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Keeping females together has worked for some people. The suggestion is often made to only get females that are kept in community tanks at the lfs. I don't believe that's a guarantee of peace. I was at a store recently with 2 female betta tanks and quite a few of the girls had very nipped and shredded fins

IME the determining factor is the fish's personality and you really have no way of knowing what you're getting.

3 is better than 2 simply because one will establish dominance and there will be 2 others for her to boss around rather than 1 receiving it all and getting stressed.

I would just say be very careful. This is what happened to one of my girls in a 10g. Unfortunately even though I got her out as soon as I noticed a problem and started treatment she didn't make it

[span class="edited"][Edited by Theresa_M 2004-07-13 16:08][/span]

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

the owner has to be strong to let them fight and get order. most of the times the females don't get hurt

Maybe you should check out Theresa's 1st post and look at her female. I know that she's not the type of person that would grab some popcorn and watch her fish rip each other apart, like you seem to enjoy doing. To each their own, I guess

bettachris...you said u keep males together??
please ..continue

Sorry, Theresa, didn't mean to sound as if the community betta girls were a completely non-aggressive bunch. You ARE probably more likely to get more community friendly fish out of a tank like that, but there's really no guarantees at all. These are living beings, remember... they have a mind of their own!

In fact, I just came home from the LFS, where I wound up rescuing a betta girl from a community tank where she was getting beat up on. Of course, their fish shipment JUST came in today, so it may have been that she was beat up during shipment, and they were just figuring out a pecking order in the store.

It should be a trip to introduce her to the other girls. I remember adding the last girl to the tank (I bought five together, then added a sixth a while later) and it was interesting... the tiny new girl, giving the tiniest little flare I've ever seen to girls twice her size. Besides a bit of dominance issues (the other girls put her into her place by herding her around the tank a bit), they've been best friends since.

Of course, I've come to the conclusion that my girls are at the very non-aggressive side of the spectrum. Basically, just take things slow and hopefully it will work out. Good luck, Platy!

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

also u can keep females together. heck I HAVE KEPT MALES TOGETHER AND THEY DO FINE. CAN EVERY1 SEE THAT? may females can be held together but there are some that will fight and the owner has to be strong to let them fight and get order. most of the times the females don't get hurt.

What you have to ask yourself is this, "Is it worth the risk?. Or is it better to play it safe and just have 1 female and something else in your 5 gal".

hi theresa!
If i see ANY sign of aggrestion continuously in the females i will seperate them rite away.
I saw ur gurl and read the post to so sad how they can just....turn on you.(sometimes)

try to find a LFS that keeps the females in a community tank, not in cups. These betta girls are used to company and I've rarely had any aggression in my tank.

I honestly don't think that always guarantees success. As I said, I was at a lfs with 2 female betta tanks and quite a few of the girls were looking quite ragged This is a good store with clean, nice-looking fish.

Your tank sounds so nice Kitten I just don't want anyone to go through what I did (or have poor fishies go through that either )

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

I know i know "never keep even female bettas together".

Bah to that, I say! Hmph and Phooey, too! I keep six betta girls in my 20 gallon long, along with six black neons and three cories (whose new buddies are on order!).

My best suggestion to ANYone who intends to keep female bettas is to try to find a LFS that keeps the females in a community tank, not in cups. These betta girls are used to company and I've rarely had any aggression in my tank.

As for six females in a ten, I would say perhaps four, just to be on the safe side. Seriously, my betta girls are a good 2.5" or better, and I don't think they'd have a whole lot of room to move in a ten gallon.

The same goes for the five gallon... less IS better... I'd say no more than two or three at the very most. Like I said, my girls really are quite big and I can't imagine more than two being comfortable in a five gallon.

If you can't find an LFS that carries betta girls in a community environment, I would definitely go with a lower stocking level. Just keep an extra tank near to hand in case the girls you pick don't get along!

Personally, the bigger, the better. I adore watching my girls... they're all over the place in my tank. They play in the bubble wall, explore every crack and crevice, play with the cories and investigate EVERYthing.

I wish I'd stayed with my original plan to have more betta girls instead of adding the black neons. The neons are great and all, but they have absolutely NO personality compared to the girls. Oh... and betta girls are much more fun than their male counterparts... I love to watch them interact with their tankmates. Besides... I don't teach the boys tricks.

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

I know i know "never keep even female bettas together". UGH i have heard that b4, BUT i found a site where it explains how to introduce females to each other.! yay!
So now the question: If i had 4 females would a 5 gl. be Ok?
Incase they DONT get along i have back up tanks.
THANX IN ADVANCE!

[span class="edited"][Edited by platiesAREcool 2004-07-13 13:34][/span]

yea i think so

Wait. Would a 10gl. be good for 6 female bettas?
just wondering thanks!

Thank you all!!
I heard a lot of different answers SOoo
I am gunna go in the middle :
First i will create LOTS of hiding spots,
Then check out the fish,
compare size,shape,temperment,
introduce in a nuetral area,
slowly but surely have at least 3 in the 5 gl. tank,
im done lol

hummm... 4 may be alright in the long run, but i would start out with 2.
i have 2 small girls (zoe and zyda) in a 2.5 gal right now and they are doing wonderfully. i got them both at the same time from the store (so im guessing they are approx the same age) they are also almost the same size. They seem to be the bestest of buds and i havent noticed any signs of nipping. it really depends on the temperment of the fish, some girls (like my maven) turn out to be really really agressive. When i first got zoe and zyda i put them in with her 3.5 gal and all she did was chase them around. ]

so my advice would be, if you're gonna try 4 girls in the 5 gal, try and get them as close to the same size and age as possible, make lots of hideouts in the tank and watch them carefully to start out with.

best of luck to you

[span class="edited"][Edited by 2004-07-13 15:05][/span]

I think that 4 would be too many - You could try 2 together and see how it turns out. Make sure you add plenty of hiding places because some of the females won't get along. I can't keep any of my girls together all they want to do it fight.
HTH,
Stella

P.S. Good luck with the tank

I think 2 would be the maximum. A female and an ADF would be good

I'll do graffiti,
If you sing to me in French.

You can keep female bettas in a tank together, maybe some wont get along. I think that a 5 gallon would be overstocked. I only think that but wait for more replies just to make sure