Sorority woes...

[ChristinaRoss]

ive had fantastic luck with mine

[New2Betas]

So whats the trick? Did you buy all the girls at once? Tell me tell me!

[ChristinaRoss]

no not added at once...........i have 43...........but they also have 55 gallons and LOTS of plants and hiding spots, i rearranged a few things every time i added more and i always added in 3's

[New2Betas]

So with a 10 gallon, should I start with 3 girls, wait a week, and maybe add 2 more?

[ChristinaRoss]

that would be ok, but, before u add the other two, take out the three for a couple hours before hand, rearrange spme of the tank and then add all 5 at once, there will be some fighting, chasing and or nipping, but, thats what happens with semiaggressive fish and how they establish territory and the pecking order

[ninjafish]

Okay, a happy update! Last night before I went to bed, I decided to try adding the girls in again. They started getting aggressive again, but I noticed that they were doing it toward the back of the tank. I had put a metallic blue background on the tank and I wonder if it was driving them nuts...I'm not sure whether it was the removal of the background or the fact that I just took them out and put them back in, but they're not fighting anymore and I'm really happy. Just a little bit of chasing once in a while. :)

And thanks so much for the PM Christina, I replied back.

[dramaqueen]

I'm glad things are going well for your sorority, ninjafish!

[New2Betas]

Thats so great ninjafish!!!

So ChristinaRoss, let me pick your brain, lol. How many girls could I put in a 10 gallon total? I think I'll add an albino sucker fish or 2.

I went to Persmart to see how many 10 gallon tanks with hoods they had. Luckily they had 7! But only 2 of the filters. The lady said there would not be a rush since they are a pet store. She also thought I was nuts to be starting a betta sorority and that they would kill each other. She said they used to keep all the females in one big tank (like the do the other fish) but they fought all the time. I told her is before there are no hiding places in the tank and they were never given enough time to set up a pecking order since fish were constantly taken in and out of the tank. Also that the they need more room then their small tanks (come on, 30 girls in a 15 gallon tank? I don’t care how good your filter is) and that they needed lots of plants for hiding. She still thought I was nuts but impressed by what I said.

[ChristinaRoss]

well i wouldnt put more than 5 or 6 in 10 gallon. and wouldnt add anything else either with that many girls, it would be overstocked

im glad to hear their settling in ninjafish