Topic: Maximum Number of Females Together?

[Butterfly]

Apparently it seems the majority of people agree that when they added more females, aggression lessened. I wonder why... ???

It's because of territory that aggressions lessened. When I had 5 in my soroity, I found that each fish had their distinctive territory, and if the alpha was to want that spot, then 2 or 3 of the girls would stick together and not let her have it.

However in my failed attemps at 3, I noticed that when again the alpha wanted the spot, the other girl would run away and let her have it as there was no one lower on the chain with her to help her stand up to the alpha, thus allowing there be more agression between the alpha and the lower ranks.

[CobraR]

Yeah, that's what they say, more females, less aggression.  Mine are getting out of hand though.  Ten gallons, five bettas.  Someone killed Skye this morning.  Bree's tore up so bad I'm thinking about putting her down.  Alexandria and Celeste are getting more and more fin nipped each day.  Scarlett doesn't have a single chomp mark on her.  And I think I know why...

I guess I'm going to have to break them up, and give Ricky his ten gallon tank back.  But I'll have to remember to put his thermometer in there with him -- as uncomforatable as it looks, he likes to sit on it and fall asleep.  

[Ladyinred]

I have 3 females together since September.  I havent seen aggression in the form of torn fins on any of them.  Am not even sure who is the alpha altho I suspect it is Lucinda since I had her in May and only added Portia and IO in September.  I had added another one, Electra, in September but she developed dropsy and passed away.  Lucinda was the biggest but now Portia has caught up in size.  

The live in a 20 litre tank (in Australia, we go by the metric system) and I think that is about 7 gallons.  

Whenever I feed them, all three rush in front jockeying for position but they dont nip.  I've noticed that they all swim together sometimes brushing each other when passing by but I havent seen anyone actually nipping the other.  They do lunge at each other but once the "lungee" runs away, the "lunger" doesnt even run after her.  Seems like a "watch my personal space" thing.

Maybe I am lucky that my 3 girls can co-exist.

[Mugsy]

The females I have bought at Petsmart seem so gentle and sweet compared to the females from Walmart.  The Walmart ones are aggressive and no where near as pretty,  but the Petsmart ones are sweet as can be and so colorful with nice fins.

[wendyjo]

That's strange Mugsy.

My Petsmart doesn't sell any bettas at all.

[decemberchick]

 Someone killed Skye this morning.  

Eep! For a minute i thought you meant the person. It still sucks though
If the tank looks bare you could always add more plants and hideys and stuff!
If they are being super aggressive, maybe try rearranging the decor before adding new girls in, or they might be ganged up upon. You never know!

[CobraR]

Whaaaat??? nononono, although I didn't remember her at the time I posted that pic.  My betta Skye, she bit the dust.  Bree has part no top fin, no bottom fin, half a tail fin, and only one pectoral fin.  Yeesh...  I've isolated her and I'm doin all I can for her, but I really don't expect her to pull out of this...

Eep! For a minute i thought you meant the person. It still sucks though
If the tank looks bare you could always add more plants and hideys and stuff!
If they are being super aggressive, maybe try rearranging the decor before adding new girls in, or they might be ganged up upon. You never know!