I Just Don't Know What To Do

[Faythee]

I put 7 Bettas in my tank. Supposably females. One was mean and nipping at the rest so I moved her to a 3 gal. tank. I thought all was fine until I got home last night and noticed one has a couple scales hanging off of her. I also was unable to locate one for hours, the tiniest one. I found her nudged under a piece of driftwood. When she came out half of her dorsal fin is gone ! She stays under that driftwood now and doesn't come out. I have been watching them and I can't tell who the agressor is ! Must be after lights out.

I am stumped as to what to do.

When I posted pics before, some of you thought I may have some young males. Would a video be better ?

I was going to order 6 more this weekend. Should I hold off or maybe that will lessen the aggression ?

Help

 

[Faythee]

Here are ones I have seen flaring. When they flare it looks like a "W".....rounded, not pointy.

Another pic of the first one

This one I have not seen flare, but the others like to pick on.......

This is the one I removed already for fin nipping......swear it's a girl though

I am so frustrated I am thinking of taking all of them back to the stores ! If I do I am stumped as to what to do with this tank

 

[Colin_T]

young male bettas often come in as females. It is also how the asian breeders get rid of surplus short fin males. They either kill them or send them out as females. They get more money if they send them out as females.
Try putting them in with a big longfin male and see how he reacts. If there is a fight then you have 2 males. Make sure you watch them when you put them together and seperate them at the first sign of a rumble.

 

[Netty]

When we had doubts about Diesel, we put him in the breeding net in the females tank. The next morning there was bubblenest. Might be worth a try to see what happens.

This is him when we first got him

This is him now

His first bubblenest

 

[joycould]

When I am in doubt if I have a male or a female I put one I know is a male in a cup inside of the tank and watch the reaction. If the one I am unsure about starts to act like it wants to fight I know it is a male. Make sure you cover the cup because sometimes they get really jumpy and you don't want a real fight. One fish store actually sell what they call round tail males for more than a crown.

 

[Faythee]

WoW...Diesal prettied up nicely. Think I will try the breeding net. There was a bubblenest in top of some plants yesterday morning. I'm most suspicious of the one in the first pic as it took home in a large tree stump and guards it. The bubblenest was above that stump. I really need to get this worked out....was in tears last night. Everything I have done with this tank has been disaster. If all else fails I will need to take them back and re-consider my stocking once again

 

[hollyp0p]

are there no surefire ways to tell by fin shapes or anything?
I'm buying some 'girls' soon, but it would be nice to know I really am getting girls

 

[Colin_T]

if you can buy adult females then they can be sexed by looking at the ovipositor (egg laying tube). Adult females have a white ovipositor.
But young males do as well so the fish must be adults/mature.

You could always take a small mirror with you to the shop. Something like a compact mirror. Hold it up to the tank and see if any of them display to it. If they do avoid buying those particular individuals.

 

[Faythee]

Live and learn. I'll do that next time Colin !

 

[hollyp0p]

i broke odin's little mirror, grrrr, must buy another i guess it is the best way!

 

[Colin_T]

Odin is probably happy he finally got rid of that other fighter that kept hanging around

 

[Netty]

WoW...Diesal prettied up nicely. Think I will try the breeding net. There was a bubblenest in top of some plants yesterday morning. I'm most suspicious of the one in the first pic as it took home in a large tree stump and guards it. The bubblenest was above that stump. I really need to get this worked out....was in tears last night. Everything I have done with this tank has been disaster. If all else fails I will need to take them back and re-consider my stocking once again

I thought the first one looked male too. Diesel did the same thing with the coconut shell and wouldn't let anyone else in it. Don't lose hope though. We've had 3 females turn male in the last 2-3 months. It does seem to happen an awful lot. On a positive note we've ended up with a lovely PK male

 

[Faythee]

I know. I have the pink one in my 3 gal. and I have another tank about 6 gal. coming in I bought off of Ebay. I will put a divider in that one for 2 more

My husband thinks I am crazy