What should I do if my female bettas are fighting against one another?

Question

I bought two new Female Bettas, both with no torn fins and let them join the red Female Betta inside the community tank. But when I wake up the next day to find out that their fins is torn quite badly between the three of them. I heard that Female Betta wouldn't fight as they are not so aggressive than the Male. But I did see the red Female Betta chasing and pecking others female, why is it so? I'm sure three of them are female cos their fins is short and only Female Betta have a white dote thing under their stomach.

Answer 1

All bettas are aggressive, and territorial. Most males would've killed each other. I've had a dominant female that beat up male betta, and bullied a sailfin molly who out wieghed her by x4. Some bettas are just plain psycho and can't live with other bettas.

The key with getting female bettas to get along is space, go slow, and don't put one betta into another's tank. 1st do you have enough space? I don't put more than 1 female per 10 gallons, and feel 5 is pretty much the limit. Do they have places to hide in the tank? Bettas aggression is trigger by sight so hiding places are a must.

My advice from this point is as follows:

1)Pull out all of your betta from the tank.
2)Put them in jars for about a week right next to each other. They need to get use to the sight of each. Also the original betta needs to forget it's her tank.
3)After the week put them in all at once.
4)Watch them carefully. They should posture and even chase, but not fight, or bite.

Note that once the girls have figured out their dominance don't put in a new betta, or remove one. This may cause all hell to break loose once again.

Also a little stress coat, or salt (one teaspoon per 2.5 gallons) might help insure their wounds don't get infected.

Answer 2

It is true that females can be put into a community tank, however your problem lies in the fact that you had a single female already in the tank before adding the other two. She had already established the space as hers, and she will be under a great deal of stress trying to defend what she sees as her home.

How would you feel if two people showed up in your room and you were told you had to share?

Separating them and re introducing them is the best suggestion thus far, and I would go beyond that and add more plants and decorations to provide hiding places and so that the tank isn't recognizable to anyone. I've heard that you should give at LEAST 2 gallons per fish, so if you have three girls, it should be at least 6 gallons. I'm in the process of quaruntining my own girls so they can be introduced into a community and I have a 20 gal tank for 6 bettas. They've all seen each other, I move their little bowls around so everyone knows everyone. They flare once in a while, but mostly they ignore each other and it's all old news.

I would also suggest giving yourself time to sort of babysit them. If you've got a weekend off, put them in the tank at a time when you can watch them. If one is overly aggressive, the plan is shot, because you MUST keep females in groups of three or more so they can establish a pecking order!

Good luck and don't forget the meds to keep the fins clean

Answer 3

Female bettas can fight just as viciously as the males, whoever told you otherwise was wrong. That said, it is possible for *some* females to live together provided that you have the right environment and circumstances. It doesn't sound like this is the case for you so it would be best to permanently separate them.

If you're interested in keeping females together, I would recommend reading up on female betta community tanks. You can find a nice article on the issue at the website below. (You'll have to navigate over to it, unfortunately. Click on "Articles" in the lefthand bar and choose "Keeping Female Bettas Together.")

Answer 4

Are you sure you don't have male bettas? Male bettas fight to the death and its gruesome. SEPARATE YOUR FISH IMMEDIATELY. Female bettas should not be fighting; however, regardless of sex you should not put 2 bettas in a single tank at the same time. Bettas generally will not fight unless there is competition for space and territory. If they can swim away they will, but in close quarters one fish will die and the other will be in sorry shape.

Answer 5

Some females are aggressive. That is why you are supposed to note the behavior while you're still acclimating the new fish.

Separate them. If the one is showing signs of aggression, chances are, she will not let up.

If you put them in a bigger tank (and I'm talking at least a 30-gallon with no other residents) with lots of foliage and hiding places, they might be able to get along. But as such, I wouldn't count on it.

Good luck.

Answer 6

Seperate them. Female bettas can be just as territorial as the males, it just isn't as common. If both have plenty of space and enough plants (plastic or real) to hide in, then they're less likely to fight, but if they do, put them in seperate spots. They don't technically need much space, so doing so shouldn't be too hard.

Answer 7

I thought that only male bettas fought? Are you sure they're female? You need to take those fish out of the same bowl pronto! Separate them!

Answer 8

Well, I have Bettas 2 and they r very aggresive! If they r females, Even males! Buy Seprate tanks 4 them. Thats what I had2 do.2.00 4 1 tank at Wal-Mart.
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Answer 9

Separate them quick. Bettas dont like to be with other bettas.

Answer 10

I would immediately separate. If you don't they will kill one another. It is said that if you are trying to breed, buy alot of females and one male, the male will mate with one of the females, or it will kill them all. Please separate. I am in the process of getting an algae eater.