Breeding stripes

[a123andpoof]

So umm I have a females only tank with blurp, hope and no name. Sakura was in there but blurp breeched the divider so had to change that. My question is blurp has breeding stripes. Does that mean their is a male in the tank unknown to me? The only other fish she can see is a baby betta. And all have egg spots. Hope is definatly older to. Any suggestions as to why blurp has breeding stripes?

[BettaBaited]

Are you sure they aren't stress stripes?

[a123andpoof]

Yep the are vertical. I know stress stripes they are horizontal.

[BettaBaited]

Hmmm... Oh. Wait. I remember reading somewhere that when a female is wanting to assert her dominance, she will have vertical stripes. Which can cause problems with breeding, because you can't tell based on stripes whether she's feeling aggressive or flirtatious. Is she acting semi aggressive?

[a123andpoof]

Ah that could be it. Yes she is acting a bit aggressive. I suppose it is because she is in a tank full of new fish. She knew Sakura well enough heck they have fought each other and she knows she can win, so she wasnt stressed out by her afterwords. But I suppose sharing with two new females could be stressing her out. (tank is divided.)

[indjo]

Like males build bubbles nests when they are healthy, females will show breeding bars. Both male and female in breeding mode will be more aggressive. If a female was taken from a sorority and bred then returned, she will be aggressive and challenge other females. It's just their basic instinct.

[a123andpoof]

Okay thanks. I just thought it odd she would display them with no male around. Did not realize it was also brought on by aggression.