I recently got into aquarium keeping, and have a 40 gallon of pea puffers from a local place I trust and who taught me a lot.
I decided to add a beta tank to my collection, and he advised I do multiple females in one 5 gallon tank.
Trusting his, advice I did just that – which I am realizing is a mistake that I own and take responsibility for, but it’s also one I’d like to fix!
I can tell there’s already a hierarchy going on with the 3 girls I brought home yesterday. No fin nipping but general chasing between two of my bettas. I feel awful.
My first thought was to just upgrade the tank, but after more research I’m thinking getting each girl their own palace is probably what’s best.
TLDR: should I upgrade my 3 girls to one 20 gallon tank or should I give them each their own 5-10 gal?
Again – I realize I made a mistake, just want confirmation on how to proceed before I spend more money 🙂
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Posted by RealEnergy1889
13 Comments
20 gal is still too small for a sorority. I’d separate them, honestly. And don’t trust that pet store anymore.
are they happy with each other? is there any fin nipping or intimidation? if you can afford to get them all their own tanks, then definitely do so. if you can’t, and they’re happy cohabiting then get a bigger tank for them all together
i tried one in my 55gal. had 3 left so i took 2 put one in a 20long i’ve had set up and a 5gal i just cycled. never trusting people who say sororities are amazing again
Separate them. Sororities are a bad idea, even in large tanks, and a 20g isn’t a large tank.
Separate them, asap. Sororities are cruel. Keeping them together will cause stress, lowering their immune system, leading to fighting and/or death.
Pick up two more tanks and separate them asap.
I will be getting two new tanks and setting them up for my gals! That’s what I expected, just wanted to make 100% sure before I spend more money and end up making another mistake!!
Thank you soooo much everyone!!
Give them each their own tank— ten gallons ideally. You can find tanks, sometimes even entire set-ups, for cheap secondhand 🙂 check Craigslist/Facebook Marketplace!
Sororities are unethical and even “properly” done sororities can collapse out of nowhere. Your girls will be much happier with their own space.
Try not to beat yourself up too bad over this. You received bad advice, but what matters is you’re working to fix it for your girls.
Best of luck!
I had 3 males and 3 females in a 55 gal community tank which is only 2/3rd filled. They were there for more than half a year. They were fighting even when only 3 in a 10 gal tank.
I think 20 gal is enough if you have active fishes in there. I have a few male endlers, neon tetras, and female danios which are very active.
These store bettas are duds. The males I kept 40 years ago wouldn’t coexist in a heavily planted 200 gal tank.
I keep 10 females in 300 liters (80 gallons), each one has its own hiding place and it is a heavily planted aquarium, they all have healthy fins, and there are no stress patients, I had taken two more but not getting along with the others I decided to isolate them in dedicated tanks
Each in a 5-8g would be great. Heavily planted. Low flow filter. Floaters. They make beautiful room compliments with plants and even shrimp and ramshorn snails.
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Side note: I was in the aquarium hobby 10+ years ago and at that time sororities seemed to be all the rage. Now I’m getting back into it a bit with a betta tank and now sororities are a no go. Interesting how things change and evolve with new knowledge and understanding over time!