Betta fish ("betta splendens") are one of the most popular and well-known aquarium fish. Although Bettas have a reputation for being a very aggressive species, it is not impossible to put a group of female Bettas (otherwise known as a “harem betta” or “sort” [sorority] or even “aquarium girls”) in one aquarium and live in a peaceful environment. However, you should consider several factors to create a happy and healthy association aquarium so that your betta can thrive. Association aquariums can only be realized with certain conditions of fish population and water capacity. In addition, close supervision is required.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Preparing the Betta Brotherhood Aquarium
Step 1. Consider the capacity of the aquarium
There is no minimum 'should' capacity for a communal aquarium. However, most communal aquariums that hold large numbers of fish should have a minimum capacity of 40 liters. The smaller capacity of the aquarium will cause problems due to the high biological load (number of living organisms in the aquarium that produce waste). Make sure you have the space and financial resources to purchase and maintain an aquarium of this size.
In addition to the capacity of the tank, consider buying an aquarium with a cover as betta fish are known to jump
Step 2. Understand the “personality” of the fish
Like humans, fish have different personalities. This means that some fish will be much more territorial than others. It's possible that the fish you choose for your female betta may not get along with the rest of the tank.
- You should have a “plan B” in place in case one of the female bettas is too aggressive to be placed in a communal tank.
- As a contingency plan, consider placing overly aggressive female bettas separately and alone. (CAUTION: it is very difficult to identify the betta that is the source of the problem and determine if it is the only troublemaker).
Step 3. Learn how to care for your betta's habitat
Make sure you monitor the water temperature, use treated water, monitor the pH (should be in the 6.5 to 8 range), add aquarium salt to prevent your betta from contracting disease and parasites, and replace about 25% of the aquarium water once a week with water that has been cleaned. processed (in addition, perform a 100% water change every two months).
Keep the betta's habitat clean. You should clean the tank once or twice a week if it has a filter. Scrub the inside walls of the tank, but don't use soap. Make sure you also clean up any fish waste and food residue that has accumulated on the gravel or sand in the tank
Step 4. Learn how to feed your betta
Betta fish should be fed 1-2 times a day. Let your betta "fast" for one day a week so that its digestive system can rest. Bettas are carnivorous animals. Make sure you also feed him bloodworms or dried shrimp as a variation of his diet.
- Keep in mind that a betta's belly is as large as its eyeballs. Be careful not to overfeed him! Bettas tend to overeat if you give too much.
- Keep in mind that your betta doesn't like flaky food, even if it's made for him. This is because hickeys are true carnivores!
Step 5. Recognize the signs of a healthy hickey
A healthy Betta looks active and alert, eats regularly, and will react aggressively to external stimuli. Health problems that often affect betta include fin rot (marked by torn or crushed fins and ich (marked by white spots on the fins or body).
Step 6. Put at least 3 betta, or better yet 5-7 female betta in one tank
Never put less than 3 female bettas in a communal aquarium. If you only have 2 female bettas, one will usually take the dominant position and intimidate the other.
Keep in mind that the more fish you want to put together, the larger the tank you will need. We recommend that you provide a 75 liter tank to accommodate more than 5 female bettas
Part 2 of 3: Setting Up the Brotherhood Aquarium
Step 1. Choose a substrate of dark gravel or sand to highlight the color of the female betta
If you want a touch of color, choose colored pebbles, but neutral colored pebbles mimic the betta's natural environment and can help reduce stress.
Larger gravel can trap food debris. Slowly the food will rot and affect the health of the aquarium. To avoid this problem, choose smaller gravel for your betta's aquarium
Step 2. Find a suitable water filter
In general, you should look for a filter that can produce a water circulation rate of between 8-10 times the tank's capacity per hour. Make sure you always check for this capability when purchasing a filter. For example, if you have a 40 liter tank, look for a filter that can handle about 400 liters of water per hour.
Consider a filter with an adjustable water flow. Bettas prefer a weak stream from the filter
Step 3. Purchase a heater for the aquarium
You should keep the water temperature in the range of 22-26 °C. Aquarium fish like water in this temperature range, but the ideal temperature is 25 °C. As a general rule, try to buy a water heater that can allocate 50 watts for every 40 liters of water.
Also, consider buying a thermometer for the aquarium. Electronic thermometers are more convenient and easy to read
Step 4. Find a suitable water conditioner
If you use unprocessed tap water for your aquarium, your betta may be exposed to potentially harmful chemicals. Try a water conditioner that can remove chlorine, chloramines, and heavy metals, while detoxifying ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates.
Step 5. Add water and cycle for 1 week before adding fish
This step gives enough time for the bacteria to settle in the filter.
You can also add biological conditioner to the tank before adding the fish. Contact your local pet store to ask if they sell a suitable product
Step 6. Buy fish and put all the female betta into the tank at the same time, one at a time
Buy all the betta fish at the same time, but add them to the tank one at a time, starting with the fish that looks the most passive. This step allows each fish to establish its own territory before you add any other fish to the tank.
- Choose fish that are about the same size.
- If you can buy fish that are "brotherly" (or fish from the same spawn), the chances of these fish getting along are greater.
- Consider choosing an odd number when filling the tank. Try to keep 3 or 5 female Bettas in a 40 liter tank or 7 or 9 Bettas in a 75 liter tank.
Step 7. Make sure you place the plants in the aquarium
Don't forget to include plants (live or artificial) as well as other elements such as driftwood or caves. This decoration allows the weaker female betta to feel more secure as it is blocked from the sight of the stronger and more dominant female. You will need to provide sufficient hiding places to create a healthy female betta association aquarium.
- Each betta must be able to claim its own territory and give it space to "patrol" as well as hide.
- If you choose artificial plants, choose plants made of silk, not plastic. Silk plants will not tear the betta's delicate fins.
Part 3 of 3: Monitoring the Brotherhood Aquarium
Step 1. Observe the aquarium
Female Bettas may nip each other's fins at first, but once they've established a hierarchical order, these incidents will be less frequent. However, if there are occasional fights between fish in a communal aquarium, this is normal and nothing to worry about.
Step 2. Monitor your Betta for an aggressive personality
The female betta will form a dominance hierarchy. This hierarchy will be built quickly. Watch for fish that are clearly intimidating to other fish and fish that are constantly being harassed.
If you see a fish that doesn't get along with other fish, remove it from the tank. Constantly being bullied stresses the fish and can get sick
Step 3. Deal with communal aquarium issues on a case-by-case basis
At first, it's possible that the communal aquarium isn't working as it should. You may find a fish or two that don't get along with other fish. If this happens, consider removing the problematic fish from the tank as soon as you become aware of the problem.
Tips
- Bettas are naturally solitary fish that like large individual areas in the wild. The bigger the aquarium, the more individual territory each fish can claim, reducing the chances of a fight. Plants, decorations and hiding places also help make the division of territory. So, provide plenty of places to hide.
- There are very few fish that can be kept in the same tank as a group of female bettas, but it is possible that at least one female betta may behave aggressively. Consider tetras, platties, bottom fish, algae eaters, mollies, and short-tailed guppies. Long-tailed fish are frequently bitten by at least one female, but there are species with short tails, especially feeder guppies, which can avoid death by biting. If your local pet shop sells another fish of roughly the same size and looks very calm, you may want to choose one, but check first to be sure. Danio is too active and female betta can be aggressive. Therefore, you should not choose danio or other fish that are just as active.
- Remember that the safest way to raise betta fish is alone.
Warning
- Don't just keep two female fish! Hierarchies will not be formed as in groups and one female will be bullied.
- This arrangement is very risky and is not recommended for inexperienced betta owners. Females are usually not as aggressive as males and this arrangement doesn't always work.
- Don't try this setup with a male hickey!
- Many pet shops mistake a male short-tailed betta for a female. Make sure you only add female fish to the aquarium!
