Horizontal Stripes

[mab]

I have been reading about the horizontal stripes in female Bettas being from stress. My female Blue Betta has stripes, I thought it was just her coloration. So, is there no such thing as a female Betta with stripes? It is always stress?

 

[ellena]

Yes, they're stress stripes. What are her tank size, companions and water stats?

 

[mab]

She had the stripes when I bought her, I did not know about "stress stripes" and thought she was unusual. She is in a 20 gallon with 5 Glo fish, 3Pristella Tetras, 1new Otocinclus and 2 Dwarf Frogs. She seems very relaxed and loves to follow the frogs around! Ammonia, ranges from 0-.25, last test was 0 on nitrites and nitrates. I do have hard water, I do use Prime in all water and I do 50% water changes weekly. I have tried several foods, but the only thing she wants are bloodworms. I have some floating live plants in the aquarium that she likes to rest in some times, she also likes her meals in there away from the others. She swims the tank, watches the others and appears to poke around the bottom of the tank a lot, looking really curious. I have only had her for 2 weeks, could that be part of the stress?

 

[pippoodle]

tetras could be bothering her they dont usually get on with fast fish - whats the current flow like ?- females usually do better in groups - (minimum of 4) if they are in a community set up
otos need to be kept in groups 3+

 

[Rezatii]

ooh... I didn't know they were stress stripes, I'd never seen a stripey betta, I was considering getting a female betta I saw on ebay earlier because of her interesting stripes, perhaps that's not a good idea if it means she's just stressed.. O_O


-Rezz

 

[mab]

Well, apparently it just took her time top adjust because this morning she is a deep solid blue, no stripes, and I can even see red in her fins today!!
Fyi Pristella Tetras are very peaceful, they do not bother anyone, nor do they move fast. They stay in their little group.