My New Female Bettas :)

HI So about a week ago I bought three female Betta fish with the hope of creating a sorority tank. I have a 10 gallon cycled tank , and I acclimated them accordingly. My little ladies are all 1 inch long. give or take. The Red one is Wave, the Pink one is Luma, and the Blue one is Pekoe. after introducing them to the tank everything was great for about 20 mins, then Wave turned in to a total jerk! She was chasing an flaring furiously for a couple of hours and I couldn't bare it any longer. So I took her out back into her store cup and she was instantly calm. I figured she was just a "does not play well with others" kind of girl. I gave her to my sister and she is doing great alone . My concern tho is for poor Pekoe that is clearly traumatized by the bullying because she has stress lines a lot of the time. Luma is a show off and doesn't bother her or seem to be bothered by anything herself. Pekoe is starting to slowly be more social, she eats from the bottom of the tank and is very shy. I'm wondering if she will be ok in time? Will the the two be better off with a new female or stay together?
thank you for any advice
Cheers!

 

My best advice to you, is not to attempt a betta sorority in a ten gallon. Your best bet now is to separate the remaining two. Because one will likely get killed because there are only two in there. Three allows the aggression to be divided. So If you want, get a 20 gallon and you could have 5-6 of them, maybe more. But right now separate them, and give them clean water.

 

penguin02 you have the 10 gallon sorority right?

 

I attempted it. I have a ten gallon tank yes

 

just for because maybe get a 3rd female and 1 male
guessing that you might be able to get away with 4-6 females in a 10 gallon with no males also
add vegetation and decor so they can equally hide and what not..
been testing wild flowers from the yard
got a few that turned aquatic and great for my bettas
I am only running 1male, 1 female, 1 swordtail(tank mate) in a 10 with lava rock quarry and 'vines' on top

 

Yes, I see that. I mean, do not try to add another fish, which was the answer to your original question, no?

4-6 females in a 10 gallon will not only not work due to aggression, but to the bio-load of the fish. 4-6 in a 20 gallon.

 

Thank you everyone. I have some fake plants that are actually pretty soft and three hiding holes for them. I may try real plants I wasn't sure about it at first but ill give it a shot. I I really hope I don't have to separate them, they are just babies and the pets store clerk said they have a better chance of living together if they grow together?

 

would recommend a 20 gallon just like every one else, but can't just pop out a 20 gallon on recommendations
yes you have a better chance if they grow together as what I am doing
there is not much aggression they all seem to keep their space in my tank.
although I want a 2nd female for the male
I am using a 10 gallon tank

 

I can't do a 20 gallon right now but its def in my back pocket for the near future. I really love these little darlings and I want them to thrive so I will let it be a little while longer to give them a chance to be together and if Pekoe is still stressed then I will happily divide the tank for them. This is great forum , I'm so glad I joined

 

I do have a 10 gallon sorority. I will tell you that it's 100% possible, but ONLY if you are an experienced fishkeeper that is able to separate and rehome them if necessary. Do exactly 5 of the same age and size, and make sure that the tank is heavily planted/decorated. But again, only if you've kept fish before.

If you're new to the hobby, I wouldn't recommend a sorority period. They often end up disastrous, and you don't want to feel discouraged or terrible for making mistakes right at the beginning. Stick with some easier species, like livebearers and tetras (make sure your fish can live happily in a 10g, and I highly suggest upgrading in the future) and you'll be a lot better off! Welcome to Fishlore! We're happy to have you.

EDIT: You could always do a divided 10 gallon with a female betta on each side, if you have your heart set on bettas

 

penguin02 I absolutely have my heart set on Bettas , I will take this all in and let you know how it goes

 

I have a heavily planted 10 gallon 5 betta sorority. There was a little aggression at first. So I added a cave and more plants and I moved a couple of rocks and plants around to create more hidden places. They're all getting along for now. Occasionally I'll even see them hanging out together on top looking for food. The key to success is having lots and lots of live plants and hiding places.

 

HarryNYC Thank you ! I feel much better with all this great info. Having only been a week I'm hoping my little blue betta will get more comfortable with time. I have some hideout decorations for each of them and I see them both using the swim through from time to time. Strangely from what ive red they are not fond of filter flow but these two purposely hang out in the flow haha. funny lil babies. I will definitely get a live plant or two, any suggestions?

 

HarryNYC Thank you ! I feel much better with all this great info. Having only been a week I'm hoping my little blue betta will get more comfortable with time. I have some hideout decorations for each of them and I see them both using the swim through from time to time. Strangely from what ive red they are not fond of filter flow but these two purposely hang out in the flow haha. funny lil babies. I will definitely get a live plant or two, any suggestions?

Awesome... Yes give them plenty of hiding places and plants, anything to break the line of sight between them. I picked up 2 Water Sprite plants and they love it. My Water Sprite is taller than the tank so they bend over and go across the top of the water. That's where my Betta love to hang out, floating in the water sprite leaves. Also have some windeluv java fern that are bushy short plants that create cover for them ob the bottom. And also have Anubias Nana and my Amazon Sword plants large long leaves to break up the mid level of the tank.

Here's a pic of my Alpha and her new cave. And below that are 2 others hanging out in the water sprite leaves.

 

HarryNYC Wow! absolutely stunning. These are great ideas thank you so very much

 

HarryNYC your girls are gorgeous

 

HarryNYC your girls are gorgeous

Thank you very much.

 

HarryNYC A little update, so sadly I noticed a little rip in Pekoes belly fin ,I don't know if she got caught on something or if it was Luma being aggressive when we weren't watching but I will definitely be separating them. I purchased a divider off amazon and while we wait she is in her own 2.5 gallon bowl with some plants and her hide away. She is still showing stress lines but I put some betta salt in her bowl to help . Meanwhile Luma is happy as a clown having the whole 10 gallon to herself, I'm wondering tho will she be stressed when I divide it?

 

HarryNYC A little update, so sadly I noticed a little rip in Pekoes belly fin ,I don't know if she got caught on something or if it was Luma being aggressive when we weren't watching but I will definitely be separating them. I purchased a divider off amazon and while we wait she is in her own 2.5 gallon bowl with some plants and her hide away. She is still showing stress lines but I put some betta salt in her bowl to help . Meanwhile Luma is happy as a clown having the whole 10 gallon to herself, I'm wondering tho will she be stressed when I divide it?

Awe sorry to hear you had to break them up. I bet she is loving all having the tank to herself. I know my male Betta is having a ball ever since I took him out of the tetra tank and gave him his own tank.

She might get a little bummed out when she loses half of her space. But what's important is they are separated and each has her own space.

Provide plants to give them privacy and break the line of sight between them. That will reduce the stress.

 

@HarryNYC Thank you . I'm really hoping for the best,and I really appreciate your time and kind suggestions. All the best you and yours

 

@HarryNYC Thank you . I'm really hoping for the best,and I really appreciate your time and kind suggestions. All the best you and yours

Your welcome and good luck, keep me posted on your progress I really look forward to it.. Oh btw I changed my username from @HarryNYC to Aquarius_in_nyc in case you were wondering lol.