What happens when female Bettas have a hierarchy?

Question

I have just bought three Betta females for a ten gal and I've read that when the three meet for the first time they will establish a hierachy. Well, when I put them in the tank together, everyone swam in circles around one another puffing thier gills. I'd read about this behavior and so it seemed to be going fine. However, little harriet got freaked out and bit slyvie and it created this riot in the tank. The pet store said it was normal and to let them duke it out, so thats what I did. Eventually the fighting did stop, and everyone swam to different ends of the tank. Rita and Harriet would swim in opposite directions everytime they saw one another but Sylvie, however, keeps searching the tank, interested in finding Harriet. She doesnt even give Rita a second glance. Harriet hides in the bottom of the tank now and I was just wondering, if Harriet is doomed to a life of Harassment since she is lowest rank in the tank? How can she be happy if Sylvie wont let her alone? Will this pass?

Answer 1

I have 5 females in my 10 gallon tank, and they seem really great with each other
there was some flaring the first couple of days, but they all swim around happily everywhere
one tip i would give you is, add some live plants to your tank, that way everyone can hide out wherever they want to, this has worked well in my case




Hope that helps
Good luck



EB

Answer 2

Bettas are territorial fish. Female or male.

Sometimes you need to be careful of shortfinned males who eat the females in the tank but usually that wont happen.

I'm sure your fish will be fine, it's all natural behaviour, I've never had territorial fish, true they fought over the male but they both got as much love as the guy was happy to give.

It should pass, they'll get over each others company and mind their own business. But no matter the species, there is always a top fish duel going on.

Answer 3

Likely from my experience with female Betta's is that hierarchy's won't dissolve on their own. Sometimes rearranging the ornaments in the tank can help aggression issues by resetting the territories. This might recreate a new hierarchy that would be less abusive to Harriet. Just a tip though.

Answer 4

That is ironic. I had 3 female Bettas in a 10 gal. tank. Ducati being bigger doesn't care what happens so long as she gets her attention. Pazuzu and Birdy bird would go at it deciding between them who was best. We have a gallon aquarium so we decided to break it up between them. Birdie is in the 1 gallon, Pazuzu and Ducati are in the 10 gal. tank and everyone is happy. Pazuzu had tore tail fins and Birdy had body cuts. I was not going to let them kill each other as I want them to be happy. Both girls are healed and happy in their tanks away from each other. Some fish get along great with others, others do best alone. You have to watch them and make the right choices for them.