I have no idea what im doing. Ive had 2 bettas in my entire life and they were both male and lived alone except for the snail Maurice who seemed eternal.
Long story short a mom and dad to be had party favors at their gender reveal that were….you guessed it, bettas. There were mason jars with blue glass pebbles and pink glass pebbles with a corresponding ribbon. Males in blue jars girls in pink jars. 20 fish in total. I took my girl jar and was just dumbfounded at the idea of animals as party favors ive seen it with goldfish but never bettas. Anyways at the end there were a handful of fish left because not everyone wanted one and they certainly didnt want the "ugly" ones. So I took the last 4 girls along with the one I already had with nothing but hopes and prayers that they would survive and I could get them into something other than mason jars. The gray one is TINY like about the same size as some of my larger golden tetras. So I dont have much hope for her.
Side note I dont actually know of theyre all girls. The "koi" gives male to me but I cant tell.
I have them currently in s 20 gallon long I had laying around and ive added some drift wood and plants. Im going to go straight to the fish store after work tomorrow and get some taller plants but any advice on this would be great. I was thinking maybe egg crate to partition off sections or? Idk. I really dont. Ive been all through reddit and it seems like its possible for them to live together but also maybe not. I know this fresh tank is not what they need in terms of hiding places etc from what ive learned today. I thought about taking them to my local pet store and seeing if they'd take them but then im almost positive they'd just die in those little cups.
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1rolwtu
Posted by InBetweenTheLiminal
2 Comments
The best and most ethicsl thing you can do is visit all your lfs without stating your intentions and just look at the bettas and check them out. Look at how they are cared for and how you feel about it. Then talk up the employees about betta care. Also try and post the girls INDIVIDUALLY to rehome and require proof of a good tank. I also personally often ask for a random varying household item after getting the first pic in order to verify the tank is real and reverse image search it.
The sorority will not work. They arent sisters, you have a possible male, and a 20g isnt enough anyway. Get a in tank breeder box for the boy or get a Tupperware container you clip to the top of the tank and put a few sanded holes in it so you dont have to change the water.
Edit: I know this is gonna sound very cold but from experience you are best off picking your favorite, and giving the healthier ones away if they gotta go to a store with poorer care. Personally when I have to go that route I swing by once a week or so if possible and if I really cant stand the setup I take the fish back and either try and find a better home or I buy another tank.
Honestly, with a 20g long, your best bet would be to get 3 dividers and cut it into 5g chunks, until you can get multiple tanks setup. Sororities rarely work and itâd be better to separate them from the start.