How many females in a 5 gallon?

[cerulean]

Well, we got the new 5 gallon tank (ended up with glass) for a new male betta but, my daughter is thinking about getting a few females instead of a male. I've been reading that it seems a 10 gallon is best for a group of females but is a 5 gallon possible if it has plants and hiding places? How many females if it is? Or, should we just get a boy and then save for a 10 gallon and get some girls then
Thanks!

 

[sylvia]

I wouldn't keep more than one female in a 5 gallon. They are aggressive and need to be in groups of at least 4 or they can kill each other and they need the space of a 10 gallon to be comfortable in groups. A single female would work though (instead of a male if you realy want a female).

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Definitely not more than one. They are aggressive and keeping them in a small tank would end in many nips and perhaps even deaths.

 

[Synirr]

Yeah, I wouldn't recommend having a female community in a 5 gallon.... you could always buy/make some dividers and keep more than one betta in the tank that way, though

 

[cerulean]

Thats what I thought so I let her get the tank but not the fish until we checked. Couldn't afford a complete 10 gallon set up right now anyway so we'll get a new male. We'll get some females and a larger tank in the future