Hello fishy folks.
I recently added a few new (quarantined) Cardinals to the 6g Ecplise. I house 5-6 Cardinals and a male betta in that tank. After losing a cardinal here and there over the years, I decided to get a few more because the population dwindled to 2. So, after these little youngsters were added about a week later my betta looked a like a crowntail, not a Delta. Thinking the quarantine wasn't long enough and maybe he had fin rot...I put him in quarantine. No meds at first because I like to see what I'm dealing with before tossing in meds willy nilly. He had no new damage, and started regrowth right away. Now...during this time I found another gorgeous Delta. He's white, blue spots on the back half, black on the front half. black "lipstick", with a blue/green wash over top everything. So during his quarantine I added the original betta to the cardinal tank. The juvie cards attacked him! One little instigator nipped him, then another got him when he turned to see who did what. They were tag teaming like wolves. Next month I'll be in the hobby for 33 years. I have never once had Cardinals act like this. Specializing in bettas, I know when an overly docile betta starts getting picked on you just have to remove him (or the attackers) because he's not going to stick up for himself. Having other males (I only have 3 males currently) I thought I'd try that dalmatian wannabe in there. He's not so laid back as the original one who now lives happily with my Dwarf frogs and otos. Well...after about an hour they went in for the attack. One nipped his tail, he turned - flared and chased him off. I was like Yea! He's not a wuss and he'll be fine. Sometimes it's just a matter of them saying to a tank mate..hey..mess with me and I bite back. Well....not so fast with these crazy cards. That same tag team got going and as I was doing the dishes I saw them get him good. That was it! He's now back in the quarantine tank. He had a little red patch of irritated tail fin, but it went away right away. My other guy is still growing his tail back in. No wonder that male kept his tail to the back wall of the tank. I thought he was just scared and getting used to his new tank, as some take longer than others to get used to a new home. So what gives with these crazy attack pack cardinals?? They've gone after 2 male bettas with could have eaten them in 2 bites. Seriously, they're little ones and he could have gobbled them up. So now I have a 6 gallon cardinal only tank. Not a bad to have, as they look so nice with all the sagitaria sublata plants. But I've always had a betta in there too. = ( It was a nice looking tank. Colorful betta, the cardinals, the greens from the live plants flowing... Not anymore. Guess I have to go with a small cardinal only tank. Has anyone had attack cards before? *Oh...they're tank raised if that makes any difference.
