Shop replaced my female

[Joby]

I went to the lfs this afternoon and told them about my female that died this morning. He had just come back off holiday so didn't know if the rest of them had been any good or not but there were 2 left and both really good looking girls. He gave me one and said he hoped I had better luck this time. He also said it was probably a gill infection that killed her and obviusly didn't show externally until she couldn't close her mouth.

I've brought her home and now have a dilemma what to do with her. Didn't think about it when he offered me a replacement. The one that died this morning was in a divided tank with a male who has visible white fungus spots on his fins and his fungus meds in so I don't want to put her in there. The only other place I can think of is in with my original female who seems fine now and was from the same batch but showed a spot on her side fin on sunday which has now gone. She has fungus meds in with her too but I tried that and she just went for the new one! Wouldn't leave her alone and the new girl was completely stressed and all her bars showed up.

For now I've put my original girl into a breeding trap in the tank with the new one to give her a time out and allow the new one to settle in. Will a pecking order be achieved quickly do you think my original girl just doesn't want to share? I had high hopes of making a female community with them in a 21 UK gallon tank when they come out of quarantine but for now they are only in a 3 UK gallon. I've got plants etc in there to try and provide hiding but basically she keeps hunting her down.

I do get myself into daft situations

 

[Joby]

Well I think we have a truce

Roxy has decided she's def alpha female and Scarlett has accepted it I think. She chased her all over the tank and it must have worn them both out. They did stop however when I put bloodworms in

By her being so stressed and losing her colour though I can see a bump on her back and it appears to be a round lump inside her I hope its not a tumour. I'm going to let her settle in for a few days and then maybe take her to the lfs where I got her from and see what he thinks

I wouldn't mind having a bit of luck with my betta for a change

 

[SnowyzMom]

I often think about adding a Betta female or two into my community tank if I ever drop my current fish numbers down abit. They are lovely but they DO seem to have just as much personality as the males and attitude! Good luck with your girls! It sounds like once your alpha female got the message across that this was HER turf and she owned it, everything was fine.

 

[fourplayfishy]

this is why they normally say no less than 4 in a tank together

 

[turbotiber]

What you can do is put her in a small jar (like thos coffee jars, they're about a liter and half or so or something bigger) until you get her a permament home. Maybe you can buy her her own 1g bowl. But meanwhile keep her in the jar and keep her water really clean and then when you've got her home, put her in there

 

[Joby]

Update this morning is that they are getting on much better. The new girl is colouring up and losing her stress bars and my original girl isn't going after her anymore. I had put lots of plants and hidey holes in there for them and I think it helped.

I know it isn't the ideal situation for them but I've got a 21UK gallon in mind for a female community but my grow-out gups are still in there for this week. I couldn't find 4 nice girls together so have had to gather them one by one. I won't attempt to add anymore in this smaller tank and by the time they are finished in quarantine then their bigger tank will be ready.

Thanks all for your comments