Confusion about sorority

I've been searching on the forum and have been finding conflicting information. Some posts are saying 15 gallons is the minimum for a 5-girl sorority. Others are saying that 10 gallons is the minimum.

In US gallons, what is the minimum size tank for a sorority of five girls? I borrowed money from my sister yesterday, bought a 10 gallon, bought heater, filter and all that, and it is all set up. Now I'm wondering if I'm going to be in the same situation I was before with the tank being too small and crowded.

Edit: My sister thinks I'm nuts, by the way, spending all this money for some fishies.

IMO 10 usg is fine for 5 girls along as it is extremely well planted and lots of caver.

I have a 10US Gallon for my sorority. It's got lots of cover in it and the girls seem to do just fine. As long as I"m good about feeding, there isn't too much bickering.

I'm going to disagree with 10 US gallons being big enough for 5 female bettas.
10 US gallons is only just over 8 UK gallons. We have had 5 females in a 16 UK gallon tank, heavily planted, and have still had aggression issues.

16 UK gallons is just over 19 US gallons, so twice the size of your tank. I think it will be more out of luck if you don't have problems. I really wouldn't even consider it tbh.

IMO its all trial and error.

Five girls could be the biggest issue - normally six is best, but I have known it to work on smaller numbers but the more girls the better.

I know a good betta keeper and she swears the best way to keep females it over crowding as there is less terratory to argue over

This has cleared up nothing! LOL

So what you're all saying is I should overcrowd a 10 gallon with five girls as long as it's at least 19 gallons and no less than six girls and I feed them with plants

pmsl

no - basically its all about personal opinion.

IMO the set up you have is ok - in others it isnt. its all a game of trial and error and to see what works best for the individual - ie YOU

My reply was based on personal experience, not what I have heard or read about.
The aggression issues aside, 8 UK gallons is not big enough for five 2 inch bettas, that are very active fish.
I've tried the "over-crowding" method and I can tell you the aggression is still there.
You are always going to get conflicting information on the internet, but its up to you to make an informed decision based on what you have read.
There are no definite answers when mixing some fish, but minimising potential problems is all you can do.

I've had 5 females in a 10L (just another unit to confuse you) during quarantine and they still batted at each other.

I have a community tank, with lots and lots of fish. That's where my females live. As it's well planted and inhabited by others, they're not aggressive to each other at all. Even if they met by a log, the wouldn't care. I think it's due to the fact they meet others more than they meet each other. Could also be that there are bigger fish about...

For 5 females, 8 US gals (30ltrs).

Lots of real plants, hiding places and they will be fine. The trick is to pick the females, if you get a tank full of aggressive/dom. females, it's not going to be a peaceful sorority. However, if you take the time to look at the females and pick the calmer ones, higher chance of a peaceful sorority.

You could also try all those 'stocking calculators' if you want to be even more unsure...
1in of fish per gallon
1cm of fish per litre
1cm of fish per 60 sqcm of water surface
1in of fish per 12 sqin of water surface...

And the list goes on, but you'll notice that none of them give the same results

with female bettas, the stocking calculator isn't of use tbh. The more the better in most people's opinions, it spreads the aggression out but I wouldn't suggest anything under 5 bettas.

pretty much works out like this, one person can do a us 10gallon with 5 or 6 girls and have everything be fine, the next person can try the same exact thing and have the girls tryign to kill and eat each other. it all depends on the girls specific personalitys. if you dont want to rick them beatign the snot out of each other you could just trade the tank itself in, keep the other stuff and go with a 15 gallon or so.

My method for choosing girls is to watch them for a long time. You can pretty much pick out who's 'top dog' and who's stressed out. Then pick from the middle. In all the girls I got, I only had one that was an issue. I ended up trading her back to the lfs for one of the CT females I have. Haven't had any issues since.

Beth wrote:For 5 females, 8 US gals (30ltrs).
Lots of real plants, hiding places and they will be fine

Hi
Saying that "they will be fine" is a flawed statement, as you cannot be positive that they will be fine. It makes the reader believe that everything will work out fine. Having kept females in groups in much larger tanks I can safely say that the aggression is still there. Aggression = Stress = Lowered Immune system = more likely to get infections.

Beth wrote:The trick is to pick the females, if you get a tank full of aggressive/dom. females, it's not going to be a peaceful sorority. However, if you take the time to look at the females and pick the calmer ones, higher chance of a peaceful sorority.

Easier said than done. You could pick the most docile bettas you can find at your lfs, but once in your tank they Will start working out their hierarchy which means aggression.

My views are from experience rather than opinion

Vandraco aka Bronzecat wrote:

Easier said than done. You could pick the most docile bettas you can find at your lfs, but once in your tank they Will start working out their hierarchy which means aggression.

My views are from experience rather than opinion

agreed, also when in a lfs they can be stressed, slightly ill, underfed, overfed and a whole host of other problems that will tame them down quite a bit.

Vandraco aka Bronzecat wrote:

Beth wrote:For 5 females, 8 US gals (30ltrs).
Lots of real plants, hiding places and they will be fine

Hi
Saying that "they will be fine" is a flawed statement, as you cannot be positive that they will be fine. It makes the reader believe that everything will work out fine. Having kept females in groups in much larger tanks I can safely say that the aggression is still there. Aggression = Stress = Lowered Immune system = more likely to get infections.

Beth wrote:The trick is to pick the females, if you get a tank full of aggressive/dom. females, it's not going to be a peaceful sorority. However, if you take the time to look at the females and pick the calmer ones, higher chance of a peaceful sorority.

Easier said than done. You could pick the most docile bettas you can find at your lfs, but once in your tank they Will start working out their hierarchy which means aggression.

My views are from experience rather than opinion

MIne are from experience too

Newfishy wrote:

Vandraco aka Bronzecat wrote:

Easier said than done. You could pick the most docile bettas you can find at your lfs, but once in your tank they Will start working out their hierarchy which means aggression.

My views are from experience rather than opinion

agreed, also when in a lfs they can be stressed, slightly ill, underfed, overfed and a whole host of other problems that will tame them down quite a bit.

And thats if you're lucky enough to have that much choice at an lfs

Beth wrote:

Vandraco aka Bronzecat wrote:

Beth wrote:For 5 females, 8 US gals (30ltrs).
Lots of real plants, hiding places and they will be fine

Hi
Saying that "they will be fine" is a flawed statement, as you cannot be positive that they will be fine. It makes the reader believe that everything will work out fine. Having kept females in groups in much larger tanks I can safely say that the aggression is still there. Aggression = Stress = Lowered Immune system = more likely to get infections.

Beth wrote:The trick is to pick the females, if you get a tank full of aggressive/dom. females, it's not going to be a peaceful sorority. However, if you take the time to look at the females and pick the calmer ones, higher chance of a peaceful sorority.

Easier said than done. You could pick the most docile bettas you can find at your lfs, but once in your tank they Will start working out their hierarchy which means aggression.

My views are from experience rather than opinion

MIne are from experience too

The difference being I have acknowledged that sometimes you can get away with it, but believe its best to give all the possibilities. Aside from that, why take the risk in a small tank? I just don't think its worth the risk. In their natural environment they are solitary fish and have 1000's of acres of water in which to keep away from each other.

In a small tank, and lets face it 8 US gallons is a small tank, the con's out way the pro's. We have seen time and time again where people have set-up sororities in small tanks only to have mayhem within weeks. I think people (in general) should ask themselves what they want from an aquarium? Do they want a pleasant, peaceful community? If so, female bettas are not the fish to use. If however, they want a tank where trouble could erupt at any time, be it days, weeks or months later then female bettas are the fish to go with.

One thing to bear in mind for anyone thinking of setting up a sorority, if trouble does flare up the chances are the majority of the fish in the tank will be stressed. This may lead to many fish becoming ill, not just the bettas.

In the wild they are in groups, remember that betta splendens are hybrids, it's the wilds that are naturals.