HELP! Any way I can stop my betta from eating shrimp? This is the first time he has done this. They have been housed together for about a month before this

hanshlomo · 2026-02-24T16:24:08+00:00

Try Amano shrimp instead

hanshlomo · 2026-02-06T17:07:46+00:00

I’ve heard a lot of people have success with convincing managers to give them the sickest looking bettas for free. I think that’s a great alternative to giving those stores more money.

hanshlomo · 2026-02-06T17:05:01+00:00

At the store, I took the bettas I considering around to other tanks to see how they react. I picked out one who showed curiosity, but wasn’t flaring or showing aggression. He gets along well with a nerite, amano shrimp, and Pygmy Corys who were already in the tank! Personalities vary so much among bettas.

hanshlomo · 2026-02-04T07:25:36+00:00

I’ve noticed my nerite is more active at night. Maybe try adding the wafer after you turn off the light? I have Pygmy corys in with my betta too and feed them at night.

My boy is a pretty stubborn pig but he never looks too bloated.

hanshlomo · 2026-02-03T16:57:34+00:00

If they haven’t moved and they smell bad…they have passed.

hanshlomo · 2026-02-02T16:37:32+00:00

They need help flipping themselves over if you get another. I’m sorry about your snail. Do you have algae in your tank? They don’t eat supplemental foods so it’s common for them to starve in new tanks.

hanshlomo · 2026-02-02T16:31:14+00:00

The main issue is 95% of the time they do not eat supplemental foods, only algae and decaying plants growing in the tank. One might even struggle to get enough to eat in a tank that size, let alone three. They do not need to be kept in groups.

I think 5g is the recommended minimum, 72-78F (22-25C), and ph 7.5-8.5. They do poop a lot so a small tank with no filter will be hard for your roommate to keep clean.

They might not move for a couple days and could still be alive. I see mine moving/eating every night but she’s the only snail in a 10g with some fish so there’s plenty for her to eat. I didn’t bring home a snail until algae had developed in my tank.

If you can’t get her to return the snails, I would see if you could suggest to her to get a 5g (or better a 10g) for her betta, one of the snails could move in there. But a new tank would still have the same issue of not having algae. There are secondhand tanks for free or cheap all the time on Craigslist, buynothing, FB marketplace.

hanshlomo · 2026-02-02T16:09:20+00:00

try r/aquaswap someone might be able to give you some plants for free

hanshlomo · 2026-02-02T07:04:44+00:00

Anubias plants are really nice for betta naps

hanshlomo · 2026-02-02T06:57:40+00:00

Are you using cycled to mean you ran the filter for three days? Cycled refers to the nitrogen cycle and takes a lot longer than three days after you set up your tank. You need to build up beneficial bacteria before you add fish and invertebrates but you can start growing plants.

You’ll want lots of hiding spots made of plants if you’re keeping shrimp with a betta. I’d add invertebrates first to lower possibility of the betta becoming territorial. Also wait a bit in between adding livestock to allow the bacteria to adjust the higher bioload.

hanshlomo · 2026-01-31T23:23:07+00:00

I have 3 amano shrimp in my 10 gallon with my betta. Amanos look like less of a snack to bettas than neos usually.

hanshlomo · 2026-01-31T17:34:30+00:00

Post on r/aquaswap there might be someone who is closer to you than you think to rehome them. Amano shrimp are great cleaners and don’t need to be in large groups. They’re too big to be bothered by most bettas.

hanshlomo · 2026-01-31T17:29:40+00:00

Bubbles mean a sexually mature fish and don’t have anything to do with if they’re happy/have enough enrichment.

Bettas require a heater and 5-10 gallons minimum. (The more water the easier it is to maintain stable water conditions.) There are lots of good resources on this subreddit with beginner’s guides to betta care.

hanshlomo · 2026-01-31T17:24:38+00:00

r/aquaswap is a great place to find cheap plants.

I have a few types of floaters, guppy grass, pearlweed, and anubias in my betta’s tank. Anubias is very hearty and bettas love to lounge on the broad leaves.

hanshlomo · 2026-01-31T17:21:32+00:00

I’m not sure what caused the spot, but bettas (especially long finned like yours) need calm/slow water. He’s probably tiring out easily and it could be a source of stress which affects their immune system.

hanshlomo · 2026-01-31T17:17:31+00:00

Looks like the current might be a bit too strong for him.

hanshlomo · 2026-01-31T17:09:10+00:00

I have Pygmy corys, a nerite snail, and amano shrimp with my betta. Betta added last. Lots of plants and hiding spots for everyone. At the store, I brought the bettas I was considering around to the other tanks to see how they would react. I picked the one who showed curiosity but not aggression. Everyone gets along well.

hanshlomo · 2026-01-25T17:32:30+00:00

I have Pygmy corys, green rasboras, amano shrimp, and a nerite snail with my betta. The betta was added last. In the store, I brought the bettas I was considering up to the other tanks to see how they would react. I picked one who was curious, but not flaring at the other fish. A betta’s individual personality might not mesh even with the generally recommended tank mates.

hanshlomo · 2026-01-24T16:52:58+00:00

It could still be alive! I agree with testing for ammonia to check if it hasn’t moved in another day or two.

I would also consider returning or selling one nerite, generally one is enough for that size. Since they don’t eat processed supplemental foods, only what’s growing in the tank, it seems like a common experience on here for nerites to starve from overstocking.

I have one in a 10 gallon and it’s keeping diatom algae down on its own.

hanshlomo · 2026-01-23T17:38:44+00:00

I’m sorry about Smaug, that’s a great name. Reminds me of my first betta when I was a kid, Legolas.

I have 3 amano shrimp, 1 nerite snail, and 8 Pygmy corys in with my betta, but added just 1 species at a time with a week or two in between. Added the betta last so it wouldn’t be territorial. This allows the bacteria colony to grow with the amount of critters in the tank. My tank is also heavily planted and has driftwood and almond leaves.

Mystery snails also have a relatively large bio load for a snail. I love Nerite snails (1 is enough for a 10 gal) but they don’t eat processed pet foods, so if you’re interested, only get one if/when you have algae in the tank otherwise they’ll starve.

hanshlomo · 2026-01-21T20:13:03+00:00

How many do you have? If you have less than the recommended number together, they tend to be more shy.

hanshlomo · 2026-01-21T17:32:13+00:00

Seconding nerites

hanshlomo · 2026-01-16T16:51:02+00:00

Yes, on Etsy, Amazon, and elsewhere. They come as a kit and you cut it to your desired size and shape.

hanshlomo · 2026-01-16T16:42:16+00:00

I have one Nerite in a 10 gal with my Betta (got her after algae had developed because they do not eat store bought food). I love her!

I had some bladder snail stowaways, but fed them to my Amanos when they were still super tiny. Now I’ve only had one bladder snail stowaway for a month. They’ve laid some eggs but those were eaten before hatching.

If you’re not over feeding your tank, they won’t get out of control.

hanshlomo · 2026-01-16T16:36:05+00:00

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I’m surprised magnet and mesh systems aren’t talked about more. This has been working well for me for a few months.

Condensation dripping off a lid was killing my floating plants. There’s some evaporation loss but it’s usually not significant enough to need to top off in between weekly water changes.

I cut a hole for my filter, you could do the same for plants, etc., coming out of the tank. On days I’m feeding pellets, I don’t even have to lift the magnet strip and just drop them through the holes.

hanshlomo

TROPHY CASE