Got my first female betta and I’m in love. However, a pretty big hitchhiker got netted with her (last photo). What is this fish? What type of care does it need? I’ve noticed her nipping it, but it’s pretty fast and can swim away. I offered my betta a bloodworm and some daphnia and this fish did try to eat/eat some of both.
I don’t mind the fish but I don’t know if it’s adequate to be in a 5 gallon tank with betta. Or if it needs to be with other fish if it’s kind. I do have a 2.5 tank I want to set up for shrimp, would that be big enough for this fish if I need to separate?
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1onvep4
Posted by pollyannacowboy
5 Comments
For me it looks alot like my Medakas,Japanese rice fish, Oryzias latipes, but i’m very new in the hobby so don’t count on me. They also have multiple color variations. If it turns out to be one, they stay really small and doesn’t require much special care. I currently have 6 of them in my small 54L male betta community tank.
just explain the situation and return the hitchhiker to the pet store! that’s wild!
oh wow. might be a rainbow fish ([blue eyed forktail rainbow](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQe_Y3tyxAnb4baP9lr_JxNAh9W-sbwjrhTrg&s))? lampeye killifish? either way, an interesting freebee which i don’t think would be happy in a five gallon with a betta or a 2.5 gallon alone. maybe bring it to your local fish store?
Looks like a roughed up fork tail rainbow fish. I’d say 5 gallons isn’t big enough for your forktail or your betta. But if that’s the biggest tank you got, seems like the best option would be to keep those two lil dudes together. A 10 gallon tank is surprisingly cheap and could accommodate both.
I’d return the rainbowfish, they are very active schooling fish and a 20 gallon long with 10+ of its kind would be good setup for it.
If you don’t want to commit to something like that then it’s best back at the store- it’s really stressed in this pic.