Question about female bettas!!

[geminidragn]

I deal more with the male so I'm still learning about the females.
I heard that females are compatible together and that they don't fight, Right?

So I got a new female(Sapphire) to share a tank with my other betta female (Pearl). Well At first everything went well--mild chasing around and flaring. But this morning I notice Sapphire's tail and fins were torn up pretty badly and some scale have been picked off. Also one of her side fin is missing and looks like some meat is showing--she just floats at the top(right-side up).

I have put her in an isolation tank with some Melafix to help with the sore and missing scales; I know that the tail will grow back; but will the side fin (the one that helps them move) grow back too? I'm so upset--this is my 3 year old son's fish. Why did Pearl attack Sapphire so fiercely? Sapphire is just a baby and smaller than Pearl, I did notice vertical stripes on Sapphire; did that make Pearl more aggressive? Should I wait to put them together when Sapphire is bigger?

[geminidragn]

Please Help!!

[Fishalicious]

Females 'can' live together but it is ideal to place them in the tank together and even better to have sisters...you have now added a new fish into the territory of the existing female - the vertical striping is stress. I'm afraid the settled female is not going to accept another female in her area.

I had 3 females in a 20 gallon and for me it also didn't work out too well..one was the big boss who picked on the remaining two and the one with the middle pecking order picked on the weakest one. The weakest one had no life at all with the other two constanly attacking it and the middle one also didn't have that great a time with the alpha female.

[ladyoutlaw50]

Our 2 females got along great -- BUT we put them in the tank together at the same time. Once in awhile they have a moment, but for the most part they leave each other alone -- I think because they were put in at the same time was the key.

[geminidragn]

OK I have another question. The tank that I have Pearl in is a three gallon one. If I put them in a 10 tank together, will the fight continue or will it be considered neutral waters and both will have a fresh new start?

[Fishalicious]

It is definately worth a try and probably your best chance at keeping them together... there will be some pecking to establish who is the boss but if it all goes fine it should stop within a few days.

Good luck and keep us updated

[geminidragn]

Thanks, I plan on keeping them together after Sapphire's side fin and scales get better and she can swim better. Not planning on doing the new tank thing until another week or two. But I have the isolation tank next to Pearl's tank. I will keep you posted on how everything goes. Wish me luck!

[MCHRKiller]

Its been my experience that keeping larger numbers of females together works out best. I have 6 girls in my 40G planted and I plan to up them to a dozen.

[ladyoutlaw50]

I have heard the same thing -- that several females works well -- I made sure there were plenty of hiding spaces and both girls do fine. Good Luck
by the way -- my girls are Thelma and Louise:19:

[geminidragn]

Cool names!
We call the girls the "jewels of the family"--Pearl and Sapphire.

And the boys have names that are colors in spanish--Amarillo(yellow) and Azul(blue).

[ladyoutlaw50]

our boys are bo and luke LOL

[geminidragn]

Welcome to Hazard County!!LOL

[donvichu]

Also try providing more hiding places...like lots of live plants or probably artificial plants..all the best in getting them compatible to each other

[geminidragn]

Thank you for all the input!

[geminidragn]

Well I'm sad to say that my littlest jewel didn't make it. Sapphire died last night. R I P-- my little jewel!! I guess Pearl hurt her pretty badly. R I P!!

But I will not give up. I still plan on getting that tank up and running with females.

[DragonGoby]

Sorry for your loss... It's always sad when our little friend get away...

As said, and well said, before, if you want to keep several female together you need to do a "sisterhood" tank... around 5/6 female in a big tank, with lots of hiding place and lots of plants, it's important to lower the aggressiveness.

Best of luck and keep us informed.

[Nick_Pavlovski]

Sorry for your loss...swim in peace, Sapphire.
:ssad: