Bettas or the Siamese fighting fish are one of the most common aquarium fishes found worldwide.
These small fishes tend to be quite colorful, and because of their easy availability, they have become a popular starter fish for budding aquarists. However, as a fighting fish, the chasing and nipping behavior of Bettas is also quite evident and makes people worried about keeping them in community or sorority tanks.
Hence, this guide will answer the burning question “how many female Bettas in a 10 gallon tank?” to help take better care of these feisty fishes.
How Many Female Bettas In A 10 Gallon Tank?
One of the typical tank sizes found in fish stores is the 10 gallon variant. It may seem large enough to accommodate multiple female Bettas, but don’t make that mistake.
When kept in a group, female Bettas need a lot of space, so a 10 gallon tank would fall short for even a couple of them. Hence, if you plan on getting the 10 gallon tank, think about including a single female Betta along with a snail or a few shrimps.
The best tank mates for a single female Betta include Apple snails and Turret snails, Ghost shrimps, and Amano shrimps. Remember to keep an eye on these creatures after introducing them to a tank with Bettas.
Female Betta Sorority Tank Setup
Female Betta Sorority Tank Size
The minimum tank size to choose for setting up a female Betta sorority is at least 30 gallons. However, going for a larger tank works out better to maintain the parameters of the aquarium.
In a 30 gallon tank, you can keep about three to four female Bettas, and never more than five at a time. Overcrowding in a tank may lead to chasing and nipping behavior in the group, which is undesirable.
How Many Female Bettas Can I Keep In A Sorority Tank?
Well, technically, if you have a large enough tank for accommodating a lot of Bettas, there’s a scope to create a large sorority. But, it’s best to stick with a group of six to eight Bettas as it’s easier to keep an eye on the fishes.
Moreover, it’s much easier to manage a 50 gallon tank to accommodate the six to eight female Bettas. And, adding too many can often lead to aggressive behavior in the group.
If you’re looking to introduce the female Bettas into a community tank, adding four or five fishes is preferable to maintain a balance.
Heavily Planted & Decorated
While styling a Betta tank, another aspect to keep in mind is to provide as much cover as possible. You can add rocks, driftwood, and live plants to the tank. These crevices would let the Bettas hide if there’s a bully and cut down on any emerging conflicts.
Try to break up the eyeline of the Bettas while adding decor to the tank. The simplest way to do this is by adding pieces in such a way that the entire back of the tank isn’t visible from the front.
Having said that, it’s also necessary to make sure that the covers aren’t placed so that the Bettas get trapped.
The Younger The Better
While creating a sorority, it’s better to choose Bettas that are younger and smaller. As young Bettas tend to be less aggressive, they will have a longer time acclimatizing with the tank mates.
And, when you move the female Bettas to a bigger tank, they won’t show chasing and nipping behavior. However, while getting young Bettas, you need to ensure that the fish isn’t a male.
Accidentally, adding a male to the group can lead to more aggression, especially when trying to create a sorority. Also, both sexes should only come together during intentional mating.
Add ALL Bettas At The Same Time
When you’re establishing the sorority tank, don’t add the female Bettas in intervals. Instead, introduce all of them to the tank at the same time to give the fish time to get used to each other.
If you suddenly introduce a new female into the tank, the older Bettas can gang up for bullying, and it may cause damage to the fins of the new fish.
Don’t Introduce Female Bettas That Have Been Housed Alone
A common mistake made by new aquarists is to introduce a single Betta into a group tank. If prior to this, the Betta had been kept alone in a tank, it would be tough for it to survive in a sorority.
Apart from taking time in acclimatizing, the fish would also face bullying while searching for its territory. Moreover, as the lone fish comes from an entirely different tank, it may carry some disease or a parasite.
Consider The Personalities
What most people fail to understand is that even fishes have personalities just like any other pet. And even though aggression is common between Bettas, it quickly subsides when each fish has acclimatized to the tank. That’s why it’s crucial only to introduce the Bettas in a new tank when a cycle has been completed.
Nevertheless, if you can, try to observe the Bettas in the store and pick the fish that appear calm. But, that isn’t a sure-shot way of deciding on the personality of Bettas.
So, it’s best to spend two weeks observing how the female Bettas are putting up in the group and to take out any fish that behaves too aggressively.
Final Thoughts
We hope that the guide will help you figure out the right tank size for setting up a sorority for female Bettas. For amateur aquarists setting up the tank, it may take some time before you get a group of thriving female Bettas.
Just be a little careful while feeding the Bettas, so there isn’t much aggression like chasing and nipping during eating. Also, have an eye on the growth of the Bettas, and change the tank size if needed.
Finally, if you’re still unable to choose the right tank size, do let us know for further help.