Any suggestions? Setting up a betta sorority

E

elliriyanna

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May 31, 2010
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I am planning on starting a well planted betta sorority in a ten gallon. I've heard it can be very successful and am planning on keeping a close eye on it. 5 females together though... Should I run any meds through the tank or do anything to prevent aggression? I have tons of hiding places and I'm buying the youngest females available and sitting the containers next to each other for a few days before introducing them. Is there anything else I can do?

Does the tank look properly planted or more? There are three terracotta pots in the tank also gonna be adding at least two more tall plants.

The tank is properly cycled and ready to go. Would you go with three females or five? I just to take the least risks possible. I will also be adding a low dose salt just in case.

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I would add something on the top in the middle - either a floating plant or some tall plants that reach the surface. I had luck taking a big (16 inch, with multiple strands) plastic plant, pulling off the base of it and floating it across the whole top of the tank. As it is, there is a clear line of sight in the upper 1/3 of the tank.

Otherwise it looks pretty good. I think they'll appreciate the little plants and the hidey-holes.

I had three girls together for a while, but they bickered, so I added a fourth. This helped, but there were still occasional spats. I kept adding plants/decoration to the tank and it always helped - by the end it was quite full. I will say that if the girls are out to fight, no amount of hiding places will help. They will chase and they will prowl, so keep that in mind. Oh, and any redecorating will set off fights. :(

I had that going for 4 months, until I took out all their plants to go into another tank and put in dividers. I couldn't leave them without their plants otherwise... Haven't decided yet what I'll do with them long term.

Good luck!
 
My suggestion is even more plants and as adeire mentioned, some floating ones as well. Silk plants will be easier on their fins, even though fem betta fins are shorter, they are still just as fragile. Good luck!
 
right now the plastic are all I have access to. I'll make sure to keep a close eye on them and get some more plants and rearrange it. I'll post more pics as soon as i can.
 
Personally I think a 10g is kinda small for a sorority of 5. They are wonderful fish, and loads of fun to watch...but really they need more room then that IMO. A 29g would be much better. They may do ok, if added at the same time, but I would not add any other fish. Also be sure the top is covered, FM bettas are jumpers.
 
Ten gallon is the limit in a dorm and it has a full hood so jumping will not be a problem. I have put in a cave for each and am putting in more plants. Someone told me you can do a sorority of three but the other forums i asked on all say 5 is much better.
 
i would not do a sororrity in a 10 gallon. there is not enough room for the girls to all have their own little areas and they will bicker quite often.

if you are not able to have anything larger than a 10 i would suggest having just one female betta and some other fish. you could do 4 or 5 dwarf cories and a small group of tetras, say neons or cardinals.
 
It can be done if your careful and if it doesnt work I have a back up plan. I have one female already so a betta at least has to work into the set up.

Would three work ok? even a small sorority would be nice.
 
i've attempted three in a 10 gallon and it did not go well at all, that is why i'm saying don't do it.

three females is a bad number, as the two more dominant could be likely to pick on the weakest one. 4 to 6 is the best for a sorority, and IMO that many females is too much for a 10 gallon, even if they didn't bicker at all.

my suggestion is to wait until you are able to set up a larger tank and then do the sorority.
 
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