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I was just curious about something. Quite awhile ago I bought myself a beta fish - the first one I have had in years. I had him for a few weeks and noticed he seemed pretty bored. I hadn't had any since I was a kid and I usually had two or more that could see each other, they would "exercise" by flaring at each other and they all lived for three or more years.
Anyways, this guy seemed lonely so I decided to get an aquatic frog as a tank buddy for him. Within a week my beta had died. I thought it must have been something I did wrong, like over conditioning the water, so I got another one and tried again. He was also dead within a week. I noticed when removing him from the tank that his fins seemed to be nibbled at - I thought maybe the problem was that I was underfeeding them, and when the beta died my frog was desperately hungry. I bought another one, AND another tank (just in case), and tried again. I watched them interact for about fifteen minutes and immediately separated them - the frog was attacking the fish like crazy. He would chase the fish (Nova) all over and bite at him when he got close enough. Rather than fighting, Nova swam away as fast as he could - it was like he knew he wouldn't have a chance in a fight.
I ended up naming froggy Hannibal the Cannibal and he spent his days all alone in his own tank. Unfortunately, Hannibal died the other day. =(
Nova still seemed really lonely, he never flared or did much of anything. When Hannibal died I decided to try an experiment. My daughter has aquatic frogs in her tank with her goldfish and they all get along fine - I thought I would try introducing two of them to Nova's tank. Needless to say, they are all absolutely happy living together. They mainly ignore each other, although every once in awhile Nova swims up to one or the other of them, they freeze, Nova gives them the evil eye, and then they all swim their separate ways. I have noticed no real aggression from either the frogs or Nova.
I was just wondering if aquatic frogs being aggressive like that is normal. These are the first ones I have ever owned and, like I said, the ones in my daughter's tank are very docile. Could it be because I only had ONE living with the fish, or was Hannibal just a complete jerk?
Side-note: Today Liam and I got another beta (Lucifer [bright red and the most aggressive beta I have ever owned]) because, after Hannibal's passing, I had the extra tank. Lucy is most definitely going to spend his days BY HIMSELF, he flares up at Nova and the frogs constantly and their tanks are a good three feet apart. I was trying to figure out who would have won if in a fight: Lucy or Hannibal. I honestly can't decide. Not that I would have pitted them against each other, it was just something that came to mind.
Anyways, if anyone has any insight into the behavior of Aqua frogs, or any information on other fish that would make good tanks mates with Beta fish, let me know. =D
^^ One of the Aqua frogs from my daughter's tank, after I had moved him into the new set-up.
^^ Nova, my fan-tail. These are the best pictures I could get; his head (and eyes) are not nearly so ugly in real life.
I guess it isn't just people who can be very un-photogenic. Still, I love him.
^^ This is Lucy. He was seriously p*ssed at the camera, and myself, for being so close to the tank.
He wouldn't stay still to get a good shot of him. But I love his coloring and thought I would post these anyways.
^^The larger tank is home to Nova and the froggies (used to be Hannibal's tank).
The smaller one is where Lucy is living, which is where Nova was living up until today.
Normally, they are on separate sides of the mantle but I thought they needed some "exercise" time.
After about fifteen minutes I moved Lucy back to the other side of the mantle.
Anyways, this guy seemed lonely so I decided to get an aquatic frog as a tank buddy for him. Within a week my beta had died. I thought it must have been something I did wrong, like over conditioning the water, so I got another one and tried again. He was also dead within a week. I noticed when removing him from the tank that his fins seemed to be nibbled at - I thought maybe the problem was that I was underfeeding them, and when the beta died my frog was desperately hungry. I bought another one, AND another tank (just in case), and tried again. I watched them interact for about fifteen minutes and immediately separated them - the frog was attacking the fish like crazy. He would chase the fish (Nova) all over and bite at him when he got close enough. Rather than fighting, Nova swam away as fast as he could - it was like he knew he wouldn't have a chance in a fight.
I ended up naming froggy Hannibal the Cannibal and he spent his days all alone in his own tank. Unfortunately, Hannibal died the other day. =(
Nova still seemed really lonely, he never flared or did much of anything. When Hannibal died I decided to try an experiment. My daughter has aquatic frogs in her tank with her goldfish and they all get along fine - I thought I would try introducing two of them to Nova's tank. Needless to say, they are all absolutely happy living together. They mainly ignore each other, although every once in awhile Nova swims up to one or the other of them, they freeze, Nova gives them the evil eye, and then they all swim their separate ways. I have noticed no real aggression from either the frogs or Nova.
I was just wondering if aquatic frogs being aggressive like that is normal. These are the first ones I have ever owned and, like I said, the ones in my daughter's tank are very docile. Could it be because I only had ONE living with the fish, or was Hannibal just a complete jerk?
Side-note: Today Liam and I got another beta (Lucifer [bright red and the most aggressive beta I have ever owned]) because, after Hannibal's passing, I had the extra tank. Lucy is most definitely going to spend his days BY HIMSELF, he flares up at Nova and the frogs constantly and their tanks are a good three feet apart. I was trying to figure out who would have won if in a fight: Lucy or Hannibal. I honestly can't decide. Not that I would have pitted them against each other, it was just something that came to mind.
Anyways, if anyone has any insight into the behavior of Aqua frogs, or any information on other fish that would make good tanks mates with Beta fish, let me know. =D

^^ One of the Aqua frogs from my daughter's tank, after I had moved him into the new set-up.


^^ Nova, my fan-tail. These are the best pictures I could get; his head (and eyes) are not nearly so ugly in real life.
I guess it isn't just people who can be very un-photogenic. Still, I love him.


^^ This is Lucy. He was seriously p*ssed at the camera, and myself, for being so close to the tank.
He wouldn't stay still to get a good shot of him. But I love his coloring and thought I would post these anyways.

^^The larger tank is home to Nova and the froggies (used to be Hannibal's tank).
The smaller one is where Lucy is living, which is where Nova was living up until today.
Normally, they are on separate sides of the mantle but I thought they needed some "exercise" time.
After about fifteen minutes I moved Lucy back to the other side of the mantle.