Sorority Help Needed!

[elegantlyunsophisticated]

yeah I was considering getting something to gently aggravate the water but it's just not worth it, if I throw the food in hard enough it'll sink. I'm thinking of going out for another female this weekend because the 10g feels super empty with just 4 and they're a really good set of fish so I think they'll take well to another addition. Should I look for more of an alpha or a beta type as a late addition?

[Xeek]

I thought you meant alpha as in queen, top of the pecking order, then you said beta - so then I'm not sure what you mean.

There is really almost no way you will know if the betta you buy will be more or less docile. Even initially they don't show their true aggression, and sometimes not even until they're settled in their new home.

I've found that the largest of my females tends to be the alpha, but that is not always the case. Finding a girl that is at least not bigger then the alpha you have might be better.

I would not add one female. You might do better by adding more at once. If you do only add one - move everything around; otherwise I really would suggest adding 2 or 3 at a time.

[elegantlyunsophisticated]

Oh sorry I meant alpha and beta like the alphabet, so first and subordinate after that. Well, it appears that something nasty hit my tank, and I have now lost 3 fish overall. I have the remaining two in quarantine with salt and there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with them. This weekend I'm tearing down the tank for a heavy cleaning, then I'll get the sorority back up and running.