Looking For Experts On Betta Sororities

Hi!

I am looking for people who have had betta sororities or know a lot about them to help me.

I am slowly starting a new community tank in a 50gallon. In this community will be a betta sorority. The other fish in the tank will not be aggressive fish (khulis loach, guppies and a pleco), and the tank will be heavily planted. The bettas will be imported from Indonesia where they are already kept together with no problems.

So my question is:
Is it better to keep a few betta females (around 9) so they each have a bigger territory
or
Is it better to keep more betta females (around 13-15) to spread the aggresion

Ive read articles saying that of there are many bettas they will establish a better hierarchy will less aggression than if there is too few bettas, but I've also heard people saying that the less betta there is (whitin a minimum of 5-7 obviously), the less aggression there will be.

I know that betta sorotities are difficult, but I am an experienced betta owner and I am prepared for it, and have backup plans for the bettas in case some do not fit in the sorority.

Sorry for potential mistakes or if some sentence are unclear, English is not my first language.

 

I think it would be better to keep 9 or maybe 10. I believe No for the guppies. david1978 luckdown

 

I'm not calling myself expert but I kept my sorority for 2 months and so far no deaths. Things that I learned are :
First do a heavily planted tank. Something like Dutch style( even with fake plants it shouldn’t be something super expensive )
Second never forget about floating plants. Bettas stay a lot near the surface.
As for tank mate I can say that my bettas are doing okay with my kuhlI loaches and bn pleco. I heard guppies aren’t good with bettas if bettas are aggressive they will harass guppies to death and if bettas are okay guppies will chase them and nip their tails.
The number of bettas depends on how heavily your tank is planted but minimum is 7.
One last thing is to remember is that if you want betta tails and fins to be perfect sorority isn’t a good option. Even if you do everything right some nipping and fin damaging will happen.

 

I went a route to stack the odds of it working in my favor. Big tank, dull slow swimming fish and heavily planted. 7 was were the tank calmed down aggression wise. Currently at 19 bettas, 12 glowlight tetras, 11 emerald green cories and 2 little plecos. I haven't noticed much difference in aggression between 7 and 19 of them in my 75 gallon tank. In a 50 gallon I probably wouldn't go over 15 if your having tank mates. On the guppies they are one of the fish that's debated about ofc they are a goid tank mate with bettas. Fancy male guppies are usually a no since they so brightly colored but people have had luck with what's considered feeder guppies since they aren't as bright or have the large tails. Any other questions feel free to ask. I'm no expert by any means but have been in this hobby for 20 years, only had bettas now for 2 years and 8 months.

 

I have to say, david1978 , you were probably my biggest inspiration for this new tank, and I hope mine will work out as well as yours. So, you think there will be no difference bettween putting 9 or 13-15?

About the guppies, I know that it is not a recommended fish to go with bettas but... Thing is that this aquarium belongs to both me and my boyfriend, and as much as I want betas, he wants his colourful leopard guppy/endlers. If it turns out really not working, we have a 25 gallons ready to set up just for the guppies.

 

3 was a lot of chasing, 5 it calmed down some but 7 was were it calmed. I started out with all baby bettas and have ended up with a few males who are still in there. But I haven't noticed much difference between 7 and 19 other then the males claiming territories. Lately it seems the downfall of sororities have been more disease related and less due to aggression. I have been forchanate with my additions since I don't have a local breeder and I'm cheap so I have been getting them from petco.
I think this is the first time I inspired some one. Lol. Hope all goes well. When people see my tank they usually get a real funny look on their faces. Yes their bettas, no there isn't any dividers. Lol

 

Okay, thank you! In this case, I think I'll go for 9 or 11. I'd go for more but it's going to cost me $18 per betta since they're from Jakarta... And I understand, ever since Ive started talking about this new aquarium, people keep asking me if I'm 100% sure I can put many bettas together. lol, yes I am sure