Betta space

[Bill Stock]

All this talk of Betta females has me considering a buddy or 2 for my lone
male Betta. He seems very peaceful, as I've never seen him flare. But he's
only in a 10 gallon tank, so I'm concerned that it would not be enough space
for the three of them.

Should I put a divider in the tank and see how he reacts to the two females
before letting them interact? He's been in the tank about six months now, so
he likely considers it his personal space. Should I add both females at the
same time or space them out? Any preference for the colours of the females
(male is Indigo with red highlights) in terms of compatibility?

[Beano]

not sure about your tank size, but from what I've read, they are
supposed to be fine as long as you have a lot of plants for the females
to hide in, as the male will harrass them. You should get more than 2
females, as if you only have one, the male will harrass the lone female
until she gives up running and dies, 2 females will pick on each other,
more than 3 females is the desired set up I think, as they are bullies,
so you need to have at least 3 so you can establish a pecking order -
if only 2 females in the tank, one will be getting constantly bullied
by the more dominant one.

I have a 20G with 4 females (I used to have 5, one got sick and I
accidently killed her when I separated her from the others, I forgot to
dechlorinate her new water - DUHHH). I had my male in there as well,
which lasted about 5 hours, then one of my girls grabbed his tail and
spun him around a few times - since introducing him again a 2nd time,
she attempted this maneouver again! So I think it can be done, but
depends on the personality of the fish - I'm considering taking my male
basher of a female back to the store and swapping her for another one
to see if they can live in harmony or not. If that doesn't work, it's
tank divider time!

[Beano]

oh yeah, got some more info.

If you are going to share the tank, you should take all the fish out,
rearrange the plants and rocks and stuff, so that any established
territory is erased, then introduce all the fish at the same time.
This is mainly for the females I think - if you are only going to get
two, then putting one in before you put the 2nd one in will give the
1st one a bully advantage over the 2nd one.

This is all basically info that I've read on the net and on this
newsgroup, so hopefully it's correct.

[NetMax]

"Bill Stock" > wrote in message
...
> All this talk of Betta females has me considering a buddy or 2 for my
> lone male Betta. He seems very peaceful, as I've never seen him flare.
> But he's only in a 10 gallon tank, so I'm concerned that it would not
> be enough space for the three of them.
>
> Should I put a divider in the tank and see how he reacts to the two
> females before letting them interact? He's been in the tank about six
> months now, so he likely considers it his personal space. Should I add
> both females at the same time or space them out? Any preference for the
> colours of the females (male is Indigo with red highlights) in terms of
> compatibility?


Success (mixing M&F Bettas) is a function of their personalities and the
tank size, so I think you might be making this very difficult for
yourself, having only a 10g.

The sequence is to reset the tank (remove male, re-arrange plants,
decoration etc), install the females (typically at the same time) and
wait a few days (let them settle in, and the surroundings to fade from
the male Betta's memory).

Feed them all well and re-introduce the male into the tank (they will be
less likely to go to war on a full stomach ;~). Seriously, a full
stomach does reduce the magnitude of their energies if things go badly.
Lower water temperatures also helps keep things cool.

Then watch. I would overlook a bit of fin damage if it occurs and let
them settle in. With enough hiding holes, and a male Betta who is a
benign ruler ;~) then you have a chance.

If things go well, then it might only be the start of your problems
;~)... you will have bubble nests, the beta female gets kicked out by the
alpha female, eggs laid, alpha female gets kicked out, and fry (leaving
you scrambling for fry food). This is why folks who keep more than one
Betta often have multiple tanks/containers. What you're planning (with a
few additional twists) is normal procedure for line-breeding Bettas, but
breeders expect and are ready to rescue them when things don't work out.

I'm not trying to scare you Bill. Just giving you some possible and
likely scenarios. There are people who have wall to wall bookcases (no
books, only Betta jars), and some of them got started by thinking "I
wonder if I should give my Betta some female company?". It can be a lot
of fun, but very addictive.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Bill Stock]

"NetMax" > wrote in message
...
> "Bill Stock" > wrote in message
> ...
>> All this talk of Betta females has me considering a buddy or 2 for my
>> lone male Betta. He seems very peaceful, as I've never seen him flare.
>> But he's only in a 10 gallon tank, so I'm concerned that it would not be
>> enough space for the three of them.
>>
>> Should I put a divider in the tank and see how he reacts to the two
>> females before letting them interact? He's been in the tank about six
>> months now, so he likely considers it his personal space. Should I add
>> both females at the same time or space them out? Any preference for the
>> colours of the females (male is Indigo with red highlights) in terms of
>> compatibility?
>
>
> Success (mixing M&F Bettas) is a function of their personalities and the
> tank size, so I think you might be making this very difficult for
> yourself, having only a 10g.

This male seems very laid back, I almost think he's a female. But he does
have long flowing fins. I've been meaning to see how he reacts to a mirror.


> The sequence is to reset the tank (remove male, re-arrange plants,
> decoration etc), install the females (typically at the same time) and wait
> a few days (let them settle in, and the surroundings to fade from the male
> Betta's memory).
>
> Feed them all well and re-introduce the male into the tank (they will be
> less likely to go to war on a full stomach ;~). Seriously, a full stomach
> does reduce the magnitude of their energies if things go badly. Lower
> water temperatures also helps keep things cool.
>
> Then watch. I would overlook a bit of fin damage if it occurs and let
> them settle in. With enough hiding holes, and a male Betta who is a
> benign ruler ;~) then you have a chance.

Thanks Max (and Beano), any thoughts on two vs. three females Max?


> If things go well, then it might only be the start of your problems ;~)...
> you will have bubble nests, the beta female gets kicked out by the alpha
> female, eggs laid, alpha female gets kicked out, and fry (leaving you
> scrambling for fry food). This is why folks who keep more than one Betta
> often have multiple tanks/containers. What you're planning (with a few
> additional twists) is normal procedure for line-breeding Bettas, but
> breeders expect and are ready to rescue them when things don't work out.

The latest Q Tank (#3) is just sitting empty anyway. :) The loaches
successfully transitioned to their new home.

> I'm not trying to scare you Bill. Just giving you some possible and
> likely scenarios. There are people who have wall to wall bookcases (no
> books, only Betta jars), and some of them got started by thinking "I
> wonder if I should give my Betta some female company?". It can be a lot
> of fun, but very addictive.

LOL. I am not addicted to fish. I am not addicted to fish. I am not ....

People think I'm eccentric (nuts) now with my four tanks and the pond. I
guess it couldn't get any worse if I started lining the furniture with Betta
Tea cups. :)




> --
> www.NetMax.tk
>

[Papa Red]

If they think that you are nuts for having four tanks, I wonder what
they would think of me and my seven tanks of fish,...and one with a pair
of psycho male white mice, another one with a young Chilean Rose
[Tarantula], and a twenty year old very grouchy cat [who rules his
empire with an iron paw!].<LOL>~Dean.

[Bill Stock]

"Papa Red" > wrote in message
...
> If they think that you are nuts for having four tanks, I wonder what
> they would think of me and my seven tanks of fish,...and one with a pair
> of psycho male white mice, another one with a young Chilean Rose
> [Tarantula], and a twenty year old very grouchy cat [who rules his
> empire with an iron paw!].<LOL>~Dean.

I'll see your grouchy Tom and raise you two Queens (female cats), who have
their master well trained. Any wayward mice in this house end up as protein
supplements. :)

How is the Betta experiment proceeding? I'm curious to see how you make out
before I take the plunge.

TIA

[NetMax]

"Bill Stock" > wrote in message
...
>
> "NetMax" > wrote in message
> ...
>> "Bill Stock" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> All this talk of Betta females has me considering a buddy or 2 for my
>>> lone male Betta. He seems very peaceful, as I've never seen him
>>> flare. But he's only in a 10 gallon tank, so I'm concerned that it
>>> would not be enough space for the three of them.
>>>
>>> Should I put a divider in the tank and see how he reacts to the two
>>> females before letting them interact? He's been in the tank about six
>>> months now, so he likely considers it his personal space. Should I
>>> add both females at the same time or space them out? Any preference
>>> for the colours of the females (male is Indigo with red highlights)
>>> in terms of compatibility?
>>
>>
>> Success (mixing M&F Bettas) is a function of their personalities and
>> the tank size, so I think you might be making this very difficult for
>> yourself, having only a 10g.
>
> This male seems very laid back, I almost think he's a female. But he
> does have long flowing fins. I've been meaning to see how he reacts to
> a mirror.
>
>
>> The sequence is to reset the tank (remove male, re-arrange plants,
>> decoration etc), install the females (typically at the same time) and
>> wait a few days (let them settle in, and the surroundings to fade from
>> the male Betta's memory).
>>
>> Feed them all well and re-introduce the male into the tank (they will
>> be less likely to go to war on a full stomach ;~). Seriously, a full
>> stomach does reduce the magnitude of their energies if things go
>> badly. Lower water temperatures also helps keep things cool.
>>
>> Then watch. I would overlook a bit of fin damage if it occurs and let
>> them settle in. With enough hiding holes, and a male Betta who is a
>> benign ruler ;~) then you have a chance.
>
> Thanks Max (and Beano), any thoughts on two vs. three females Max?

Behaviourally, your chances are better with 3 females. Remember that
females will also quarrel with each other, so having 3 divides the alpha
female's attention *usually* ;~). However, your tank is small, which
makes everything a little harder, so ymmv.

<snip>
> LOL. I am not addicted to fish. I am not addicted to fish. I am not
> ....

You're not convincing anyone here ;~)
--
www.NetMax.tk

> People think I'm eccentric (nuts) now with my four tanks and the pond.
> I guess it couldn't get any worse if I started lining the furniture
> with Betta Tea cups. :)

[John D. Goulden]

> All this talk of Betta females has me considering a buddy or 2 for my lone
> male Betta. He seems very peaceful, as I've never seen him flare. But he's
> only in a 10 gallon tank, so I'm concerned that it would not be enough
> space for the three of them.
>
> Should I put a divider in the tank and see how he reacts to the two
> females before letting them interact? He's been in the tank about six
> months now, so he likely considers it his personal space. Should I add
> both females at the same time or space them out? Any preference for the
> colours of the females (male is Indigo with red highlights) in terms of
> compatibility?

I have had good luck with a similar approach: a 10-gallon tank with a mesh
divider, a male betta on one side, and a female on the other. At first he
may flare at her a lot and she may run and hide, but after a while (a few
weeks) you may find that they spend all of their time hanging out "together"
at the divider. After a few weeks or a month of this, remove the divider and
see what happens. In most cases, they get along just fine and often stay
together most of the time but usually wouldn't breed. I did note that they
tended to sleep apart, in their own original territories. All in all, just
like an old married couple :)

I don't think colors matter but I always tried to match them up (blue (or at
least bluish) females with blue males, red females with red males, and so
on).

--
John Goulden
mostly guppies, goldies, swordtails, and bettas

[Bill Stock]

"John D. Goulden" > wrote in message
...
>> All this talk of Betta females has me considering a buddy or 2 for my
>> lone male Betta. He seems very peaceful, as I've never seen him flare.
>> But he's only in a 10 gallon tank, so I'm concerned that it would not be
>> enough space for the three of them.
>>
>> Should I put a divider in the tank and see how he reacts to the two
>> females before letting them interact? He's been in the tank about six
>> months now, so he likely considers it his personal space. Should I add
>> both females at the same time or space them out? Any preference for the
>> colours of the females (male is Indigo with red highlights) in terms of
>> compatibility?
>
> I have had good luck with a similar approach: a 10-gallon tank with a mesh
> divider, a male betta on one side, and a female on the other. At first he
> may flare at her a lot and she may run and hide, but after a while (a few
> weeks) you may find that they spend all of their time hanging out
> "together" at the divider. After a few weeks or a month of this, remove
> the divider and see what happens. In most cases, they get along just fine
> and often stay together most of the time but usually wouldn't breed. I did
> note that they tended to sleep apart, in their own original territories.
> All in all, just like an old married couple :)
>
> I don't think colors matter but I always tried to match them up (blue (or
> at least bluish) females with blue males, red females with red males, and
> so on).
>
> --
> John Goulden
> mostly guppies, goldies, swordtails, and bettas

Thanks John,

This sounds satisfactory. If they don't get along I've still got a long term
solution. I've got a tank divider on order anyway, so I think I'll try this.

I did show my Betta a mirror and he slunk away from it. So he may not be
female material. :(

[Daniel Morrow]

"Papa Red" > wrote in message
...
> If they think that you are nuts for having four tanks, I wonder what
> they would think of me and my seven tanks of fish,...and one with a pair
> of psycho male white mice, another one with a young Chilean Rose
> [Tarantula], and a twenty year old very grouchy cat [who rules his
> empire with an iron paw!].<LOL>~Dean.
>

Great to see you made it through hurricane katrina and the other weather
monsters in your area! Later!

[Beano]

meh sometimes they just ignore the mirror! Maybe he's getting old...