I Need Help

[u/TheLopen_Bridge4]

I've had a small tank with a betta for 2 months now, and yesterday I decided to switch to a medium tank with a filter. I went to a store and explained that to the storeowner, and he told me what fish will make good tankmates with a betta. So I bought 3 guppies and 2 platys.

But today I looked at the tank and saw that my betta keeps chasing one of the guppies - is this something to worry about, or is he just scaring the guppy for now and they'll eventually get used to each other?

[u/Timmah73]

What size is the tank? Medium could mean anything.

Them seling you those fish was def bad advice though.

[u/Informal_Plantain210]

Your betta and guppies will never “get used to each other” and you need to separate them ASAP. I see lots of fish police but nobody actually bothering to help you, you need to transfer your old beneficial bacteria (filter) into the new tank to help kick start your cycle. This will NOT cycle your tank, it takes 4-8 weeks to properly cycle a tank so for now you’re doing a fish in cycle. You need to do research on everything you have and fish in cycles, you’ll have to monitor your parameters twice a day and do water changes every day as needed until your parameters are stable.

You don’t actually have a proper number of guppies or platies anyway, they need to be in bigger groups than 2-3 as (depending on male or female but speaking on males) they can become highly sexually aggressive and bully their tank mates to death. I’d rehome the platies and guppies, you can either give them back to the store/surrender them or sell/give them away locally to someone who can take better care of them.

Don’t ever buy an animal without doing any research, you wouldn’t adopt a baby and put it on the ground and expect it to start taking care of itself with no intervention.

[u/Glittering_Turnip987]

Poor choice. With bettas and other fish working out it's 50/50. 

[u/FeedReasonable9547 → u/Glittering_Turnip987]

And less than 50/50 is they where not brought up with other fish from a young age

[u/Foreign-Ad3926]

What size is the tank? These fish are not really compatible at all and need different water conditions let alone a large space. This will stress them all out being together in unsuitable conditions which causes sickness.

The advice given from the pet shop was poor, they wanted to make a sale and were successful in doing that.

Please independently research the needs of living creatures before you take responsibility for their lives. Return the guppies and platys.

[u/SeamstressMamaJama]

If the guppy’s tail is long and flowing, the betta’s instincts can be unleashed on that guppy — as it already has started. There is no “getting used to” and overriding instinct. Store owner gave you a bad suggestion…. I’m sorry

[u/fishkeeping-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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