Betta Sorority Tank - Aggressive Little Betta...

First, thanks for all the great information here.

I am a newbie to the aquarium and just started with a 10 gallon freshwater where we are keeping 5 female bettas along with couple ghost shrimp. We started this about 5 weeks back and nitrogen cycle seems to be working, only see nitrates which I am trying to handle with water change every couple days.

We introduced all 5 betta ladies within matter of two days and after some initial display of aggression they all have settled down and have their own sort of "homes" that they hang around generally. They are at different sizes, relatively 2 large, 2 medium and 1 small(est) about 1.2 inches.

In the last couple days we noticed some of the fins on the 2 largest missing. Then noticed the smallest one actively going after them, which only seem to get worse. We have seen it grab and eat the fins few times already. I tried isolating it for few hours but thought isolation only increases the aggressive behavior and put it back. But it is resuming the behavior already.

Given this, what are my options here? Should I wait for the natural order to reestablish, with hopefully the big ladies teach behavior to the smallest? Is there anything I can do? I don't like the damage it's causing. If this doesn't change, can I return (free) to fish stores usually?

 

First, thanks for all the great information here.

I am a newbie to the aquarium and just started with a 10 gallon freshwater where we are keeping 5 female bettas along with couple ghost shrimp. We started this about 5 weeks back and nitrogen cycle seems to be working, only see nitrates which I am trying to handle with water change every couple days.

We introduced all 5 betta ladies within matter of two days and after some initial display of aggression they all have settled down and have their own sort of "homes" that they hang around generally. They are at different sizes, relatively 2 large, 2 medium and 1 small(est) about 1.2 inches.

In the last couple days we noticed some of the fins on the 2 largest missing. Then noticed the smallest one actively going after them, which only seem to get worse. We have seen it grab and eat the fins few times already. I tried isolating it for few hours but thought isolation only increases the aggressive behavior and put it back. But it is resuming the behavior already.

Given this, what are my options here? Should I wait for the natural order to reestablish, with hopefully the big ladies teach behavior to the smallest? Is there anything I can do? I don't like the damage it's causing. If this doesn't change, can I return (free) to fish stores usually?

A sorority won't work in a 10. Pass on all your bettas except one. Please?

 

Sorry about my tactlessness :/

 

Sadly I'm going to have to agree with Discus-Tang... I have 7 betta gals in a 36g and its just enough room for them all to have enough space to get away from each other if a scuffle starts. With a betta sorority, the 1 inch per gallon rule REALLY doesn't work (not that it really works with any other set up, different topic though).

That being said, I totally understand where you're coming from. When I first started keeping fish, I heard about betta sororities and thought "What a great idea"! Issue was at the time I only had a 5 gallon tank and tried to keep 3 bettas in it. Long story short that's how I ended up with three tanks. If I were you, I would either start looking for additional tanks to separate your bettas, invest in one much larger tank (at least 20g, preferably bigger), or return some of your bettas to your LFS. Good luck!

 

Yep, sorry to repeat, but aggression like that is going to happen with a sorority in a 10G. To start, I'd rehome the smallest one and let the larger ones recover, then rehome all but one.

 

Thanks every, appreciate your insight. What's puzzling is there were no issues for over 3 weeks before this started. I did move the smallest one out of the tank as of this morning again and will likely return at my LFS. I will give others some time to recover and see how it goes. Upgrading is not an option for me in the short term. I 'll admit, I got it for my 6 y/old and probably under estimated the work though I getting better at it.

If it boils down to keeping only one, may as well return all & get a male perhaps with couple corys or something. But that's a separate topic & I 'll have to research more at that time. Thanks again!

 

That's how it is. I sorta have the view that you should treat potentially aggressive fish like you would treat potentially aggressive people.

Just think, if you locked 7 mobsters in a 400 square foot apartment they could probably be okay for a couple of days even weeks. Hey they might even be friends... until someone drinks someone else's beer and suddenly it's a blood bath and someone's getting thrown off the balcony.

 

That's how it is. I sorta have the view that you should treat potentially aggressive fish like you would treat potentially aggressive people.

Just think, if you locked 7 mobsters in a 400 square foot apartment they could probably be okay for a couple of days even weeks. Hey they might even be friends... until someone drinks someone else's beer and suddenly it's a blood bath and someone's getting thrown off the balcony.

Haha, in this case mobster ladies and I thought it's OK since I wasn't giving them any of my beer! LOL
But it makes sense...let's see how the other four ladies get along.

 

a 10 G is still WAY too small for 4 betta girls.

You really either need a bigger tank (minimum 20 G long for 4, or 15 G for 3) or rehome all but one, or it's only a matter of time before something happens again.

 

I would advise against cories for your tank.

 

Anyhow despite the tank size, ( I suggest 20 gallon longs!) You want to get all the females at the same time with the same size to have less aggression. Sororitys are something I suggest for only experts who have experience with bettas. I've had over 15 bettas in my 2 years of the hobby and still don't feel ready. Usually getting small female bettas work better.