Possible Betta Sorority

Hi, so last night on my other thread (betta emergency) the topic of a betta sorority came up. I know the basics, like you need plenty of plants and hiding places and add all of the bettas at the same time. I am looking for tips and tricks for keeping bettas sororitys and any personal anecdotes about your expirence with one.

I also have a question... should I keep my injured female (long story read other thread) in the 20 long (which would become the sorority) while she heals or just add the other females now (the current female has been on the right half of this tank for awhile now)

Katie13

 

Here's what I would do
1. Keep your current female in the 20 while she heals
2. Once she's fully healthy again remove her to a temporary tank
3. Rescape the 20. This will help her to not recognize it as "her territory". Make sure it is very well planted with lots of hiding places and things to break the lines of sight.
4.Go and buy 5-7 female bettas
5. After acclimatizing them all release them and your original female into the 20
6. Watch for aggression and monitor them all. Be prepared to remove any that don't work well in the sorority.

 

Here's what I would do
1. Keep your current female in the 20 while she heals
2. Once she's fully healthy again remove her to a temporary tank
3. Rescape the 20. This will help her to not recognize it as "her territory". Make sure it is very well planted with lots of hiding places and things to break the lines of sight.
4.Go and buy 5-7 female bettas
5. After acclimatizing them all release them and your original female into the 20
6. Watch for aggression and monitor them all. Be prepared to remove any that don't work well in the sorority.

Thanks for the advice,
Here is a picture of the tank currently (ignore my diatoms I was out of town for awhile)


I will get more plants for the tank for sure... I am looking into different types of live plants and what they need lighting/fertilizer wise. The tank only has LEDS right now, but there is a spot in my hood for a florescent bulb. I don't want to spend a fortune on a light bulb

Oh and I forgot to mention that I will get another 2.5 gallon tank as a back up tank... would it be a good idea to leave something like a snail in the back-up tank to keep in cycled

 

A few tips from Kader

1. Try getting all females that are close to each other (if you're buying from a lfs)

2. Try getting the youngest females, that way they have a chance to grow up together

3. I don't believe in the concept of a betta alpha. Basically, a betta alpha is a female betta that constantly expresses her dominance by being aggressive. It's supposed to make the other females less aggressive. In my opinion, that's just a female that is too mean for a sorority. Yes, there's gonna be a dominant female, but one that is constantly harassing her tank mates shouldn't be put into a sorority.

4. Keep your water clean. Being in a sorority can be stressful and stressed fish will be more susceptible to diseases.

As for your second question, if you could, get her her own medicine tank. The tank should have clean water, a heater, and a good variety of food. After she's healed up, you can introduce her to the sorority.

Personal experience: I've had a good time with my betta sorority. It's had it's ups and downs but in the end it's been pretty nice. I've lost half of them to some invisible disease so I've only got three left, but I'm going to try and introduce my newest girl to it. I've never really had issues introducing new girls, the newer ones find their way into the hierarchy (I've had a girl I bought become second most dominant in only 3 nights)

 

A few tips from Kader

1. Try getting all females that are close to each other (if you're buying from a lfs)

2. Try getting the youngest females, that way they have a chance to grow up together

3. I don't believe in the concept of a betta alpha. Basically, a betta alpha is a female betta that constantly expresses her dominance by being aggressive. It's supposed to make the other females less aggressive. In my opinion, that's just a female that is too mean for a sorority. Yes, there's gonna be a dominant female, but one that is constantly harassing her tank mates shouldn't be put into a sorority.

4. Keep your water clean. Being in a sorority can be stressful and stressed fish will be more susceptible to diseases.

As for your second question, if you could, get her her own medicine tank. The tank should have clean water, a heater, and a good variety of food. After she's healed up, you can introduce her to the sorority.

Personal experience: I've had a good time with my betta sorority. It's had it's ups and downs but in the end it's been pretty nice. I've lost half of them to some invisible disease so I've only got three left, but I'm going to try and introduce my newest girl to it. I've never really had issues introducing new girls, the newer ones find their way into the hierarchy (I've had a girl I bought become second most dominant in only 3 nights)

I will put her in my current 2.5 gallon with a cycled filter until she is healed (while the male stays in the 20g), then her and the male can switch tanks and I will get another 2.5 as an extra, incase something goes wrong and they need to be separated.

A question... have you ever had trouble feeding your girls, I would think that the dominant might not let the others get food... is there a specific way you suggest feeding them?

 

I will put her in my current 2.5 gallon with a cycled filter until she is healed (while the male stays in the 20g), then her and the male can switch tanks and I will get another 2.5 as an extra, incase something goes wrong and they need to be separated.

A question... have you ever had trouble feeding your girls, I would think that the dominant might not let the others get food... is there a specific way you suggest feeding them?

I used to. As the girls got more relaxed with each other they all began to eat with each other.

If you're really worried about your girls not eating, you could feed on separate sides of the tank. More than likely your your dominant ones will eat together and your least dominant ones will eat together.

Oh and I forgot to mention that I will get another 2.5 gallon tank as a back up tank... would it be a good idea to leave something like a snail in the back-up tank to keep in cycled

Sorry, just seeing this

You could do a snail or two to keep the tank cycled.

 

My sorority is my favorite tank by far! The smaller the tank the tougher it is to establish but I had a group of 7 in a 20.

Have meds on hand! You'll find your girls at chain stores and disease is likely due to the poor conditions they live in. Have an ick/velvet med and a flukes med ready or even dose when you add fish to prevent. I know we avoid chemical additives on this site, but I do recommend in a sorority.

Don't try to add other tankmates.....it'll backfire in a small tank.

If you are up for the challenge, upgrade to live plants. They love thick plants to sleep in and floating plants provide security and the girls will be more social.

Good luck!

 

My sorority is my favorite tank by far! The smaller the tank the tougher it is to establish but I had a group of 7 in a 20.

Have meds on hand! You'll find your girls at chain stores and disease is likely due to the poor conditions they live in. Have an ick/velvet med and a flukes med ready or even dose when you add fish to prevent. I know we avoid chemical additives on this site, but I do recommend in a sorority.

Don't try to add other tankmates.....it'll backfire in a small tank.

If you are up for the challenge, upgrade to live plants. They love thick plants to sleep in and floating plants provide security and the girls will be more social.

Good luck!

Any specific meds that you recommend that are safe for bettas?

 

I use prazipro for the worms/flukes. If you not keeping inverts, any ich med works fine.....I have shrimp and snails in my tanks and have yet to find a great ick med safe for them.

CopperSafe is great for velvet, common in bettas, but again not invert safe.