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When I left for the weekend my betta was happy and healthy. But when I got back he was dead, with all his fins missing, so he looked like a colorless, finless she. My Parents are convinced that the Octi sucker fish that I had just got a few weeks ago Attacked him, but the only agression I've seen between the two is the Betta chasing the octi. I've noticed one of our cats staring at the fish tank and dipping her paw underneath the cloth over the opening for the filter, so I think that she was trying to catch him, but just managed to sythe off his fins, a Fatal injury. But it would be safe to get another colorful type of fish, right? The Octi wouldn't harm it? The 3 gal looks really plain with just a small sucker fish. (And what type of fish would be able to fit?)

If pets are so stupid, how did they weasel free room and board out of us?

I am not sure what an Octi is. Never heard of it.

Maybe the cat did it. If you have seen the cat "going fishing" before...it may have killed the betta.

Any chance you have a picture of the octi?

*Kristin*

It's short for Otocinclus vittatus. I Guess it's Otto, but I thought it was Octi.

If pets are so stupid, how did they weasel free room and board out of us?

Your 'Octi' wouldn't happen to be an Otocinclus by any chance?

As in this fish?

Here's a pic

If you have an Otocinclus catfish and it's attacking your Betta, the cause is simple. Starvation. Otocinclus that have been deprived of algae have been known to go looking for slime coat off the sides of other fishes in desperation. However, it is an act of desperation, and if you give your Otocinclus algae covered rocks and other treats to eat, it should return to being a well behaved algae eater in no time.

Oh, and since I'm in the business of shamelessly plugging other articles of mine in other threads, time to do likewise here - here's my Otocinclus article which should tell you all you need to know.


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Ok I thought you meant otto...just had to make sure though.

If the otto killed the betta, you would probably see a circle on the betta where it sucked off the slime coat.

I have never had a problem with my ottos, but they always have algae to eat. I did have a Chinese Algae Eater once, that are known to suck on slime coats whether they have algae or not, and it killed 2 of the zebra danios I had at the time and there was a visible circle on both.

It is possible, like Cali said, that the otto did it out of starvation, but I vote for the cat. I have seen many pictures of people's cats watching their fish, with their tails twitching in attack mode. And you said the cat had tried to go fishing before.

If it was the otto, make sure it has enough algae before you get another betta, so you will know it won't happen again. And be sure to cover any openings so the cat won't be a suspect next time.

*Kristin*