hi everyone, i'm setting up a betta sorority in my 70L tank (60x30x36cm) and i'm super excited. it's currently fishless, but cycled and being decorated as we speak. i just got some new plants - a java fern tied to my driftwood with fishing wire, and three mystery plant bunches (the tall ones with lots of leaves). i'm thinking of adding some floating plants, maybe duckweed, to dim the lights a bit since bettas prefer low light.
do you guys think i have enough plants in there? if not, what would you recommend? i'm on a budget, so nothing too expensive, please. this is my first sorority (i've kept males before) so any advice would be amazing. i'll be updating this thread as the tank progresses, so stay tuned!
a betta sorority setup
Re: a betta sorority setup
So you've decided on a sorority, that's great.
First off, I think you need a few more plants to fill out your tank. I'd recommend adding some Swords, Anubias, and Crypts - these are all pretty easy on the wallet and do well in low-light conditions, which I know bettas prefer. Blue Stricta is another good option, it's a bit more delicate but looks great. Get those in and set up your tank, make sure everything's planted and stable.
Next, you'll want to introduce your young female bettas to their new home. If you can, try to get females that have already lived in a sorority - they'll be less likely to cause problems. Expect some squabbles and bitten fins as they establish a pecking order, but as long as you keep the water clean, it shouldn't be a major issue.
When introducing the girls to each other, I use breeder boxes - it's just a good way to minimize any potential conflicts. And once they're all settled in, try not to rearrange your tank too much - each of the girls will have her own favorite spot, and rearranging will just cause them to try and re-establish the pecking order.
It's going to be an interesting few weeks, but trust me, it's worth it.
First off, I think you need a few more plants to fill out your tank. I'd recommend adding some Swords, Anubias, and Crypts - these are all pretty easy on the wallet and do well in low-light conditions, which I know bettas prefer. Blue Stricta is another good option, it's a bit more delicate but looks great. Get those in and set up your tank, make sure everything's planted and stable.
Next, you'll want to introduce your young female bettas to their new home. If you can, try to get females that have already lived in a sorority - they'll be less likely to cause problems. Expect some squabbles and bitten fins as they establish a pecking order, but as long as you keep the water clean, it shouldn't be a major issue.
When introducing the girls to each other, I use breeder boxes - it's just a good way to minimize any potential conflicts. And once they're all settled in, try not to rearrange your tank too much - each of the girls will have her own favorite spot, and rearranging will just cause them to try and re-establish the pecking order.
It's going to be an interesting few weeks, but trust me, it's worth it.
Re: a betta sorority setup
Betta sororities are a ton of fun, you just gotta make sure you're getting actual females and not young males. I always get mine young and on the smaller side, and I either introduce them all at once or in smaller groups. I've had good luck using breeder nets when adding new girls to the mix.
More plants are always better, it gives them a sense of security and breaks up the line of sight. This way, if one girl decides to chase another, she'll lose sight of her target pretty quickly. I've found it really helps reduce stress and aggression in the tank.
I'm really looking forward to following this thread, carelyn. I don't know many people on this forum who have experience with sorority tanks, so it's great to see someone else giving it a shot.
More plants are always better, it gives them a sense of security and breaks up the line of sight. This way, if one girl decides to chase another, she'll lose sight of her target pretty quickly. I've found it really helps reduce stress and aggression in the tank.
I'm really looking forward to following this thread, carelyn. I don't know many people on this forum who have experience with sorority tanks, so it's great to see someone else giving it a shot.
Re: a betta sorority setup
Thanks for the advice, goldminer and earthie_9. I really appreciate it. I'll definitely add more plants to the tank - I saw some Anubias at my local fish store today, so I'll pick those up. For the others, I'll have to ask the store owner to order them in, which might take a couple of weeks.
Once everything is set up, I'm planning to get five betta females from the same breeder, hopefully they'll be siblings or at least have lived together before. I think that will make the transition to the sorority a bit easier for them. I'll keep you both updated on my progress and let you know as soon as I make any changes to the tank.
Once everything is set up, I'm planning to get five betta females from the same breeder, hopefully they'll be siblings or at least have lived together before. I think that will make the transition to the sorority a bit easier for them. I'll keep you both updated on my progress and let you know as soon as I make any changes to the tank.
Re: a betta sorority setup
When you order those 5 bettas from the same breeder, try to mix it up a bit with different tail types and colors. You know, get a white crown-tail, a pink double tail, a yellow veil tail - that's what makes a sorority so beautiful, each one's unique. Just please, for the love of bettas, don't name them after celebrities, it's just not right.
Re: a betta sorority setup
I'll definitely follow your advice on the varied tail types and colors. And don't worry, I can assure you my bettas won't be named after any pop stars or celebrities - I think that's a great point you made. I'm actually thinking of doing a themed naming, but I'm going to wait until I see my new girls to decide on a theme that suits them.
Re: a betta sorority setup
You've got a handful of feisty females in a small space, so a bit of chaos is to be expected, but that's just the way it goes with a betta sorority.
Re: a betta sorority setup
I can see why you'd want all those plants, they really help keep the peace among the girls, don't they? Your girls must be quite the handful.
Re: a betta sorority setup
I've decided on duckweed, blue stricta, and vallisneria for my tank. I gave my LFS a call, and they've got the first two, but unfortunately, their supplier is out of vallisneria due to winter.
I love the long, reedy look of val, so I'm looking for alternatives. Does anyone know of any plants that could give me a similar look? I'm not keen on waiting for winter to end, and I want to get my tank set up ASAP.
I'm also planning to add a sheet of black perspex to the back of my tank - on the outside, of course - to make the plants and fish really pop. I'll post some photos once it's done.
I love the long, reedy look of val, so I'm looking for alternatives. Does anyone know of any plants that could give me a similar look? I'm not keen on waiting for winter to end, and I want to get my tank set up ASAP.
I'm also planning to add a sheet of black perspex to the back of my tank - on the outside, of course - to make the plants and fish really pop. I'll post some photos once it's done.
Re: a betta sorority setup
Major rescaping today. Got my duckweed for $5.50 - heaps of it, nearly covers the whole surface.
Also picked up another clump of plants, store owner said they'd do fine in low light, but I'm blanking on the name. Added a large piece of driftwood, sterilised it with boiling water first.
Here's the tank now - turned up the brightness so you can see it clearly, but it's a bit darker in real life. I'm pretty happy with how it's shaping up, but I'd love to know if you think it's sufficiently planted?
Also picked up another clump of plants, store owner said they'd do fine in low light, but I'm blanking on the name. Added a large piece of driftwood, sterilised it with boiling water first.
Here's the tank now - turned up the brightness so you can see it clearly, but it's a bit darker in real life. I'm pretty happy with how it's shaping up, but I'd love to know if you think it's sufficiently planted?