20L LotR Themed Betta Sorority

My current project is a 20 long betta sorority tank! I've kept male bettas for as long as I can remember but a sorority will be new to me, as is a moderately planted tank. I started the tank in April 2021. The tank cycled quickly because I used gravel from my 29 gallon and used the filter that was running in that tank (needed to buy a new one for the 29 gallon because it wasn't strong enough, so the timing worked out perfectly). Just in case I also dosed the tank with FritzZyme and all the water parameters have been looking good since, no ammonia, no nitrites, 10 - 20 nitrates with weekly water changes. I started with three female bettas and after some minor flaring and circling they established their pecking order and have been getting along well. One of them came home with stress stripes and dull coloration (I thought she was red and black). A few weeks later and the stripes have gone away and the black is actually a stunning blue/purple!

My tank, appearance-wise, is still very much in the early stages. I had a bunch of hand-me down plastic plants in the tank that I took from my other tanks but they were only meant to be temporary. I didn't even take a picture of it because it looked so bad. Right now I have some driftwood that I boiled for hours to get the tannins out but I don't think I'm going to leave all of the pieces in because I plan on adding some Lord of the Rings themed tank ornaments. When I was researching betta sorority tanks I decided to buy a 5 gallon tank with an optional divider if any of the girls are really violent toward each other or in case I need a hospital tank. It's fully cycled as well, so I feel like I have my bases covered. Worst case scenario, I can return or rehome as needed. Today (May 27) I purchased a variety of live plants and another group of betta females from my LFS and it's officially time to get this show on the road.

Allow me to introduce the Ladyship of the Tank:


Aragorn:


Boromir:


Gimli:


Legolas:


Merry:


Pippin:


Samwise:

 

As a lotr fan, i love the names! No room for gandalf though???

 

There is a Gandalf the White in a friend's tank who may be making the move soon if all goes smoothly! Frodo is to be acquired, lol. I plan on capping the tank with the 9.

 

Absolutely gorgeous girls...and all so different in coloring!! I hope they all become friends...or at least tolerant of each other. Keep posting pictures!!

 

Absolutely gorgeous girls...and all so different in coloring!! I hope they all become friends...or at least tolerant of each other. Keep posting pictures!!

I think boromir will be the main trouble maker amongst the fellowship...not sure why.

 

Those colors are gorgeous and blend so well together. Boromir is especially pretty

 

Is it a 20 long or a 20 liter?

 

A 20 long!




I added a cozy hobbit hole ornament today. It probably shouldn't surprise me so much because I've had male bettas forever and know how curious they are, but these girls are SO fearless and fascinated by everything in the tank. They come right over to my hands and up to the siphon when I'm cleaning the gravel. So far everyone has been getting along but I've been watching closely.