Female Betta

[Bebobb]

Hey! I'm falling in love with bettas again! I'm considering making a 10 gallon divided for 3 males, but that is going to take some tremendous planning for me such as heating, and filtering, but lets cut to the chase.

I would like to add 1, MAYBE 2 female bettas to a 10 gallon that I have setup right now. In the tank are 6 neon tetras, and 1 Apistogramma (I will be buying the apisto when the LFS gets them in stock next week.)

Do you think that 1-2 female bettas will be able to co-exist with an Apistogramma without territory issues? Thanks!

 

[crissylou]

I wouldn't try that at all, females should be kept in groups to lower the agression between them, personally i would not keep less than 5 together. Also there is great debate as to whether bettas and any other fish make good tank mates, if you want to keep females i would strongly suggest setting up an all girl tank with at least 5 females. If you really feel the need to persue keeping a female then you could try one with the other fish that you want to keep but you still face the risk of aggression between them all.

 

[Bebobb]

So I take that as a no go? I have read else where that they are fine as long as they can establish their own territory. I thought that if I only had one in the tank, that there wouldn't be any other bettas to show agression to, and that it MIGHT have enough room to establish territory. Oh well, maybe some platys...

 

[GuppyGoddess]

I would like to add 1, MAYBE 2 female bettas to a 10 gallon that I have setup right now. In the tank are 6 neon tetras, and 1 Apistogramma (I will be buying the apisto when the LFS gets them in stock next week.)

Do you think that 1-2 female bettas will be able to co-exist with an Apistogramma without territory issues? Thanks!

Hi,
I have a female betta in a 10-gallon by herself.

Just my experience: the female I bought was pale with horizontal stress lines. I started her in a 2-gallon bowl and then moved her to the 10-gallon and added tank mates. First tried Hasboras then later Platies. My betta continued to be pale with the stress lines. I just figured that was the way she would always be. It wasn't until I took ALL the fish out and let her have the tank to herself that she developed a rich dark navy blue color and the lines went away! She's SO happy in her large tank and believe me, she is EXTREMELY territorial and needed a home to herself to be healthy. She patrols back and forth across the front of the tank. She's so aggressive that when I stick my finger in her tank, she nips at me! I think bettas should always be kept by themselves.

I would like to divide her tank but am concerned she may revert to the pale/unhappy side.

 

[Bebobb]

Okay. I guess females are out!

 

[cheekysbabe]

My experience with females and other fish - I have one male and one female swordtail Mollies and 5 neon tetras in with a female fighter. She is fine. Swim's around with the other. She has her own little spot in a one of the plants. But I believe it is up to the fish.

 

[Assaye]

I would strongly recommend you either get 1 or you get about 6. With just 2 girls, there is a very high change of them fighting. With females, you can keep them together in large groups with caution!

I also would not keep bettas with cichlids but if you know your apisto and he's already co-existing well with the rest of your community, give it a try.

However, a couple of things to be aware of:

+ Females are still bettas so even if she's on her own with your apisto and tetras, she'll still need loads of plants to hide in and a cave.

+ Females can be really, really stressy. I know that every shop bought one I have had found living in a community hell. The ones I've had from good breeders have been fine. With a breeder, you can talk to them about the temperament of the fish.

+ Females can still be aggressive and if she picks a fight with the apisto, she isn't likely to win.

I keep Aurora in my community tank with corys and neon tetras. They get along really well and she's a boisterous, but not nasty girl. She's also really active.

Give it a go but have a back-up tank in case she can't cope or she and the apisto don't get on.

Incidentally, I wouldn't put an apisto in a 10 gallon.

 

[Bebobb]

I don't think that I am going to get a betta after reading that. I don't want to risk them fighting.

And I have read up on apisto, and have read that it would be fine. I also asked many people on this forum, and I know some of them that keep a PAIR of apisto in a 10 gallon.

 

[Assaye]

As long as you've done your research.

There are many kinds of apisto and some get bigger than others. Just hope you've got a small one