crdave Posted April 27, 2006 Report Share Posted April 27, 2006 I am going to purchase some female Bettas and was wondering if anyone could recommend what set up to use. e.g. Can they be kept in one tank and if so how big for 4 or 5 fish.What sort of plants should I get etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
najrick Posted April 27, 2006 Report Share Posted April 27, 2006 Females can be kept in a community tank either on their own or with other tropical fish. They will fight but not like the males and once they have their pecking order sorted out they get on just fine --- the odd tail slap will still go on and is quite OK. For 4 to 5 females then I would say no smaller than a 2ft tank, well planted (mix of live and fake is OK) and perhaps a few other hidey holes like some drift wood, hollow log and/or ceramic pot. As for what live plants then java moss, java fern and wisteria all do well for us but settle on what actually grows for you. Something that floats is always good as they tend to hang around the surface a bit and you will often see them "sunning themselves" by laying on top of leaves. A bristlenose catfish or any of the cories make good companions for female bettas and generally for any tropical tank. Cheers, Pat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callatya Posted April 27, 2006 Report Share Posted April 27, 2006 Pat has covered most of it About all I can add is that when you add a new girl to the mix, rearrange the tank decor a bit. Move a cave or add a cave or generally make the original fish a bit less comfortable. This forces them to all re-establish territories as opposed to the original fish beating the tripe out of the intruder Oh, and Quarantine! Very important Give all new arrivals 2 weeks in isolation before adding them to ensure there aren't any diseases. If one is sick, tey all tend to get it, so try to avoid anyone being introduced sick :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crdave Posted April 27, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2006 When you say a 2ft tank how many litres would that hold. Also what sort of filter would you recommend and what size heater. Can anyone tell me where to get java moss in Adelaide. Cheers for all the help guys. Much appreciated Oh yeah, I have been using Betta Plus water conditioner so far. is this a good one?or is there another brand that comes in a bigger bottle that would as good? :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted April 27, 2006 Report Share Posted April 27, 2006 I use pond water conditioner. Its dose rate is much smaller ie it is much more concentrated, but I do tend to go through buckets and buckets at storage tank top-up time so it's worth it. If you're only treating the odd tank and bowl it would last years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 I put all sibling sisters together in the one three foot tank there is about 20 in here . They do very well together because its heavily planted (with plastic) plants Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz40 Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 I have my black plakat spawn ALL living together. But, that is only because they were raised together. The boys don't harm each other than an occasional slight spat. So when you read about spawns being raised and living together and wonder if it is possible...well...it is. But as mentioned by the other's here...no smaller then a 2ft tank with plants. :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crdave Posted April 28, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 What kind of filter do you use in a tank that size Marc ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 I have a full 3 foot undergravel filter that a large air pump operates the two bubble towers successfully, and one small canister style self contained pump and filter unit in behind the log. This has a spongefilter and it circulates a slow current of water along the back of the tank .. water quality is never an issue as it is crystal clear. O yes every fortnight 1/3 water change just to help out. I love plastic plants as you can see.. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Figure_8 Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 I use pond water conditioner. Its dose rate is much smaller ie it is much more concentrated, but I do tend to go through buckets and buckets at storage tank top-up time so it's worth it. If you're only treating the odd tank and bowl it would last years. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I use the same. Mainly because it does last so much longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crdave Posted April 29, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2006 Is Stress Coat OK ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crdave Posted May 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2006 When I've set up my tank and the females arrive should I keep them seprate for awhile and release them into the tank one by one or can they all be aclimatised and then released all at the sametime. Also should the tank be allowed to cycle for awhile. I'm thinking of maybe getting catfish or cories. How many in a 2ft tank with 4 or 5 female bettas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Figure_8 Posted May 3, 2006 Report Share Posted May 3, 2006 unless all the females are from the same spawn and have been sharing the same water you would be best to QT them for 2-3 weeks first before putting them into a community tank. That would also give you a chance to cycle the tank before putting them in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crdave Posted May 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2006 may sound silly but could I put them in there own containers standing in the water of the main tank? That way using only one heater? would it work do you reckon. Not real keen on this, I like to give them plenty of room. Also any tips on what to do to tank water when cycling it. Sorry for all the questions just want to make sure I get it right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess Posted May 3, 2006 Report Share Posted May 3, 2006 You could stick them in a cheap plastic 50L+ tub with the heater while the main tank cycles Whack an airstone in there for water movement as your in the hills and its cold here already. I would QT them either seperately or altogether, if you bought them from same tank, can't see why you cant QT them together in a big enough tank as if one has something others are bound too if coming from the same water :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crdave Posted May 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2006 They're coming from the same supplier but I will have to find out if they were in the same water though. I'm guessing the big tub is to give them plenty of room to move away from each other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess Posted May 3, 2006 Report Share Posted May 3, 2006 Yep. Extra water movement will help stop aggression as they are busy swimming around. But you have to be careful they don't tire and fall ill from stress. Lots of plants and hidy places, clay pots from bigW etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crdave Posted May 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2006 Cheers Jess, I will start gathering all my bits tommorrow and set up the tank on the weekend.Woohoo. Cheersaroony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess Posted May 3, 2006 Report Share Posted May 3, 2006 You are going to have a blast! If you spy cheap rummy nose tetras, let me know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erren Posted May 22, 2006 Report Share Posted May 22, 2006 I did mixed 20 females in 3 foot tank. No problem. Most are siblings. They did flare to each and set hierachy within few minutes or so. Fight did occured when i mixed them with some unrelated female in. But that doesn't last for 2-3 minutes then hierachy will be settled. Giant on the other hand is different. I try to put 2 female in 2 foot tank and they didn't stop fighting at all. 4-5 scales coming off. Caudal and dorsal fin chopped off from the two. I separate them after 15 mins and try to put 10 females giant together. Result? 10 giants female flaring and try to snapat each other. Really confusing. Whoever bought female giant from me must aware of this same problem i guess. Any idea how to make them leave peacefully like normal female betta? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leela Posted May 22, 2006 Report Share Posted May 22, 2006 I guess sometimes they just dont. Mine continually argue and fight, there's always one with some kind of fin shedded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erren Posted May 22, 2006 Report Share Posted May 22, 2006 how do you know whether it is time to separate them. I leave the females for 1/2 day and they still fighting each other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crdave Posted May 24, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2006 The tank they are going in has been cycling for three weeks now with 3 very happy corys in there for two weeks. I put a piece of driftwood with a plant growing on it and it coloured the water slightly.I've been running a 200lh hob filter and flexible airstone along the back wall. I was going put the female Bettas in this weekend as they've qt'd for three weeks now. Should I do a part water change before they go in. Cheers,Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debstep Posted May 24, 2006 Report Share Posted May 24, 2006 The small photo left shows some of my girls in the 3ft tank, the giant girl BTW shows no agression to the others. Minor squabbles at times but usually peaceful. Cheers Deb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
najrick Posted May 24, 2006 Report Share Posted May 24, 2006 The tank they are going in has been cycling for three weeks now with 3 very happy corys in there for two weeks. I put a piece of driftwood with a plant growing on it and it coloured the water slightly.I've been running a 200lh hob filter and flexible airstone along the back wall. I was going put the female Bettas in this weekend as they've qt'd for three weeks now. Should I do a part water change before they go in. Cheers,Dave <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I would probably do a 25% water change before adding the females and then in a weeks time give it another 25%. Just to be sure the cycling is well and truly under way. The corys would have given it a good kick start already though. Pat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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