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Betta Fish advice needed
I have two Bettas, one make and one female. They have a fairly large tank, considering that they're small fish. I had a divider that separated them from each other, but today when I was cleaning their tank I decided to leave it out. A few minutes ago, for the first time I fed them together. The male hasn't looked so good since I got them about a month ago. The female seems to be really possessive and doesn't let the male eat. She goes as far as to fill her mouth with the TOP FIN Betta Bits even if she can't eat it all. I know that they are fish.. and they can't be trained and whatnot... haha. However, if anyone can tell me why this is then I'd appreciate it.
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You really need to separate your Betta fish again. They do not need to be together. They do not live this way naturally.
Bettas' natural habitat is actually in rice patties in Asia. The rice patties are shallow and usually murky so there isn't much room for them to swim around in, let alone be together in. I've read that they have even been found living fine and dandy in small bits of water similar to puddles! This being said, they do not do well when meeting another Betta.
Bettas are very territorial and will kill each other. People who breed these fish have to be very careful on the timing of this so that their fish do not end up both dead--from fighting each other. They will fight to the death and, usually, if one successfully kills the other it will not be alive long because of the wounds it will have sustained.
Bettas will even attack other fish's fins if they are tanked with them. They are fragile fish themselves; however, they are drawn to the fins of other fish if they are "flowy" like theirs are. They can really be vicious little creatures.
Typically, one Betta will kill the other after breeding takes place if they are not separated. The male becomes extremely aggressive after mating and will literally attack the female so she leaves quickly. Bettas were simply not made to be together. They are solitary and are happy that way.
Even if the Bettas do not kill each other, the situation is very stressful for them both and will shorten their life expectancy. Usually one will chase the other, trying to get them away from THEIR home, and this alone can cause an immense amount of stress on the fish.
To breed bettas there is a period of conditioning them, introducing them, watching closely as they mate, removing the female immediately, making sure the male takes care of the fry, making sure they're all fed properly. It's a pretty intense process, and is only done successfully after quite a few times.
Regarding breeding these beautiful fish:
"The courtship can get rough with a lot of chasing and nipping, resulting in some torn fins [which can lead to the death of the fish]. When the couple is ready to spawn they will swim up to the bubble nest and entwine their bodies. The male will squeeze the female to release her eggs, which he fertilizes. He quickly gathers the fallen eggs with his mouth and places them into the nest.
After mating is completed the male will guard and care for the eggs, chasing away all comers including the female."
Take from: [Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
Please separate your fish back out. They simply were not meant to be paired together. They are not and will not be happy and healthy.
Please take the time to research pets before putting them in a risky situation. These fish have been separated for a reason, and special takes with dividers are made specifically for them. Please think about things like this next time so you don't end up with 2 dead fish.
If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask me.
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