Are girl bettas happy living alone?

[BettaMomma]

Do girl bettas prefer to be in a group?
Or can they be housed alone and still be happy?

And as far as decorations, I'm assuming that the same rules that apply to males don't apply to females because of the lack of long flowing tails. Correct?
So really any tank decs would be okay for females right?

Do they dislike current like males do too?

And they flare and breathe the same way males do, correcT??

 

[lovebuzz]

They can be in a group or alone, it doesn't matter. They say you should get 4+ to spread out aggression but some people only have 2 and they say all there is is a little nipping, nothing serious.

Any tank decorations should be ok as long as you don't get a longer finned variety. If the fins seem to be flowing, stick with the rules for males. If they are tight with the body, then anything should be alright.

I'm not too sure about the current, but if you want a female community, current distracts them from fighting.

Yes they do flare and breathe how males do.

 

[BettaMomma]

Hmm...
there's a longer finned variety of female bettas?
How do you know that they'll be longer finned ones if you're getting little ones (apparently young ones)??

And do you think 2 would work together in a 5 gallon tank?
or too small?

 

[SuckerLove86]

If they get along well then I don't really see a problem with two in a five gallon. I don't think overstocking would be an big issue with only two. I assume your talking about to 5g hex you have, right?

 

[BettaMomma]

Nope.
I'm not planning to fill it up today with 2 betta girls, sand bottom and gorgeous rocks from the lfs.

Nope, I am not.
Nooooo way.

 

[BettaMomma]

Okay okay, so I am.
But here's the next question - the lfs around here have ALL told me that I don't need to cycle the tank with bettas.
Just do some pretty major water changes right off the bat.
Is that true?

and i want a sand bottom so everything in it will be brand new....

 

[SuckerLove86]

I'm thinking if you can, then instant-cycle the tank, but water changes can probably work till that all sets in.

Water changes can be a bit of a hassle with sand because everytime you pour in water, it possibly will make the sand stir up and get the tank a *tad* cloudy for a bit. The easiest way to resolve this is to pour it on a decoration in the tank so that the decoration disperses the water. And as always, be gentle.

 

[Betta_man]

BettaMomma, ur old betta 'Amos' looks identical to my betta 'Dave' wot colourings would you say he had??

LEwis

 

[BettaMomma]

Okay, last question.
The instant cycle you're talking about - that's product you just dump in and it is supposed to fully cycle the tank, correct?

I wonder how long I have to wait after that stuff goes in, and if I do water checks for ammonia and everything else - and it comes out normal, that doesn't necessarily mean that it will not go through its own cycle, correct?
and i'll need to keep monitoring it for a while, no?

 

[BettaMomma]

BettaMan, I'm not sure what I'd call his coloration - I just always told people he had plum or burgundy finnage with mauve body.

Sorry I couldn't help you more, maybe someone else can.

 

[3fsh]

Actually, I'd cycle the tank either with ammonia or with a dannio... just in case. You could even add a handful of gravel from another tank while it was cycling to speed up the process. I tried that liquid "bacteria" cycle product and it is absolutely worthless. The tank took just as long to cycle as it would have if I hadn't used it. I can't believe I fell for it. ) If something seems too good to be true, it usually is.

 

[SuckerLove86]

I was talking more about using some media from a tank you've had set up for a while. I've never used any of the instant cycle products, but I've cycled some tanks using gravel and filter media before. If you can't do that then I'd say to go with the frequent water changes.

Either way though, it'd be good to monitor levels. You can never watch them too closely IMO.

 

[BettaMomma]

Is it absolutely a MUST that I cycle it before I put bettas into it??
Even if Ido really frequent water changes at first??
religiously?

 

[BettaMomma]

Okay - it's been 2 weeks since Amos was taken out of this tank.
Is there anything beneficial that's still in it that I could get out of it?
Or do I wanna break it down and sterilize it?

I certainly don't wanna pass on whatever he might have had there at the end to anything new going into it.

 

[3fsh]

I think it is best to cycle the tank first... not necessarily a "must" but still... I always feel safer knowing that my babies aren't being exposed to any ammonia or nitrite which could burn them and cause health problems later on. If you use some gravel from another tank, and then add a danio (or some pure ammonnia every day), it should cycle VERY quickly.