So I decided to re-home all of my community fish since a had a couple of friends with new tanks and no fish. I've been a betta fan my whole life and had them in community tanks growing up. I have a tall 14 u.s. gal and a 5 u.s. gal that will soon be mostly empty. The only fish left will be a female betta that I've grown attached to and simply can't part with her. I would REALLY like to have a group of female bettas in the 14 gal and a male in the 5 gal? Is this advisable?
What's Your Opinion Of Female Bettas Kept Together?
- Thread starter Dizzle
- Start date
jameshughes1989
Fish Addict
Yes that should be fine. Ive currently got a sorority of 5 girls and I plan to get more. Just make sure they all have enough room, so not bumping into each other all the time in a tank that sie. Ensure it is well planted with lots of hiding places, it helps the less dominant to hide. Just watch for over aggression if you do go through with it.
James
James
Thanks for replying! Did you add all of them at once? I heard that's it's best to add them all together so there are no fights for dominance every time a new one is added. I'd like to have really nice ones but shipping is expensive so I would only be able to get a couple at a time. Eventually I want to have about five with a few corys to help keep the bottom clean.
GuppyGoddess
Fish Herder
Most members here are entirely supportive of sororities. Seems like I'm in the minority as I do not agree with them. First off, I do not like the idea that it takes the girls fighting it out before deciding the heirarchy and that results in torn fins and injured fish. Also, once they do establish territory, seems like they do not have the option of exploring the full tank.
I tried 6 females in a 10-gallon and within a few hours, three were in tatters. They were taken out and then I kept three others in there and the next morning, a few more had nips and only one was left in tact.
In the end, I had to return 4 of the six girls and the pet store was HORRIFIED at the condition the bettas were in. It was really embarrassing bringing them back in
The two that I kept have done wonderfully - one is alone in a 10-gallon and the other is in a 3-gallon exclipse. Later I brought home another girl and she has her own 5-gallon. All are happy.
I tried 6 females in a 10-gallon and within a few hours, three were in tatters. They were taken out and then I kept three others in there and the next morning, a few more had nips and only one was left in tact.
In the end, I had to return 4 of the six girls and the pet store was HORRIFIED at the condition the bettas were in. It was really embarrassing bringing them back in
The two that I kept have done wonderfully - one is alone in a 10-gallon and the other is in a 3-gallon exclipse. Later I brought home another girl and she has her own 5-gallon. All are happy.
Most members here are entirely supportive of sororities. Seems like I'm in the minority as I do not agree with them. First off, I do not like the idea that it takes the girls fighting it out before deciding the heirarchy and that results in torn fins and injured fish. Also, once they do establish territory, seems like they do not have the option of exploring the full tank.
I tried 6 females in a 10-gallon and within a few hours, three were in tatters. They were taken out and then I kept three others in there and the next morning, a few more had nips and only one was left in tact.
In the end, I had to return 4 of the six girls and the pet store was HORRIFIED at the condition the bettas were in. It was really embarrassing bringing them back in
The two that I kept have done wonderfully - one is alone in a 10-gallon and the other is in a 3-gallon exclipse. Later I brought home another girl and she has her own 5-gallon. All are happy.
Well, that's the reason for this post! I really wanted everyone's personal experience because that is better than reading something on the web. It seems to me that bettas are very individual. I think their personalities have a lot to do with how they will react in a sorority situation. Unfortunately there is no way to figure it out until they are bought and in the tank. Luckily, I have a few people with tanks who would be happy to get a betta so if things don't work out I can always get them re-homed. I think I may try it out with a few and just see how it goes. Do you recommend corys in the tank or do you think they will just limit the amount of territory available?
jameshughes1989
Fish Addict
Most members here are entirely supportive of sororities. Seems like I'm in the minority as I do not agree with them. First off, I do not like the idea that it takes the girls fighting it out before deciding the heirarchy and that results in torn fins and injured fish. Also, once they do establish territory, seems like they do not have the option of exploring the full tank.
I tried 6 females in a 10-gallon and within a few hours, three were in tatters. They were taken out and then I kept three others in there and the next morning, a few more had nips and only one was left in tact.
In the end, I had to return 4 of the six girls and the pet store was HORRIFIED at the condition the bettas were in. It was really embarrassing bringing them back in
The two that I kept have done wonderfully - one is alone in a 10-gallon and the other is in a 3-gallon exclipse. Later I brought home another girl and she has her own 5-gallon. All are happy.
I understand your opinion on it and why but I feel like the aggression within your sorority was down to the tank size. I have had 6 girls in a planted 20 gallon with no problems, no torn fins. You will always get a dominant one but as long as you have hiding places this shouldnt be an issue.
Ive now moved the 5 girls I have to a 40 gallon tank. They are loving it, even with minimal plants. I still have the one dominant female but the aggression is far less with the bigger tank size as they are not seeing as much of each so to speak.
Ill think the 20 gallon would be successful with plants, hiding places, and 5-6 girls. I dont see any issues. Some people will say it is best to add them all together but I dont like to risk it for the water quality, so I add 1-2 at a time, preferably starting with the smallest of the final group (IME the largest is normally the more dominant).
Hope that helps, James
James
Honeythorn
Sugar coating and nicely nicely? I don't think so
I had my 4 girls in a 12 gallon with no trouble at all. They've been re homed to a friend now but the 12 gal worked out just fine. I'd happily do so again .
soph_betta
Fishaholic
I had 7 females in a 15ukgal tank and it worked really well, one little trick I used when introducing newbes to the tank is starve the tankmates the day before you introduce the new one and feed the newbe before you introduce to the tank and then when you do release the newbe, feed the tankmates so she can get a sneeky look around whilst the rest are eating and they may not notice her unless she kicks up a fuss going up the pecking order. Be prepaired to have a few nips and tears of fins as its natural for there to be spats (fights) whilst settleing in to a hierachy just like a lots of animals in the wild that live in groups!
5teady_2012
Here to help
I always found that mine did much better in gropus of 2-5, any higher and i seemed to always get probs.
GuppyGoddess
Fish Herder
Most members here are entirely supportive of sororities. Seems like I'm in the minority as I do not agree with them. First off, I do not like the idea that it takes the girls fighting it out before deciding the heirarchy and that results in torn fins and injured fish. Also, once they do establish territory, seems like they do not have the option of exploring the full tank.
I tried 6 females in a 10-gallon and within a few hours, three were in tatters. They were taken out and then I kept three others in there and the next morning, a few more had nips and only one was left in tact.
In the end, I had to return 4 of the six girls and the pet store was HORRIFIED at the condition the bettas were in. It was really embarrassing bringing them back in
The two that I kept have done wonderfully - one is alone in a 10-gallon and the other is in a 3-gallon exclipse. Later I brought home another girl and she has her own 5-gallon. All are happy.
Well, that's the reason for this post! I really wanted everyone's personal experience because that is better than reading something on the web. It seems to me that bettas are very individual. I think their personalities have a lot to do with how they will react in a sorority situation. Unfortunately there is no way to figure it out until they are bought and in the tank. Luckily, I have a few people with tanks who would be happy to get a betta so if things don't work out I can always get them re-homed. I think I may try it out with a few and just see how it goes. Do you recommend corys in the tank or do you think they will just limit the amount of territory available?
If you have a back-up plan just in case the sorority doesn't work out, then I would say, if you're really wanting to put a group together, try out and see what happens. I do feel that not having secondary plan for the ones I put in the tank was a huge mistake!
Not sure about adding cories along with the girls. The little Pygmy Cories are adorable. . .but adding them or other ones may be pushing your biological filter beyond what it can handle. Hopefully someone else can chime in as I'm just stating my opinion, which would be that aside from the filter, you may also just want to focus exclusively on the bettas!
Also, put the bettas in a day when you don't have to work or go to school and then be sure you have the next day off. That way you can basically sit and watch the fish with net in hand. lol
Best of luck.
Most members here are entirely supportive of sororities. Seems like I'm in the minority as I do not agree with them. First off, I do not like the idea that it takes the girls fighting it out before deciding the heirarchy and that results in torn fins and injured fish. Also, once they do establish territory, seems like they do not have the option of exploring the full tank.
I tried 6 females in a 10-gallon and within a few hours, three were in tatters. They were taken out and then I kept three others in there and the next morning, a few more had nips and only one was left in tact.
In the end, I had to return 4 of the six girls and the pet store was HORRIFIED at the condition the bettas were in. It was really embarrassing bringing them back in
The two that I kept have done wonderfully - one is alone in a 10-gallon and the other is in a 3-gallon exclipse. Later I brought home another girl and she has her own 5-gallon. All are happy.
Well, that's the reason for this post! I really wanted everyone's personal experience because that is better than reading something on the web. It seems to me that bettas are very individual. I think their personalities have a lot to do with how they will react in a sorority situation. Unfortunately there is no way to figure it out until they are bought and in the tank. Luckily, I have a few people with tanks who would be happy to get a betta so if things don't work out I can always get them re-homed. I think I may try it out with a few and just see how it goes. Do you recommend corys in the tank or do you think they will just limit the amount of territory available?
If you have a back-up plan just in case the sorority doesn't work out, then I would say, if you're really wanting to put a group together, try out and see what happens. I do feel that not having secondary plan for the ones I put in the tank was a huge mistake!
Not sure about adding cories along with the girls. The little Pygmy Cories are adorable. . .but adding them or other ones may be pushing your biological filter beyond what it can handle. Hopefully someone else can chime in as I'm just stating my opinion, which would be that aside from the filter, you may also just want to focus exclusively on the bettas!
Also, put the bettas in a day when you don't have to work or go to school and then be sure you have the next day off. That way you can basically sit and watch the fish with net in hand. lol
Best of luck.
Hahaha Good advice! I'll be sure to keep my net at the ready.
I have 5 girls in a 15 gallon community tank. There is a tiny bit of nipping but really, they are very settled and seem happy. They also all explore the entire tank and I never see real squabbles.
Some have disasters with girls and some have a lot of success. It is risky but if you're willing to take the risk and do your best to minimise it (by adding them all at once, giving them plenty of hiding places, using lots and LOTS of plants, etc), it can work brilliantly.
Make sure you have a back up tank though! And preferably one you can divide (or another one) if more than one female is problematic.
Some have disasters with girls and some have a lot of success. It is risky but if you're willing to take the risk and do your best to minimise it (by adding them all at once, giving them plenty of hiding places, using lots and LOTS of plants, etc), it can work brilliantly.
Make sure you have a back up tank though! And preferably one you can divide (or another one) if more than one female is problematic.
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