What ate my Betta?

[eteller]

I decided to add a few fish to my 55gal community tank. I added six neons to the existing school of six and male Dwarf Gourami. The rest of the fish in the tank are a few asst. tetras and danios. Two days later I find my previously healthy Betta dead with no fins. Did the Gourami do it? Nothing else is big enough to? Four neons also died, water chemisty is spot on, temp 76, ph 7.4, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, some nitrates (got plants).

[geowashlaw]

He may have died first and then been eaten. All fish will nibble at a dead one. I have a mysterious fin-nipper I think, but I can't figure out who it is yet.

[Northernguy]

I definatly blame the gourami!The tetras just went for easy pickins'.
They both share the space in the tank and the gouramis are known to be territorial about it.
They say betas are tough but when put in a tank with other fish the same size or bigger they always seem to get the worst of it!

[Jacko]

I would bet more on the betta dieing first and then being eaten by all the other fish, it could have been from being beaten on by the dwarf gourami but IME, a 55 gallon is large enough to give both territories so they won't really have conflict, but it always depends on the individual personality of the fish.
Danios are also well known fin nippers, they could be the cause as well, especially if they're not in a school of 6+, they tend to target long finned fish like bettas.

I have a mysterious fin-nipper I think, but I can't figure out who it is yet.

I'd take a look into your Silvertips, I've had these guys before and they were always so nippy, even in a larger school of 8.

[terrapin24h]

I would bet more on the betta dieing first and then being eaten by all the other fish, it could have been from being beaten on by the dwarf gourami but IME, a 55 gallon is large enough to give both territories so they won't really have conflict, but it always depends on the individual personality of the fish.

It's not just tank size, but sight lines too. If the gourami can see a competitor(at ANY level of the tank, but esp the top) a blood bath ensues. Both are anabantoids and as such breathe from the top of the water. To me, the Betta seems to be more of a "pretty" tough guy than an actual bruiser, and the gourami is a genuine, good old fashioned butt kicker with the physical strength to back it up. There isn't a fish in my tank that won't get out of my gourami's way at this point. All he has to do is put one of those pelvic feelers forward and his path clears. Be it to enter his favorite cave, get some food at feeding time, or to peck at an algae wafer. If he wants it, he gets it. Period. Once a fish has been mortally wounded, i think pretty much *any* fish near by will then take part. I have no doubt your gourami either killed your betta, or did enough to make him 100% helpless and then left him for dead. This is nature's way of dealing with weakness. If you're not healthy, you're food. Sorry to hear about your loss

--chris

[Sir Tristen]

I agree with terrapin. I've heard (never tried this mind you) that bettas and dwarfs see only competition in each other for their precious air space at the top, and the betta alwas gets the raw end of the deal, because he's smaller. Sorry for your loss :(

[terrapin24h]

I agree with terrapin. I've heard (never tried this mind you) that bettas and dwarfs see only competition in each other for their precious air space at the top, and the betta alwas gets the raw end of the deal, because he's smaller. Sorry for your loss :(

Incidentally, gouramis will pick on other fish too. I had a gold gourami in a 10 gal tank and added 6 glofish to said tank. He proceeded to simultaneously kick the tar out of all of them AT ONCE. It was brutal, but funny at the same time. He went full "bruce lee" on them! Needless to say he got moved to another tank quick as i could get a net(which he also attacked) They are a PSYCHO fish man, i'm tellin ya.

--chris

[s72450]

I would agree that it's your gouramis fault, but on the other hand, I had a betta in my community tank for a short while and there were for blue gouramis in there and they never bothered each other at all. It was my smaller cherry barbs that ended up nipping the betta.

[eteller]

I remember as a kid I had a betta and tiger barbs, they harrassed the betta non-stop. Will never have tigers again!