].

As for his fin tearing, get some of API's Betafix and add that to the water. It is a natural treatment for bacterial infections that cause fin rot (I know you don't have that) and will help them heal faster! You'll be surprised how fast they heal once you start using this. Be sure to do the recommended water changes, too, since he has fin injuires.

Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions!! Good luck!!

[BettaLu&Meg]

water quality is a MAJOR part in bettas living a healthy life, as that bettas can live under harsh conditions and are known to be "less maintanence fish" making sure water condition are perfect is vital!