froggy
Fish Fanatic
Yeah But Is That betta Yours!!!! 
Tetras With Female Bettas... ?
- Thread starter aquagirl
- Start date
aquagirl
Fish Crazy
Yeah But Is That betta Yours!!!!
Uhm. What now... ?
starrynightxxi
Fish Herder
the reason people are warning you is that the girls are likely to be very territorial as that is the nature of bettas. they aren't necessarily more mellow than the males, I've had females that would have ripped my males to shreds without a second thoguht (and boys that would have let them, the little masochists). As far as the bioload goes, you aren't technically over running the tank by the 1"/1g rule, it's just a matter of territory disputes. These girls, unless you get them all from a respomsible breeder, will probably have been seperated from other girls for a long time, and that can lead to problems. Also, once the girls start after each other, the tetras may get involved. Just because they keep to themselves now doesn't mean they will continue to do so once their interesting new tankmates are added in, and unlike the long finned boys, the tetras won't necessarily be faster than the girls, and may be harmed.
Do not euthanize the tetras, that should only be used as a last resort for a fish that cannot recover from illness or injury. Remember that these are still animals and still lives that are in your care and by buying them you make yourself responsible for their welfare. It isn't their fault that you want to switch to bettas and making them pay for that would be very selfish. Personally I would suggest setting up a second tank for the girls and adding more tetras to the one you have. You may say they are fine, and perhaps they are, but tetras are far less boring when they can school with more of their own kind. As long as both tanks are looked after, and you have room, I can't imagine what your parents would really have a problem with. My parents let me have two tanks when i was younger (because plastic dividers are ugly and i had a very territorial fish).
In any case, remember to make sure you can seperate the girls if you have to.
-miriam
(PS: froggy wants to know if that betta in your signature is yours)
Do not euthanize the tetras, that should only be used as a last resort for a fish that cannot recover from illness or injury. Remember that these are still animals and still lives that are in your care and by buying them you make yourself responsible for their welfare. It isn't their fault that you want to switch to bettas and making them pay for that would be very selfish. Personally I would suggest setting up a second tank for the girls and adding more tetras to the one you have. You may say they are fine, and perhaps they are, but tetras are far less boring when they can school with more of their own kind. As long as both tanks are looked after, and you have room, I can't imagine what your parents would really have a problem with. My parents let me have two tanks when i was younger (because plastic dividers are ugly and i had a very territorial fish).
In any case, remember to make sure you can seperate the girls if you have to.
-miriam
(PS: froggy wants to know if that betta in your signature is yours)
aquagirl
Fish Crazy
(OH. Yes, he is mine. 
)
Thank you for those lovely paragraphs.
Okie. I see what you are saying.
Would it make a difference if they sit on shelves all day at the lfs and see eachother every day, day in day out?
Lol... or, if that is not a possibility, I know of a shop around here where they keep females all in one tank.. I could get some from there next time they restock. They'd be more used to eachother that way.
I swear on my life my parents won't let me get another tank.
There's room, but I'd have to pay for it all... which I'd be willing to do but they really wouldn't let me, saying it would be an unadvisable investment or something.
)Thank you for those lovely paragraphs.
Okie. I see what you are saying.
Would it make a difference if they sit on shelves all day at the lfs and see eachother every day, day in day out?
Lol... or, if that is not a possibility, I know of a shop around here where they keep females all in one tank.. I could get some from there next time they restock. They'd be more used to eachother that way.
I swear on my life my parents won't let me get another tank.
There's room, but I'd have to pay for it all... which I'd be willing to do but they really wouldn't let me, saying it would be an unadvisable investment or something.
starrynightxxi
Fish Herder
if you want girls in the same tank and have the opportunity to get some who are already stocked in the same tank, I would get them. Now i'm not saying that the girls in the plastic cups won't work, because that isn't necessarily the case. This is a situation which largely has to be played by ear. I have a very large girl and a very small girl sharing a divided 2.5g until I can get my sorority tank put together and cycled. The little one is from a LFS, the big one from a good breeder, but they still get along at least long enough in neutral territory that i can change the water in the tank without fussing over what to do with them too much.
If you can't get a second tank, make sure you add all the girls at one time OR you rearrange the tank whenever a new one is added. This way no one female will already have an established territory that is unknown to the new fish. However they will still probably fight so make sure you have some medicine on your hands for torn fins and plenty of plants and caves for them to get away from one another in. The tetras will enjoy a well planted tank as well. In most cases I've heard, they settle down within a week or two, but keep an eye on them. If one is especially aggressive after most of the hierarchy fights have ended, or is looking unwell, remove her immediately. A gallon bowl or tank will be sufficient for her. Unfortunately removing a fish may cause them to start fighting again to reset the hierarchy.
I don't think I've really missed anything, but if i have, other forum members should be able to cover it. There are plenty here who know more than me, and who have experience with sorority tanks (I'm only repeating mostly what I have read on this forum in the past). Good luck, i hope it works out
-miriam
one last note, I don't know if this is necessary, but it might be wise to ask for seperate bags for each fish if you DO get them from the store that stocks the girls together. They may do this anyway, but i wouldn't want to see a fish die between the stress of being shipped, as well as being confined in so small an area with five otherstressed and unhappy girls.
If you can't get a second tank, make sure you add all the girls at one time OR you rearrange the tank whenever a new one is added. This way no one female will already have an established territory that is unknown to the new fish. However they will still probably fight so make sure you have some medicine on your hands for torn fins and plenty of plants and caves for them to get away from one another in. The tetras will enjoy a well planted tank as well. In most cases I've heard, they settle down within a week or two, but keep an eye on them. If one is especially aggressive after most of the hierarchy fights have ended, or is looking unwell, remove her immediately. A gallon bowl or tank will be sufficient for her. Unfortunately removing a fish may cause them to start fighting again to reset the hierarchy.
I don't think I've really missed anything, but if i have, other forum members should be able to cover it. There are plenty here who know more than me, and who have experience with sorority tanks (I'm only repeating mostly what I have read on this forum in the past). Good luck, i hope it works out
-miriam
one last note, I don't know if this is necessary, but it might be wise to ask for seperate bags for each fish if you DO get them from the store that stocks the girls together. They may do this anyway, but i wouldn't want to see a fish die between the stress of being shipped, as well as being confined in so small an area with five otherstressed and unhappy girls.
aquagirl
Fish Crazy
"What kind are those tetra but they died.i think 4 female bettas are not going to fit in one tank
But they are compatible."
What the crap is that supposed to mean? The first sentence anyway?
Anyways thanks...
Jeez I'm having a rough time getting a LFS with them in stock...
But they are compatible."What the crap is that supposed to mean? The first sentence anyway?
Anyways thanks...
Jeez I'm having a rough time getting a LFS with them in stock...
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