Betta eating snails

[Falina]

OK! I just watched my betta take out 2 common pond snails.

His mouth isn't suited to eating snails obviously so he has overcome this by "pecking" them off the wall of the tank, waiting for them to fall then they stick their "heads?" out to feel about cause they don't know what's going on, then he eats them!

I thoguh this was quite innovative.

Anyone else have a betta that does this?

[Mirta]

Bettas must be intelligent then!... And carnivorous. I have always thought they are just pretty feathers.

[Rue]

Bettas are carnivores! Insectivores mostly...but open to any protein source...

...I have my plakat in with my 6 mystery snails...they're too big for him to eat...although he'll try the odd time...

...mostly he's give up and eats WITH them...

Funny to see him position himself for a bite of algae wafer...

[Mirta]

I have heard they live only two years, don't they?

[Falina]

2-3 is the avergae but they can live longer.

Many people think they don't live long, but this is because they are often kept in small unfiltered, unheated bowls where no fish would be expected to live very long.

[Rue]

I thought 3-5 was average...I believe the record is around 8 years...

...howeve, mass produced bettas for retail sale are likely not the healthiest to start with...so might have a shorter life-span...

[Mirta]

8 years sounds quite normal. But can two or more males be kept in one tank? I have read that they produce the best colors only when they see each other and prepare for fighting.

[Falina]

Originally Posted by Mirta

8 years sounds quite normal. But can two or more males be kept in one tank? I have read that they produce the best colors only when they see each other and prepare for fighting.

No they can't - they will fight to the death!

It is good for them, on opcassions, to see another male, or their reflection, but not all the time. Some say this helps the colouring.

[Andyandsue]

YES!! I saw my sweet betta girl go for my snails tentacle like it was a worm!! He immediately closed himself and fell, and I saw her circling around the snail. I was tapping the tank trying to make her go away, but it didn't work, she went for it and now I have an unhappy snail-I can absolutely tell by his behavior.

I wonder if she is what ripped my corys pectoral fin...