Group of female bettas

[Wat2Go]

I have three female bettas in a 10 gallon, with two cories and a snail, and they are absolutely fine. Have been together a couple of months (bettas are red, blue and red/blue)

My friend thought they looked so cool, so she set up a ten gallon too (took gravel and filter medium from me) and put one female betta and two cories in her tank. After a couple of weeks she added two other female bettas and the next day all bettas had died (two literally shred to pieces). I told her I didn't understand really (always thought female bettas could live together) but that maybe she should have put all three in at the same time. One cory had died as well.

So today she bought three females and put them in. (Water parameters amonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 10, ph 7.6, temp 80F, enough hiding places) White one is fine but the blue and red were fighting terribly (biting each others lips, it seemed). We took them out, because they were obviously going to kill each other...

What is this? Female bettas can't live together? Or is it character? Or bad luck?

L.

[Eupterus]

Pecking order issues?. Female bettas fight until the pecking order is established.

[vampie]

Maybe just personality?

A few months ago, I added two new female bettas to a 10g which already housed one - much like your friend's first scenario. They just flared each other for an hour and then never fought again.

[reneeg]

I too was surprised at the aggression of female bettas. I had 2 in a tank and thought one was going to kill the other one the first night. I did some research and found you should have at least 3 and make sure the tank has plenty of hiding places. That did the trick. They still nip at each other (I guess its just their nature) but no murdering!

[-KT-]

My friend had 3 female bettas in a 10 gallon successfully for a longtime until she killed them.

[Wat2Go]

Oh KT, that is horrible!

So, we put them back in the tank, they fought for hours and now they are fine! Each seems to have her own little nook...

So, I guess it is a good idea to put them all in at the same time, that probably explains why the killing took place after putting in two females in a tank that obviously already "belonged" to a betta!

Thanks!

L.

[Eupterus]

Yes. I would suggest reading up on sorority tanks as this is what betta keepers tend to call them.

[Wat2Go]

Bummer. Two died. My friend is giving up, no female betta tank for her!

L.

[Dwarf Puffers]

Mine 2 lip lock when they change tanks, takes them a bit (30 mins - 2 hours) to sort it out, they're fine after.

[Eupterus]

Bummer...This is definately a drawback with bettas...Can't just toss in new bettas and expect harmony. Good luck with your friend choosing other fish.

[Wat2Go]

Hahaha, she just called me: she picked a group of platies (mix batch) put them in two days ago, and has about 20 babies in the tank right now!

L.

[wataugachicken]

they can live together, but honestly they are just like women (and this is coming from a woman, too). they might all get along like happy sisters, or they could just turn into total *****es and hate each other. of course, people have the ability to pack up and move out when things get that bad. the bettas don't. i would treat them like cichlids, and either add them all at the same time, or rearrange the tank to dissolve territories when new ones are added. either way keep an eye on them.