Sorority Tank Set Up

December 17th, 2009

Setting up and maintaining an all female Betta tank( aka Sorority tank) is alot easier than most people would lead you to believe. Betta's are some of the most beautiful fish in the hobby. It is usually the males that collect all the glory and fame, known for their long, flashy tails, and vibrant colors. The female betta is often overlooked by the common hobbyist, as they are not as striking as their male counterparts. The fins of the female are much shorter, and are not usually as colorful. Although, the female is still a beautiful fish in groups, and they can still be quite remarkable to look at as well. Once your group gets established, you will notice them developing a very endearing personality. Quite often these fish will greet their owner's happily at the front of the tank, swimming between one's fingers.For this reason, the female betta has a wide appeal.. Unlike the male, the female betta is able to live in small, controlled groups amongst themselves. But there are a few important rules that one must always follow when setting up a sorority tank. These rules will be laid out with the assumption you have properly cycled your tank. If you have not done this, or do not know what this is, please STOP now and research this process before adding fish.

Tank Set Up- It is common to see little "Betta Bowls" in most pet stores these days. Please do no use these to house any fish, must less a group of female betta's. They are entirely to small and do not provide proper filtration needs for the fish. The minimum size would be a ten gallon aquarium that can comfortably house 5-7 female's. You can find these in all pet stores and most big box stores across the nation. You will need to make sure it comes with a filter of proper size and adequate filtration. Ideally you want a filter that produces 80-100 gallons per minute. The only other essential is a heater, which you should keep between 75-80 degree's. An air stone or a bubbler is not required for a sorority tank, and may actually create extra water current which may make the fish uncomfortable. When setting up the tank with decorations and plants, it is important to realize that betta fins are very sensitive and tear easily, so avoid anything with sharp edges or corners on it, as your betta could injure itself. It is also advised to use silk plants with all Betta's as they are less likely to snag on them.

Purchasing Fish/Tank mates- When you go the the store to buy your fish there are a few important things you should be on the look out for while there. You can expect to see the fish in tiny little cups, all by themselves, probably not looking to healthy.(this is a whole different issue) The best way to do this is to pick out the fish that you would like to get, and set them next to each other for a few minutes and observe their behavior. You are looking for fish that are "Flaring" at the each other. Betta's do this when trying to assert dominance over another. Try to pick out fish that do not flare in the store, as you are much less likely to experiance difficulty upon introduction.

There are few fish that you can mix successfully with a betta, so it's best to avoid mixing your females with any other fish, and keeping it a species only tank. With that said, you can still have tank mates for you girls if you want. One very good tank mate is the African dwarf frog. You can find them in most pet stores, and they stay very small. They are docile creature's and often hide so you may not see them much! Other good tank mates are snails of most kinds, and very rarely you can mix them with ghost shrimp. But be careful with the latter, as they may end up food.

Fish Introduction- This is the most nerve racking part of this entire procedure. Introducing your females together should be done with great care, and will require regular observance for the first 48-72 hours. When adding the fish you always want to add all your female's at the same time. This is very important, as they are territorial by nature, and if the water is new to everybody, you will be less likely to experiance violent confrontations. The bottom line is,once your group is introduced to each other, do not add any more. There will be a delicate balance that you will not want to disturb.

Ok you have taken the steps to ensure your tank is properly set up, you have purchased your fish , now it is the moment of truth. The first few hours are crucial as this is when most of the nipping will take place. Be warned, your fish are going to attack each other, and at times it may get quite violent. You need to be observing as much as possible during this time to make sure it does not get out of hand. This is natural, and is required for the fish to establish a natural pecking order. It will take them some time to complete this process, but once it is complete, your females will live peacefully and quite happily together. Be advised though, there are no guarantee's that the fish you picked will be able to co-exist. You may need to separate one from the group for a day or two, then re introduce her back into the group and hope for the best. Know that you may have to return a fish if they cant live together. But on the positive, this is pretty rare, especially if you did a good job picking out your fish from the store. More than likely there will be a torn fin or two, so you should be prepared for this to happen. DON'T WORRY! Your poor betta's fins will grow back as they once where. But, it may take a couple months or longer to fully re heal. You should purchase a proper anti- bacterial medicine for your fish, and dose it according to the instructions. We recommend Mela-fix, as it is affordable and high quality. This can be found in just about every pet store in America.

Conclusion: Setting up a Sorority tank is a true pleasure, and will give you back lots of enjoyment over the next few years. Once in a group this fish are highly social, active, and do recognize their owners. Just follow the simple steps in this guide and you will be well on your way to having a group of healthy girl's.

For further reading, please see our Betta Care Made Easy Guide...