To Create A Sorority, How Many Bettas To Begin?

[GuppyGoddess]

Before I begin my online search, I am wondering how many bettas I should begin my sorority with in my 10-gallon tank.

Background:
* Currently have one female betta in an uncycled 10-gallon tank. I was told that with as little ammonia she will produce the tank won't properly cycle for a long time, if at all.
* I brought home a second betta and when I held her cup up to my betta, mine flared and I was worried the two would fight so I returned the second girl.
* Instead I tried Rasboras and that didn't work out - their fast movements stressed her out and they bullied her.
* My current plan is a bit uncertain. . .to keep her alone or add 5 more female bettas, stretched over a period of time.
* Because of my tank not being cycled, would adding two more bettas for now be enough to keep the temperment of the females to a minimum or not? I don't want to add the other five right now b/c of not wanting to cause bio overload.
* If I do the sorority, once the six females are added, the tank would be stocked as I want it. I wouldn't add any other types of fish or snails, etc. Just the girlies.

Thanks for help!

 

[Rezatii]

Your best bet is to buy the other girls, all of them, and bag up your current girl, then rearrange the tank as much as possible, then re-acclimatise all the girls and release them at the same time, to give them all a fair shot at establishing terratory, adding girls slowly over time means each new girl has no terratory and makes her a primary victim, so a bad idea I've also heard that sister bettas get on better, due to being raised with each other and used to each other I guess.

Hope that helped.

-Rezz

 

[GuppyGoddess]

Your best bet is to buy the other girls, all of them, and bag up your current girl, then rearrange the tank as much as possible, then re-acclimatise all the girls and release them at the same time, to give them all a fair shot at establishing terratory, adding girls slowly over time means each new girl has no terratory and makes her a primary victim, so a bad idea I've also heard that sister bettas get on better, due to being raised with each other and used to each other I guess.

Hope that helped.

-Rezz

oooh, I have to rearrange my tank? Bummer. I love the set up. In fact a few of the decor pieces won't look good placed elsewhere. Okay, will do that IF I can find 5 bettas in the same shop. I'm going to take off in a bit and look at a few stores.

Hopefully all the girls get along well (don't gossip too much) lol

 

[aly_starh]

Agree with rezz, can you not take some filter media out of your other filters though?

 

[Rezatii]

Yeah unfortunately the girl who lives there currently sees it all as her terratory, if the new girls are added exactly how it is now, your first girl will panic as they are all in her terratory.

Also, be prepared for fighting when you first set up the tank as the girls will establish a heirachy in the first few days, this involves a lot of careful watching as you must make sure that one of the girls isn't a sneaky male, and that none of the girls really are to aggressive for tank mates, unfortunate but it happens.

-Rezz

 

[GuppyGoddess]

Yeah unfortunately the girl who lives there currently sees it all as her terratory, if the new girls are added exactly how it is now, your first girl will panic as they are all in her terratory.

Also, be prepared for fighting when you first set up the tank as the girls will establish a heirachy in the first few days, this involves a lot of careful watching as you must make sure that one of the girls isn't a sneaky male, and that none of the girls really are to aggressive for tank mates, unfortunate but it happens.

-Rezz

I just did an ultra quick google search and seems adding all at once after rearranging is the best method. I'm going to pick up a few small terracotta pots today and add a few more plants (along with rearranging). Also will get a pot for both my males. They like those

I'm kind of nervous about adding more females in. Would it be best to do this on a day where I won't be heading out of the house? Today, I have time to buy the bettas but will be gone for about 3 hours this afternoon. Tomorrow, I'll have to rush to buy the bettas, but will be home in the afternoon to keep an eye on them. The only day I have all day is Sunday, but my kids & dh will be home and it'll be harder to concentrate.

 

[jasminekiddell]

Rezz has given great adivce there From experience, the girls do fight alot at first for the first 4 horus my girls fighted, well ti was mainly the 3 biggest and they tore each other up pretty bad, they must of been sorting out the heirachy but now everything is fine and i onyl have the odd nipping! I have 11 females in a 19g.

 

[GuppyGoddess]

Rezz has given great adivce there From experience, the girls do fight alot at first for the first 4 horus my girls fighted, well ti was mainly the 3 biggest and they tore each other up pretty bad, they must of been sorting out the heirachy but now everything is fine and i onyl have the odd nipping! I have 11 females in a 19g.

So, if one is a real brat, just yank her out and put her in my 2-gallon, then return her if she isn't torn to bits? Ugh. . .I doubt Petco will take her back like that. I'm very curious to see the expression on the sales clerk's face when I walk up with 5 betta cups!

With the fin tearing, regular water changes should help repair the fins, right? I have Quick Cure. Should I just plan to add that for a few days. . .taking out the carbon filter?

ETA - with the females, I just look for the white spot on the vent to make sure the fish is a girl, right? I noticed many of the females that caught my eye have those.

 

[Rezatii]

To check she's a girl, those are all good signs (though sometimes juvi. males have that spot as well!) I would also take a pocket mirror with you and get the girl to flare at her reflection if 'her' beard flares all the way around her face, she's a he.

-Rezz

 

[GuppyGoddess]

To check she's a girl, those are all good signs (though sometimes juvi. males have that spot as well!) I would also take a pocket mirror with you and get the girl to flare at her reflection if 'her' beard flares all the way around her face, she's a he.

-Rezz

I went to two shops, picked out five and then rushed home and rearranged my tank as much as possible. I have a huge decor piece that had no other spot, however, all the plants are moved and two terra cotta pots have been added.

Girls are all floating around (including my original - Lilly). One of the white/red ones is FLIPPING out. She does have quite the flare. Shoot. What if she is actually a he? Her flare fills the exterior of her gills. I guess I'll get my two gallon ready just in case.

Two tips the pet store gal gave me:

* Keep the lights off on the aquarium.
* Stick some yummy treats in the tank to distract them (going to use freeze dried bloodworms).

Will take photos later after everyone has settled in. . .

Thanks for all the help. Wish my bettas luck!

 

[Rezatii]

Good luck and keep a close eye on that red/white one, make sure your spare tank is set up to yank him out if he seems to rough.

-Rezz

 

[ellena]

You are right about the bioload worries. You will be in a fish in cycle if you add them all at the same time and will have to feed very sparingly, keep a very close eye on the stats and water change often.
Another possible option would be to return/rehouse the female you currently have and do a fishless cycle then add them all? I plan to do this with my 10 gall next year