2 Female Bettas?

Question

Hi I have 2 female Bettas in a 5 gallon tank.
Prior to them being put into this tank together they were in their own seperate Betta Keepers that were put next to each other,and they seemed to enjoy each others company.
They were fine in the 5 gallon aquarium for about 2 weeks,but now I am noticing that they chase each other and will occasionally flare out the area around their gills at each other.
This is not constant or anything,but I was just wondering if this might be a sign of trouble??Or is this is just them playing and nothing to worry about?

Answer 1

Bettas are wonderful with a garlic and butter herb sauce. and FINALLY the world is accepting of red wine with fish. i've been saying that forever.

Answer 2

Female bettas can be kept together peacefully, but only in groups of three or more. This is because it is only possible for them to establish a pecking order in groups of three or more. It is due to a phenomenon known as the diffusion of aggression, where they must establish a dominant female and a hierarchy amongst themselves; only then can they live peacefully. It is virtually impossible for a dominant female to be established in a pair.

Upgrade to about a 6 gallon tank, add another betta and they will be fine. You also need to plant the tank heavily, or at least put in lots of hiding spots like caves, so that they can get their privacy when they need it. It is very stressful for bettas to be able to see their tankmates all the time.

You want to make sure that they're females and not males - there are breeds of short-finned males, and females don't usually flare up their gills. Do they blow bubblenests? If so, they are males, and must be removed immediately.

Answer 3

I'd say this could be the onset of some levels of aggression. Typically you can house females in larger numbers and groups yes. There are some cases of aggression among females and would not be considered to be uncommon or unusual. I'd put that on a medium level of concern for the time being and keep an eye on the levels of aggression. It could very well progress to higher levels in no time, and if you have the ability to move them, I'd probably do that now.

JV

Answer 4

you will need to get a 10 gallon tank as well as a 3rd female because with only the 2, one will dominate the other
When you put them together they will choose a so called peckingorder, it will look like they're fighting, but they are not



in a 10 gallon you can then have up to 5 femalse plus 2-3 cory cats (bottom dwellers)



hope that helps
good luck



EB

Answer 5

One will probably eat the other...No joke... even fish that SHOULDN'T do... (like once a plain silver fish, beat a Japanese fighting fish that killed all the others)

Answer 6

Well first of all bettas should never be put together no matter what sex they are.