Why do betta fish fight? Do they fight until death? How do you recognize it? How to know betta fish fight is about to begin? Do males fight females? Is it true that betta attacks other fish types? What can be done to stop them from fighting? If any of these questions trouble you, you’re in the right place. All these questions will be answered in this blog. Keep watching till the end.
There is a history behind the reason why Betta fish are so aggressive. Betta fish were originally brought back to local Asian towns by those working in rice paddies and puddles. The aggressive nature of betta fish led to keepers fighting, betting on matches, and specifically breeding them to be more aggressive. This genetic aggression of betta fish still exists today.
How to know, a betta fight is about to begin?
It is easy to tell when your Betta fish is fighting; hopefully, you will never have to see it! Betta fish first warn other fish by flaring their gills and spreading their fins in an attempt to make themselves look like a serious threat. This will also give the other male a chance to leave before a fight ensues. These warning signs will soon become a fight if the threat doesn’t leave.
Why do betta fight?
Male Betta fish fight each other because they are incredibly territorial. They build territories that they defend with their lives. A betta fish fights to keep their territory safe from trespassers. They’ll fight until the other guy gets hurt or gives up. The most common reasons that betta fish get aggressive are fighting for food, securing a bubble nest, stress, overcrowding, and intentional breeding.
How Do Betta Fight?
If flaring their gills and spreading their fins do not help, the Betta fish fight will escalate to nipping. Males will circle each other, nipping at each other’s fins and tails. They will fight until one male backs off or dies. Betta fish fight primarily with their mouths. They bite the scales, fins, and bodies of other fish to hurt them. If you’re lucky enough to catch signs of aggression before a full-on fight starts, the best thing to do is separate them. Male Betta fish should never be kept together.
How Long Do Betta Fight?
In most cases, a Betta fish fight may last a couple of minutes or end immediately. Fights will last much longer in betta that has been selectively bred for aggression and usually end with one betta either very injured or dead. Reminder, This is animal cruelty and should never be done.
Do they really like to fight?
There is no evidence to prove whether betta fish like to fight. Aggressive behavior in fish is a natural instinct. They are naturally inclined to protect their territory just like any other animal. Fighting is generally stressful for fish, so they probably do not enjoy it. Animals fight because it is part of their instincts and how they live in the wild.
Do Betta fight each other to death?
Betta fish will not always fight to absolute death. Most of the time they won’t even get close to that point unless they’ve been selectively bred for aggression or are trapped in a small tank with nowhere for the less dominant Betta to hide. Betta fish often damage their opponents’ scales, gills, and tails by nipping and thrashing about. Those injuries, along with infections caused by stress, could kill a Betta after fighting. It is cruel to deliberately make betta fish fight.
Do they fight in the wild?
In the wild, Betta fish swim through miles of rivers and paddies during the dry season. It is very rare for fights to take place in the wild compared to aquariums. If one betta enters another’s territory and displays aggression, no fight will result since the other betta backs out and moves on. However, they have to either find or hunt for food to survive. In such situations, Betta fish are forced to fight in the wild for survival. Males also fight each other to protect their bubble nests and eggs. He will wait for a female to notice the bubble nest after he blows it. A threat to a bubble nest in the wild leads to a fight.
Do male betta fight against females?
There will also be fights between male and female Betta fish. Domestic male Betta fish don’t like having females in their tanks. They should never be housed together except during mating and separated immediately after. It’s common for females to eat eggs during spawning, so a male will chase them off and defend against this behavior. Males are the ones who place the eggs in the nest and care for them until hatching. They will do whatever it takes to protect their offspring.
Do two female betta fight?
It is generally possible to keep female Betta fish together. Compared to their male counterparts, they are less aggressive, but can still be territorial and aggressive toward each other. It’s advisable to have several females in a sorority tank and plenty of space for them. Some females may still be too aggressive for sorority life. If you are trying to keep female Betta fish together and you see signs of fighting, the aggressive fish must be separated. Never add a male to a sorority tank.
Are Betta fish aggressive towards other fish types?
If you keep Betta fish in a community tank, you should avoid any fish that has bright colors or long ornamental fins. There are Betta fish that are aggressive towards other fish, some of which would be fine with a few tankmates. If your aquarium is too crowded, it is highly likely that your Betta will act aggressively because there will not be enough territory for them. If you are planning to house Betta with other fish species, make sure there is plenty of space and hiding spots.
How to stop them from fighting?
One of the easiest ways to stop your fish from fighting is to only have one male fish per tank. Also provide a visual barrier between the two tanks so the fish cannot see each other at any time. If your betta fish jump over the separator or accidentally get in the same tank, separate them right away. Male Betta fish should never be kept together. Avoid mirrors and other shiny objects in the tank. Items like these in a tank can make it look more attractive to us, but they can also cause stress for fish. Betta can injure themselves if they attack mirrors ornaments toys and other shiny items around the tank. You can reduce fighting by giving them a lot of space, hiding places, and carefully choosing their tank mates.
Betta fish health and happiness are one of our primary responsibilities as pet keepers. So never intentionally fight a betta fish. It’s absolutely animal cruelty.
I hope you got a better understanding of the betta fish’s territorial nature and fighting behavior. If you enjoyed this post, check out the website for more! Comment below with your thoughts on betta fish fights and anything you’ve ever seen.
