Female Betta Tank

[s72450]

I recently decided to house a female betta community tank after hearing that they could live together. I have four females, one who I have had a bit longer and three new ones. I have them all in a tank with lots of plants and objects to hide in if the need be as I was instructed to do so.

The girls have been in there since Friday and although I figure they would fight it out for an order to the tank, I didn't expect them to continue to do this. I will on occasion see them darting at one another and I was told that this is normal until a Queen Bee is chosen and then the others tend to fall into line.

I'm just worried that they will do more harm to one another and I don't want them to get hurt, are there any suggestions on making this transition easier or should I just put them into seperate tanks? Anyone with experience with females please let me know. Thanks!

[dramaqueen]

I have read that you are supposed to add them to the tank all at once so no one has an advantage over the others claiming territory. They should settle down but you should keep an eye on them and take a bully out if necessary.

[s72450]

"Juliet", the one who had been in there for about two weeks seems to be the bully of the tank, she's the largest and tends to take the main space of the tank and let the other three find smaller places in the caves and plants.

This might sound dumb, but how do I know if one is injured badly from fighting? I've only kept bettas in tanks to themselves before.

The smallest of the bunch, "Piper" tends to stay at the bottom of the tank underneath a coral decoration I've noticed. I hope she's not hurt.

[dramaqueen]

If you could get Piper to come out of hiding, you could try to see if she's been injured.

[s72450]

She doesn't appear to be injured, perhaps she's just found her little spot in the tank. Right now I have them in a five gallon tank but it's only temp until I get a ten gallon fixed up, I'm in the process of planting one right now for my girls to live in.

[dramaqueen]

I have read that a 10 gallon is best for a sorority tank so it's good that you got one.

[s72450]

That's what I've heard as well so as soon as everything is ready, I'll move the girls on over.

[dramaqueen]

I think that they'll do much better in the bigger tank.

[nav2008]

i have a sorority (30 gallons) with 5 girls, well 4 now... my leader got the crap beat outa her because one of my others wanted to be head honcho, leader is currently being tended too in a seperate tank and therer has been no more fighting

[dramaqueen]

Female bettas are feisty little things, aren't they?