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? asked in PetsFish · 8 years ago

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?

hi im getting some betta but i have a 5 gallon tank ive resaerched alot and ive found that 50% of people say i cant keep 3 female betta in a 5 gallon tank and 50% say that i can. what do u think? i dnt want any fish to get hurt but i really dont want just 1 fish?

7 Answers

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  • 8 years ago

    No, you can't. You must keep at least 4 female Bettas, never just 2 or 3. 5 or more is better. A 5 gallon tank is suitable for one Betta. With a Betta sorority tank (group of females), the larger, the better. You should have at least a 15 gallon tank for 5. Think 3 gallons (or more) per fish. You need to provide plenty of plants (real or silk, doesn't matter, just no plastic), and decorations they can rest and sleep in.

    If you have fewer than 4 or 5, too small a tank, or too few hiding places, somebody will get picked on, possibly to the point of dying.

    If all you have is a 5 gallon tank, consider getting a male Betta. They are very beautiful, and have loads of personality when well cared for.

    Please trust what I am saying. I have temporarily lost my TC badge, I took a break from answering questions for a few days. I think you will find most of the TCs who actually know what they are talking about will agree with me. I have been keeping fish nearly my entire adult life, and Bettas are my specialty.

    Source(s): Hobbyist for many years.
  • ?
    Lv 7
    8 years ago

    You can't, they will kill each other. Firstly, a 5 gallon is only big enough for one Betta. Bettas are solitary creatures and prefer to be alone. They can be placed with other tropical fish as long as they're not colorful, aggressive, or have long fins, but you would need a bigger tank. Females can only be kept together if you have over 5 of them and at least a 20-30 gallon tank with lots of hiding spots, and even then you can sometimes have a female who will be aggressive. You must have a heater and filter for these fish and you will need to do 25% water changes once a week using a gravel siphon.

  • immatt
    Lv 6
    8 years ago

    3 female betta will fight and the tank is not large enough for more than 3. Expect one female to get very aggressive and just shred the fins of the other two. Sometimes the dominant female will pair up with the second most dominant female, and together bully and kill the weak third betta, before turning on each other.

    If you want more than one fish, get a tank that can house more than one fish.

  • Anonymous
    8 years ago

    1 Betta in 5 gallons 10 gallons minimum for 5 .15 gallons would be better .if you try and keep 3 in anything other than a tank over 50 gallons with lots of plants and hiding spaces war will break out .

  • Gracie
    Lv 6
    8 years ago

    Females are not peaceful. Sororities only work in larger tanks 15+ gallons, with lots of hiding places and 5+ females so noone gets singled out. If you get 3 it's very likely 2 will gang up on the weakest, then continue killing eachother for territory.

    If you don't want just one fish, get a small snail too like a zebra nerite snail. Get low light low maintenance plants (Anubias Nana, Java Moss) so your tank doesn't look empty. You can try keeping cherry shrimp or ghost shrimp but your betta may or may not eat it.

  • 8 years ago

    You can NOT. If you're going to keep female bettas together they need to be in a much larger tank and a much larger group.

  • 8 years ago

    betta are quite agressive so i believe the best resolution would be to make sections in your tank. this way they cant harm each other but will all stay in the same tank

    Source(s): fish researcher
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