Gill Flares

[Bre_B]

Do females use their gills for flaring? like males do? ive never seen it before but one of my females just did it what the heck? Is that normal and i just never knew it, or is there something i should know about little Abby?

 

[blue_ram]

Do females use their gills for flaring? like males do?

Mine does it all the time. Females don't do as much as males, but if you have several females in a same tank, you'll see quite a bit of it.

 

[Bre_B]

oh, okay. I have 6 in one tank, but ive never seen it before. Thanks

 

[jollysue]

They flare their gills, they flare their fins, and they puff out their chests to look more formidable. They also "mad dog." They establish a pecking order to get the best spots. etc. Watch for the Alpha females. Sometimes sibling females will team up to dominate a larger female. Put a good looking fella with lots of color, fins, bubbles, and a cute little dance near by and watch the tricks they play to get thier turn to bathe in his glory.

 

[nino]

I've got a sorority tank with four females and when first put together they flared at each other often. They don't do it so much anymore, I suppose because the pecking order has been established. Now they just lazily chase each other about.

 

[jollysue]

Put a male betta next to the tank for a while and watch the girls try to get around the pecking order.