5 gallon planted tank

[PeiMai]

Thinking about getting some girls to have as residence in the 5 gallon I've been working on. However, here is my question. Should I add them one at a time or can I go ahead and get three at once?

[doggyhog]

Take a look at this sticky, it gives great info about female bettas. http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/b...orities-29402/

Generally you want to add all the females around the same time. (Within a few minutes of each other at the most) Add the least aggressive ones first.

In a 5g, you cannot have more the 1 female. Not enough space for 3 females not to mention that would be over stocked.

[PeiMai]

I guess I forgot to mention that I have a filter that's rated for a twenty gallon tank. Figured that that might by me a little room by over filtering along with all the plants.

[doggyhog]

That is great, but there is still not physically enough space for three females. You could divide the tank for two bettas, but that is it.

[PeiMai]

Just trying to make sense of this. They recommend 5 gal per fish for an adult discuss. that is a fish that is almost a full 8" in diameter. Now I don't know if its because of the aggression levels that Betta's need more room or not but I would imagine that much like other aggressive fishes that over crowding slightly would actually reduce their territorial nature, like what they do with Cichlid's? I appreciate the idea of giving these fish more room than what the LFS give them but idk it seems a bit much when I see people keeping 7+ fish in a 10 gall divide by two and three doesn't seem wholly unfathomable.

[Oldfishlady]

When you stock an aquarium you have to stock for not only adult size of the fish but-territory needs, swimming needs, social needs of that species of fish-not fish in general...it is not a one size fits all....

With this species more fish is not always better in a small space-most times this will not work-small siblings starting out in a too small but heavy planted tank-may or may not work

I do understand what you are saying however, but experience with this species tells us 9 out of 10 times-3 females in a 5g tank will not work long term...its a risky venture......

[PeiMai]

ok I didn't go crazy with the plants so its not a totally NPT like what we had talked about, but what you are saying does make sense.

[PeiMai]

Well I opted to get two really pretty Julii cory cats

[shemetz]

pics please

[bloo97]

Originally Posted by PeiMai

Well I opted to get two really pretty Julii cory cats

Where was I when I found out that I could get Cory Cats in my 5 gallon?!?