3 Females - Community Tank

[ileopard]

I have 3 females (2 VTs and 1 halfmoon) in a 10 gallon community tank. One of my fish (the oldest one in the tank) has been flaring at both fish. I've been luring her away with the net to give the other fish time to go in a silk plant or decoration, but I can't do that all the time.

Does it take time for her to stop flaring? Wikipedia claims a hierachy needs to be established (that's why I need 3 fish and not 2 fish). Maybe that hierachy hasn't yet been established, as 2 fish are scared and not visible much (I just got 2 fish yesterday, so in a week they should be fine).

Thanks!

- ileopard

 

[jkrekord]

whoa i would say you need at least 2 more girly's to even out the aggresion other wise you will have major problems

 

[ileopard]

Good timing - I'm going to Wal-Mart today anyway, so I'll stop in the fish section and grab a few more if they have some. How many do you think I can handle in my 10 gallon? Should I upgrade to a bigger tank for 5 of them?

Thanks!

- ileopard

 

[jkrekord]

it realy depends what the other stocking of the tank is

 

[ileopard]

There's just bettas in there (3 females). Could the tail type also be a factor? 2 are VT and 1 is half-moon.

 

[lisie]

The only way tailtype would matter is if one was a crowntail... crowntails are little brats.

I would get 2 more girls for your tank.

 

[jollysue]

When you add new females to the community, be sure to do a major makeover of boundaries. Some even advise that you take the original girls out, move all the landmarks around, giving everyone a place to call home and the put everyone back at the same time. The girls will stake terrirories. They will use landmarks. If you have put the two new ones in the first girl's tank, she had claimed the whole tank to herself.

For appistogramma females the entrances to the caves should not face each other as they find this annoying. I don't know if this appies to all territorial fish, but I apply it to all the hidy holes of semi aggressive fish.

The idea is security and territory

 

[ileopard]

I just rearranged things around. If things don't get better, I'll buy two new females.

 

[ileopard]

Yep, they're still flaring. I'll get 2 more fish.

 

[jollysue]

haha I would expect that 3 would not settle down. Just remember to redecorate when you put in the new ones. Then they will fuss for a bit over the best digs.

 

[Haeun]

Well, I suspect it depends on the bettas' personalities.

I have had two females in the same 10 gallon (divided and one on each side of course) for a few weeks, and they seem to have gotten used to each other. I got another female and put all three of them together in the 10 gallon (divider taken out now) and they all seem to do splendid together!
For the first day or so, they flared slightly at each other, and looked like they might attack, but past that first day, they're so friendly with each other! They just swim together, swim on top of each other and hang out together, and never a squabble.

I'm getting a new female in tomorrow, and I'm going to go hit up the lfs again to see if I can pick up another, but yea, just sharing that my current 3 have been doing great together.

 

[ileopard]

I bought some new gravel and took everything out of the tank. They still flare. I'll let them do it for 3 days to see if it stops.

 

[jkrekord]

female bettas will always flare and fight that just the hierachy in action...BUT you definatly need at least 5 to even out aggresion

 

[ileopard]

I went to two Wal-Marts. They both had no female bettas. PetSmart also had none when I went a week ago. They must be in high demand to never be available. (It was hard getting my 2 VTs - when I got the second VT, it was the last girl they had).

I'll continue looking. Next time I'll ask someone when they're getting another shipment in.