I will never own a Betta Sorority again

Disclaimer: I'm not looking for advice, just need to moan/rant.

A few weeks back I rescued a male guppy and two Albino Bristlenose Plecos. My Betta Sorority have always been fairly peaceful with most fish (I had to move Corys and Otos to a different tank as their eyes are a delicacy apparently), including 7 male guppies that I've had for ages.

After being in my QT, I moved one BN over at a time, and they've adapted really well.

A couple of days ago I moved the guppy over who, apart from a bent spine, is in good health. As soon as I put him in the tank, he had a new lease of life; he was swimming incredibly well and playing with the other guppies and rasboroas.

I was so happy I'd rescued him and given him a better life.

Today I happened to look in the tank, and I saw four out of six Bettas crowded round him, taking turns to bite/nip/eat him. My heart sank, but I quickly got a net and got him away from them.

He was in a really bad shape, all fins basically pecked off and looking like he's given up on life.

Now he's laying on his back and I'm almost certain he isn't going to make it through the night.

The sorority were honestly my favourite, but now I can't even bear to look at them. I know they were just doing what comes naturally to them, but I have a duty of care to ALL of my fish; not just the most expensive/my favourite ones.

I've decided I'm going to call my LFS tomorrow to see if they'll take them back. I'm well aware that they struggle to keep up with demand for Koi Bettas, so I'm hoping I can recoup some of the money I spent on them, so I can get something else.

 

Yeah, i avoid sororities like a plague. They all seem to go either really well or really bad. And the ones that go really well seem to eventually go really bad anyway. Not looking for that kind of stress in life without a paycheck.

 

Yeah, i avoid sororities like a plague. They all seem to go either really well or really bad. And the ones that go really well seem to eventually go really bad anyway. Not looking for that kind of stress in life without a paycheck.

Yeah, they are truly amazing but they aren't for the faint hearted and certainly not for a beginner (I was sold them as only my second fish).

I've not idea what I'll replace them with, hopefully there's another centre piece that's calm.

 

Yeah, they are truly amazing but they aren't for the faint hearted and certainly not for a beginner (I was sold them as only my second fish).

I've not idea what I'll replace them with, hopefully there's another centre piece that's calm.

How big is your tank?

 

So sorry it didn't work out!!!! And I hope by some miracle that the little guppy does make it!

 

How big is your tank?

180 Litres.

So sorry it didn't work out!!!! And I hope by some miracle that the little guppy does make it!

Thank you. Unfortunately he died shortly after making this post

 

I would not blame the bettas right off the bat. Male guppies can be just as mean, bullying new and/or weaker males. I have a small hoard of male guppies in a 29gal that do indeed bully certain individuals, specifically the older males with longer fins and those who are weaker.

The bettas may simply have noticed he was on his way out due to the male guppies bullying/weakening him and did what comes natural to almost all fish, finish the sick ones off and eat them. If a fish is noticeably struggling and lays on the substrate it is fair game.

 

Hmm I'm sorry that it didn't work out Maybe you could try some honey gourami or some of the community friendly puffers for an interesting centerpiece?

 

I would not blame the bettas right off the bat. Male guppies can be just as mean, bullying new and/or weaker males.

The guppies were absolutely fine with him.

The bettas may simply have noticed he was on his way out due to the male guppies bullying/weakening him and did what comes natural to almost all fish, finish the sick ones off and eat them. If a fish is noticeably struggling and lays on the substrate it is fair game.

There was no laying on the substrate. He was perfectly happy and healthy until they ganged up on him.

Not to be rude, but I’m really not looking for advice here. It was the bettas, and what I saw was disgusting; akin to a cat playing/torturing a mouse just for fun.

I’m not saying it’s unnatural, but it’s not what I want in my tank.

Hmm I'm sorry that it didn't work out Maybe you could try some honey gourami or some of the community friendly puffers for an interesting centerpiece?

Thank you I’ll give them a look!

I’m considering moving my tiger barbs over to the 180 and the Guppies to my 130, but I’ve got some compatibility research to do first.

 

Update

All six Bettas have gone back to my LFS.

 

Update

All six Bettas have gone back to my LFS.

Good deal! I'm glad that they took them. Sororities really are a crapshoot, and there have been so many posts on Fishlore over the years about them ending in disaster. I was once thinking about starting one myself, but no more.

 

Good deal! I'm glad that they took them.

Yeah, I didn't make back all the money I spent on them, unsurprisingly, but it was enough to buy their replacements; likely to be Ellioti Cichlids and Congo Tetras - as well as moving stuff around so my Tiger Barbs are in the 180.

Sororities really are a crapshoot, and there have been so many posts on Fishlore over the years about them ending in disaster. I was once thinking about starting one myself, but no more.

Yeah, Bettas are stunning fish, but they are A LOT of work. It has been a real learning experience, but the end result is that I'll only ever keep lone Bettas with the expectation that they have to be on their own and never in a community tank.

If I happen to get one that is peaceful enough to be with other fish, then great, but I'll definitely never expect it.