FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Hi all,

Ok got my first Bettas at the weekend. I must admit I’m not really a fan of Male Bettas, nothing against them just that generally long finned showy fish are not my particular cup of tea. But always liked the look of the females, something about the shape and the more subtle colors.

Anyway I got 2 female for my large planted community tank. Been about 4 days now and generally they seem to be doing ok. Still don’t see much of them, they seem to like lounging in the thick bunch of hygro leaves. There’s no aggression, they are with rasboras, platies and rainbows and some gourami. They are ignored by the other fish and they ignore them. They are not shy with me, but don’t come out to feed with the others (the frenzy may be too much for them) but they will gobble up food if I put it in front of them.

I just get a feeling that they are a bit overwhelmed and lost in such a huge tank and the activity of the other fish may be making them dizzy. They were being kept in an old instant coffee jar when I bought them.
]:|

What I’m wondering is should I give them more time to settle in to the community tank or would they generally be better off in their own smaller home. I can pick up a 5 gal and have plenty of excess plants, rocks and wood so I could whip them up a nice little planted home in no time. I have to admit I’m quite smitten with them so I’m thinking about their long-term benefit. I want them to thrive not just do “ok”.

So where would they be more likely to thrive in the long run? In the big tank or in a smaller tank they have to them selves?

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

When I had one female in my community she was extremely shy and used to hide all the time. I moved her to a smaller tank and she was fine she swam around showing of her very birght colours. Then I decided to get another female. And they fought all the time so I moved them back to the big tank. There was no fighting. So I got 2 more and very liitle fighting goes on. Just the occasional chase. So speaking from my experience I would say just give them time in the bag tank and don't put them in the little tank.

sumo

In this case, I might be more likely to pick up a smaller tank for the two girls. My girls were shy for the first day or so after getting them, but they're now quite obviously the rulers of my tank. I'd say if your two don't settle in within a few days, you might want to give them their own space. Especially after going from the conditions you bought them in to the large tank... well, it's got to be a bit of a shock to their systems.

They aren't terribly fast moving fish, and generally seem to be calmer than say...oh, guppies. If your tank is full of fast movement and such, they could become uncomfortable, I'd think.

From personal experience, I'd say get a place where these girls can really shine... mine are extremely friendly and fun to interact with. I can pet them and feed them by hand and they do a happy little dance when I come near the tank. These are definitely fish that deserve centerpiece status, in my opinion. Of course... I might be a bit biased, seeing as how betta girls are my favorite fish.

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

I would put them in another tank thay do betta by the self but 2 female bettas will fight you need to have 4 or 5 or more because 2 females will fight over teratory.when there is more they dont fight dont know why

Kitten,

You hit the nail on the head. They are so much slower moving and more graceful then the others they just look out of place.

If I'm being totally honest I'm also being a bit selfish in the smaller tank. They are gorgeous fish but I hardly ever see them in a large heavily planted tank. If I put them somewhere smaller at I least I get to see their beauty.

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Yeah, exactly... show those lovelies off!

I think it depends more on personalities than numbers, actually, blackcloud. I've had six girls together for a long time, then added a seventh. Even with the bigger numbers, that one girl was just a terror. I know others on this board have successfully kept smaller numbers together as well. You just have to find two girls who are compatible. *shrugs*

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

Well, I can definitely see a difference in personalities already. One is definitely much more outgoing and more at ease then the other. Settled right in , not shy already recognises that I represent food and comes out to eat. Only problem is she is an absolute stunner, a crown tail that has huge purple fins and a white body that has a pinkish/puprlish hue, but she has settled into a spot in the middle of a huge bunch of hygro that grows to the surface, so I hardly ever get a good look at her. The other seems to like exploring more but seems a bit lost and nervous , like somebody who spent all their life on a farm suddenly dropped into the middle of New York ! They seemed to get on a well enough but I'll keep an eye on them.

Couldn’t get a tank last night, the place I tried only had crappy plastic tanks. I know of one place that makes their own glass tanks and they always have a good selection of small tanks, I’ll pick one up at lunch time. I live in Indonesia so I can whip the whole thing up for a couple of bucks. Just have to pay for the tank. No heater needed it’s a hot and sticky 80o year round , plenty of leftover substrate, plants rocks and wood knocking around, and a few small internal filters if needed. I’ve been looking for an excuse to use all this stuff !

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

I think it depends more on personalities than numbers, actually

I agree. I had four females in a heavily planted 10g with caves & such but basically all hell broke loose :%) Two of them were moved to a 5g and had no problems living together.

edit: spelling problems at 1am

[span class="edited"][Edited by Theresa_M 2004-09-05 00:04][/span]

~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is water at the bottom of the ocean