Bettas chase one another for a variety of purposes, including territorial defense, dominance establishment, food competition, and mating. Due to ongoing tension, even normally calm fish may chase one another. This can be the result of unsuitable tank mates, bad water quality, or a crowded tank.
Although it may appear like Bettas are playing when they chase one another, this activity is a warning indicator. It’s time to conduct some investigation and identify the issue in your tank because something isn’t right there.
In this article, the most frequent causes of fish chasing one another will be discussed, along with possible remedies. Keep in mind that it is difficult to figure out what a Betta is thinking or feeling; the closest thing you can do is make changes that you hope will work based on your best assumptions.
Why Do Bettas Chase Each Other? Reasons And Factors
There may be a variety of factors why Bettas chase each other. Some of the factors are listed below:
Incompatibility
A highly well-liked species of tank fish, bettas are fiercely possessive. They are not present in shoals, in the tank, or in schools. Bettas don’t get along well with their kind; they don’t get along well with other species either.
Your Betta may be pursuing each other around the tank for a variety of reasons, including territorial behavior, compatibility, and aggression. It will take extreme measures to remove any threats from its immediate environment if it feels threatened.
Therefore, a community tank cannot be quickly set up as a result. You must conduct in-depth research on your Betta. The more thorough and in-depth your research, the easier it will be to maintain the optimal setting.
Territorial Behavior
Depending on what sets off a betta’s inborn instincts, there are many territorial behaviors:
Territorial Behavior Of Solitary Betta
Betta prefers to be alone and may become upset if other Bettas intrude on its personal space. Since Bettas are vicious species, battles may break out between the Bettas at any time if one of them breaches a boundary of the other.
Territorial Behavior During Breeding
When other Bettas approach too closely to their breeding spot, both male and female Bettas will become territorial. This is typical behavior and demonstrates that the intended parents will guard the eggs.
You should move the pregnant Betta and the eggs to a separate tank if this back-and-forth behavior between the spawning pair and another Betta becomes overly violent.
Territorial Behavior Towards New Bettas
In a community tank, a specific hierarchy typically emerges after each Betta has a chance to push boundaries and be pushed by others.
In the act of territoriality, a newly introduced Betta may be pursued around. When each Betta has a chance to interact with the newcomer and establishes its place in the hierarchy, this type of chasing should stop.
Domination
Bettas are typically territorial. The domination issue may occur if there are numerous Bettas in an identical container. The dominant male Betta will attempt to assert his authority in the aquarium.
Since Bettas are highly aggressive, they frequently fight with one another, which can cause significant injury. If there are a male and a female Betta in the tank, it goes without saying that the male will rule the female.
Competition For Food
For any ecosystem, food is essential. Like people, Bettas also require a balanced meal daily to stay healthy and satisfied. Bettas will eat anything because they are bottom feeders, surface feeders, carnivores, and omnivores.
However, a starved Betta will hunt for lesser Bettas if it isn’t satisfied (maybe babies of other Bettas). Therefore, rivalry over food may result in one Betta chasing another.
Extreme occurrences of this pursuit and competitiveness can even result in cannibalism in addition to keeping other Betta from eating its food. So, always conduct rigorous research to determine Betta’s ideal nutritional needs and feed them as necessary.
Mating Season
Bettas chase each other more vigorously during the mating and breeding season. You will observe the male Betta chasing the female Betta if you have male and female Betta in your tank. As soon as the female Betta is ready to discharge her eggs, the pursuit escalates.
Regardless of the breeding process, there are three different types of chasing:
- Before the mating season, male Bettas chase one another to demonstrate their supremacy.
- For courting, male Betta pursues female Betta.
- Female Betta pursuing a male Betta in preparation for mating.
Prior to breeding season, male Betta might become aggressive, which can cause a number of problems in the tank. The threatened Bettas will experience stress and danger if nobody is paying attention.
Therefore, make sure that the tank’s female-to-male Betta ratio is consistently high. The level of hostility may rise if there are more males in the tank.
Insufficient Space
Most Bettas prefer and require their area. In a smaller tank, the Bettas can start chasing one another. The Bettas may trespass on one another’s borders because of a lack of space, which inevitably results in chasing.
How To Prevent The Bettas From Chasing Each Other?
Here are some of the suggestions listed below that may help you to prevent the chasing activity in Bettas.
Add Hiding Places To The Aquarium
Including some private areas can be quite beneficial. Betta will use the precise hiding places as their home, resting place, or location to reside. The other Bettas will behave similarly, picking their hiding places and leading solitary lives free from conflict.
Castles, large rocks, and other structures of this nature can make excellent hiding places. Every pet fish can rest quietly in its place without being disturbed by the Bettas. Similar to where they hide, these locations work best for mating and producing eggs. The spouses can safeguard their eggs without becoming alarmed. In their personal space, the Bettas can safeguard their eggs and young. The Betta partners will dwell in peace in their respective locations rather than chasing each other around.
Decorate The Aquarium
Your tank can be decorated with a variety of items. You might be wondering how it can prevent Betta from pursuing one another. But Betta can readily designate their region. Therefore it is useful.
In addition, you could use various colored gravel to beautify the tank’s bottom. You may create gravel in many color combinations. There won’t be any conflict as the Betta will only swim in that region. You can put some castles and rocks at a specific distance, and various Bettas will occupy various corners or spaces.
In an aquarium, you can create separate parts by setting up a line of plants. To create a boundary, select some tall plants. For separating the area, you may also use driftwood. There won’t be any conflicts among your Bettas, and they’ll remain content in their designated region.
Provide Sufficient Food
Your Betta should receive an adequate amount of food to keep its stomach full. There won’t be a struggle for food when there is plenty of it.
When a Betta is eating its dinner, it won’t chase the other Bettas away. Inside the damp, there will be a lot calmer than there was before.
Your pets’ fights and disputes over food won’t occur anymore. The Bettas will coexist peacefully after they stop fighting with one another.
In the same aquarium, provide several types of food to meet the needs of each Betta. For example, you can feed animals live food, fish flakes, processed food, or some naturally occurring materials, such as various nutrient-rich leaves, etc.
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Provide Sufficient Space
When you have a big tank for your marine pets, there is just enough room. The larger tank is significantly simpler to decorate than the smaller one. In a large tank, you may quickly and easily decorate and create divisions for several Betta fish. Your pet will be comfortable swimming in its domain if you give it every square inch of room.
Additionally, you can add more pets to the same tank in the future. Once you get larger equipment, you won’t require more purchases. There will be no more chasing, nibbling, or other similar habits, and you’ll be in the most tranquil area ever. Additionally, your pet will continue to be strained and at ease.
How Can I Tell Whether My Bettas Are Mating or Fighting?
Natural displays of dominance, aggression, and competitiveness among many of the Betta fish may be the first stages of mating or evidence that they are fighting.
Whatever the cause, you must monitor your temperament carefully to prevent consequences. During the mating period, for example, the male Betta displays signals of hostility and power to impress the female Betta’s attention.
However, temperaments for fighting and mating might occasionally be extremely similar. As a result, it becomes very challenging to differentiate between them. It could be challenging for you to tell the two apart as a rookie. In such circumstances, we advise that you proceed cautiously and observe Betta’s behavior initially.
Fighting entails hostility, in contrast to mating behavior, which involves the Betta vibrating its body, chasing the female, and attempting to develop courtship. Therefore, it is an indication of fighting if you see Betta biting the fins of another Betta.
As a hobbyist, you must act proactively in these situations. Before causing more harm, separate the Bettas from the aquarium right away.
What Causes Betta Fish to Fight?
Betta fish compete to acquire a territory that includes access to females, food supplies, and shelter. This is a frequent reason why several distinct fish species behave aggressively.
Aggressive Behaviour
There is disagreement about whether this fighting tendency in betta fish is natural or the result of their rearing practices. According to studies, bettas raised in a group tend to be less violent. It can be difficult to determine how your betta fish were raised and how violent they may be with some providers, and it might take a few weeks before you can determine their level of hostility. However, the majority of male bettas are aggressive and should not be housed with other bettas.
Size Of The Fish
Typically, female bettas don’t act violently toward one another. Individual Betta may be more or less violent than others in a group of female bettas, referred to as “sorority” or “harem,” which frequently results in the establishment of a hierarchy.
As a new hierarchy is created, the inclusion of new females in the harem may lead to an upsurge in fighting. Female betta fish are frequently housed in aquariums alongside other fish of the same size.
Gender Of The Fish
Male bettas cannot be placed within a single tank as other male bettas. However, one male betta may be kept there with other non-aggressive species of fish. Other fish species may be housed with female bettas.
If the other fish have flowing fins identical to another betta, some betta fish may become aggressive toward other fish of the same species maintained within the same tank. It’s crucial to supply your aquarium with fish that are peaceful neighbors and nonaggressive.
Personality
Whether your betta can be kept among other species depends on their particular personalities. For any other fish to be maintained with, certain bettas must be kept alone. Betta fish should be put in the tank last to prevent any potentially aggressive interactions.
How To Stop The Fight Of Bettas?
Your betta’s ability to coexist with other species is determined by their individual personalities. Some bettas must be kept alone to be kept with any other fish. To avoid any possibly violent interactions, the betta fish should indeed be added to the aquarium last.
Additionally, remove any mirror-containing playthings or mirrors that are put close to the aquarium. Betta has a reputation for reacting angrily to its reflections. Even though it might be seen as “enrichment,” these substances are known to stress bettas. So they shouldn’t be included in betta tanks. Betta fish attacks can result in injuries when they target toys or mirror projections.
Prozac and marijuana have both been used as treatments to lessen aggressive betta fish behavior. With both treatments, Bettas exhibited less aggressive behavior but developed a tolerance to the marijuana dose. Before administering any treatments to your pet fish, always seek advice from your veterinarian.
FAQ
Can One Male And Two Female Betta Fish Live Together?
The hostility of the male bettas toward the females prevents them from coexisting, despite the fact that they are gentle by nature. However, there are situations when temporary accommodations must be made, like when one party needs to clean the other’s tank. In these situations, it is better to limit this to a short period of time and keep an eye out for symptoms of aggression.
How Can You Tell Whether The Bettas Want To Mate?
The betta female will darken in color, show more of her ovipositor, and develop vertical bars all over her body when she is ready to mate. The male’s bubble nest will likewise be accepted by her. In male bettas, a deeper hue also indicates readiness.
Conclusion
Bettas chase each other for a variety of reasons, some brought on by their inherent tendencies and others by an unsatisfactory tank layout.
The easiest approach to determine whether the chase that is occurring in your tank is natural or if you need to intervene and defend a Betta from hostility is to observe your Betta and refrain from intervening right away.
Since chasing is a common behavior in Bettas, several strategies can be used to stop it, including giving the Bettas enough room, adding hiding places, beautifying the aquarium, and feeding them the right amount of food.
