Feuding Females

[gwugrad03]

About a week ago i added a new female betta to my 55 gal community aquarium which already included 1 female betta. I had always read that they got along well with other females and mine did until today. I got home from work today and did my normal feeding and watched them for a while and I noticed one chasing the other one from time to time. Really surprised me because from what I had observed this week they were getting along well together and at times would even swim together. The only thing i can figure out is that last night I added a piece of drift wood that is currently floating at the top of the tank. It seems that Dot has decided that this piece of wood is her territory and Lucy is not allowed near it. Are female bettas territorial? Is there anything I can do and have any of you had similar experiences?

 

[littlelk]

yes females can be aggresive. Most betta owners I know suggest keeping a minimum of five females when keeping them together, that way they establish a hierachy smong themselves and aren't aggresive. Sometimes you do get a female that will be aggresive no matter what though. The minimum of five thing I have only heard about when keeping a species tank so I don't know about community tanks. There is also the consideration of how much room you have in the tank and whether adding more fish will be viable.

 

[Naughtygirlrlw]

Agreed, if possible you should try to get 2-3 more girlies. It also helps to rearrange the tank so they don't have as much "this is MY spot!" territory issues.

 

[Kittles_yang]

Yup its true...you can put them together and they are aggressive, but they aren't aggressive as the males...so you can put as much as you want into the 55 gallon tank because that tank must be huge!...but yeah...good luck putting more in

 

[DarkEntity]

PK females can be far more aggresive than the male fancy tails. Yes if you want to keep females get at least 5 and if you are adding more to a current tank either remove the current fish and move the tank about then release them all together or just move the tank about and add the new fish....then pray a war doesnt ensue

 

[jollysue]

Never had problems with my PK females. I had more trouble with the HM and Super Delta buxom lasses being bossy and sisters teaming up. But all my pk ladies were from one spawn. Again lots depends on the character of the individuals and the line.

Like others have said, I have never put or heard of putting a sorority in a community tank. As always, Betta are tempermental. What they may do can change over time as they mature. Just watch the tank for any problems between the girls or other fish, would be my advice, unless you hear from someone with more experience with this mix. And speaking of mix, that can always change any dynamics in a tank.

Let us know how the experiment goes.