With betta fish being the second most commonly kept fresh water fish in the world and their popularity only continuing to increase at a rapid pace, we have noticed more and more people reaching out with various questions about caring for their pet betta fish recently.
One thing that is becoming increasingly popular amongst the community is to keep some sort of betta sorority tank for their female betta fish and these tanks can be beautiful when set up correctly.
The issue is, the perfect tank size for a female betta sorority is hotly debated and although a female betta sorority tank can work with a huge number of different sized tanks, we do feel that a 55 gallon tank is one of the better options.
This is why we have decided to publish our own article going over how you are able to set up the perfect 55 gallon betta sorority tank that will not only be easy to keep but should reduce the chances of there being problems with aggression in the tank too!
What Is A Female Betta Sorority Tank?
A female betta sorority tank is simply a tank that contains more than one female betta fish.
Traditionally, when keeping more than one betta fish in a single tank, it has always been recommended that you house them individually due to the potential aggression that can occur between two betta fish of the same gender.
However, over the past few years, it has become increasingly popular to keep female bettas together in a single tank which is often referred to as a sorority tank.
The main benefit of keeping a female betta sorority tank is that they are typically much more laid back when compared to their male counterparts and as such, they are less likely to show aggression towards one another.
This means that you are able to keep a much larger number of bettas in a sorority tank when compared to a standard fish tank and as such, they can make for a very beautiful display!
When done correctly, a female betta sorority tank can be an absolute joy to keep and watch but unfortunately, many people do not realize just how difficult they can be to setup and as such, often give up before they have even started.
Is A Betta Sorority A Good Idea?
Before we get too much into setting up your new 55 gallon tank for your female bettas, we first wanted to spend a quick minute talking about whether or not a sorority is actually the right choice for you and your fish.
The answer to this question really depends on the individual and what their goals are for their fish but in our opinion, a sorority can be a great option for most people who are looking to keep more than one betta fish.
A sorority tank is going to allow your female fish to have the social interaction that they crave without having to worry about there being any aggression or fighting in the tank and this can lead to a much happier and healthier life for your fish.
Of course, a sorority tank is not going to be the right option for everyone and if you are someone who is looking for a very peaceful tank then you might want to stick to keeping just a single betta fish.
However, if you feel like you would like to keep more than one fish and think that a sorority would be a good fit for you then please read on as we are now going to talk about how to setup the perfect 55 gallon betta sorority tank!
How Many Gallons Does A Betta Sorority Need?
The first thing that you need to consider when setting up your new sorority tank is the size of the tank and this is something that is often overlooked by many people.
A lot of people seem to think that as long as they have a bigger tank then the fish will be fine but this could not be further from the truth.
You see, when bettas are kept in a sorority tank, they are constantly interacting with one another and as such, they need a lot of space to move around and feel comfortable.
This is why we always recommend that people go for a tank that is at least 55 gallons in size as this will give the fish plenty of room to swim around and interact with one another.
Of course, if you have the space and budget for a larger tank then feel free to get one but we would not recommend going any smaller than 55 gallons.
That said, we do have an article on keeping female bettas in a 5 gallon tank and one on keeping female bettas in a 10 gallon tank due to so many people reaching out and asking about it but we dont recommend it, especially for a sorority tank!
How Many Bettas Should Be In A Sorority?
Now that you know the minimum tank size that you will need for your new sorority, the next thing to consider is how many fish you should actually have in the tank.
This is a question that we get asked a lot and unfortunately, there is no easy answer as it really depends on the individual fish.
Some sororities can have up to 15 fish in them and everyone will get along just fine while others might only be able to have 5 or 6 fish before the aggression levels start to become a problem.
As such, it really is a case of trial and error and you will need to experiment a little bit to see what works best for your fish.
Of course, there are a few things that you can do to help set your fish up for success such as adding plenty of hiding places and using a smaller sized gravel but in the end, it will all come down to the individual fish.
How Many Female Bettas Can You Have In A 55 Gallon Tank?
Assuming that you have a 55 gallon tank, we would recommend starting out with around 8-12 fish and then seeing how they all get along.
If everything goes well then you can slowly start adding more fish to the tank but if you find that the aggression levels start to become a problem then you might need to remove a few fish from the tank.
It is also worth mentioning that you should not add all of the fish to the tank at once as this can often lead to problems such as bullying and aggression.
Instead, we recommend adding a few fish to the tank every week or so until you reach the desired number of fish.
This will give the fish time to get used to one another and hopefully, prevent any aggression from occurring.
Should You Use A Long Or Tall 55 Gallon Tank?
When it comes to setting up your sorority tank, you might be wondering if you should go for a long tank or a tall tank and this is something that we get asked about a lot.
The truth is, it really does not matter which one you go for as both have their own advantages and disadvantages.
Tall tanks are often better for bettas as they give the fish more space to swim around and explore but they can also be a little bit more difficult to maintain.
Long tanks, on the other hand, are often easier to maintain but they can sometimes be a little bit too small for bettas.
As such, we would recommend going for a tank that is a mix of both tall and long as this will give the fish plenty of space to swim around without being too difficult to maintain.
What Are The Best Plants For A Betta Sorority Tank?
When it comes to choosing plants for your betta sorority tank, you really are spoiled for choice as there are so many different options to choose from.
However, not all plants are created equal and some will be better suited for a sorority tank than others.
Some of the best plants for a betta sorority tank include aquatic moss, java fern, anubias, and marimo balls.
These plants are all very easy to care for and they will provide the fish with plenty of places to hide and explore.
Of course, you are free to choose any plants that you like but we would recommend avoiding anything that is too delicate or difficult to care for.
Here is a list of some of our favorite plants for a betta tank:-
- Anubias
- Java Fern
- Water Wisteria
- Hornwort
- Bamboo
- Moneywort
- Duckweed
Building The Perfect Betta Sorority Tank!
Now that we have covered whether or not a betta sorority is actually a good idea, it is time to start talking about how you can go about setting up the perfect 55 gallon tank for your female bettas.
The first thing that you need to do is to choose the right location for your tank as this is going to be very important in ensuring that your fish are happy and healthy.
You should try and find a location that is out of direct sunlight and away from any areas where there might be a lot of noise or activity as this can stress your fish out.
Once you have found the perfect location for your tank, you will then need to start thinking about what kind of substrate you are going to use in your tank.
There are a number of different options available but we would recommend using either gravel or sand as this can help to create a more natural environment for your fish.
If you do decide to use gravel, then we would recommend that you choose something that is not too large as you don’t want your fish to be able to swallow any of it.
Once you have chosen your substrate, you will then need to start thinking about the plants that you are going to use in your tank.
Plants are a great way to provide your fish with some hiding places and can also help to create a more natural looking environment for them to live in.
There are a number of different plants that you can choose from but we would recommend using either live or artificial plants as these are going to be the best option for your fish.
You will also need to make sure that you choose plants that are not going to grow too large as you don’t want them to take over your tank.
Once you have chosen your plants, you will then need to start thinking about the other decorations that you are going to use in your tank.
This is really up to you and your personal preferences but we would recommend using things like rocks, caves, and driftwood to provide your fish with some hiding places and to make your tank look more natural.
You will also need to make sure that any decorations that you use are safe for your fish and that they can not swallow them or get stuck in them.
The last thing that you need to do is to choose the right filter for your tank.
A good filter is very important in a sorority tank as it is going to help to keep the water clean and free of any toxins that can harm your fish.
There are a number of different filters available but we would recommend using either a canister filter or a hang on back filter as these are going to be the best option for your tank.
You will also need to make sure that you choose a filter that is the right size for your tank as you don’t want it to be too powerful or too weak.
Once you have chosen the right filter for your tank, you will then need to start thinking about the other equipment that you are going to need.
This includes things like a heater, an air pump, and a water conditioner.
A heater is very important in a sorority tank as betta fish are tropical fish and need to be kept in warm water.
How Do You Feed A Betta Sorority?
Now that you have your perfect sorority tank set up, it is time to start thinking about how you are going to feed your fish.
One of the most important things that you need to remember when feeding a betta sorority is that you need to make sure that each fish is getting enough food without causing the female bettas in the tank to fish each other.
This can be done by using a variety of different methods but we would recommend using either a pellet food or a flake food as these are easy to measure out and will ensure that each fish is getting the same amount of food.
You will also need to make sure that you are feeding your fish several times a day as they have small stomachs and can not store much food at one time.
How often you feed your fish will depend on their age and the type of food that you are using but we would recommend feeding them 3-4 times a day.
Some female bettas in your tank will be communal and swim close to each other without issue, others will have their own mini territory within the tank that they will try to protect.
Adjusting the areas that you feed your female bettas as well as the amount of food for the number of female bettas expected to eat there is important.
Some female betta tanks may require you to have one feeding spot for each fish, some tanks may be good with one feeding spot for all fish, it really does change with each female betta sorority tank.
Is It Easy To Maintain Water Parameters In A Betta Sorority Tank?
Maintaining the water parameters in your sorority tank is very important as it can help to keep your fish healthy and happy.
The first thing that you need to do is to make sure that you are using a good quality water conditioner as this will remove any harmful toxins from the water.
You will also need to make sure that you are performing regular water changes as this will help to keep the water clean and free of any build up of toxins.
We would recommend doing a water change of 25% every week to make sure that your fish are always living in clean water.
The last thing that you need to do is to make sure that you are using the right filter for your tank.
A good filter is very important in a sorority tank as it is going to help to keep the water clean and free of any toxins that can harm your fish.
There are a number of different filters available but we would recommend using either a canister filter or a hang on back filter as these are going to be the best option for your tank.
You will also need to make sure that you choose a filter that is the right size for your tank as you don’t want it to be too powerful or too weak.
Once you have chosen the right filter for your tank, you will then need to start thinking about the other equipment that you are going to need.
This includes things like a heater, an air pump, and a water conditioner.
A heater is very important in a sorority tank as betta fish are tropical fish and need to be kept in warm water.
Should I Add A Male Betta Fish To My Sorority Tank?
Adding a male betta fish to your sorority tank is a personal decision and there is no right or wrong answer.
Some people like to add a male betta fish to their tank as they think that it makes the tank look more complete and they enjoy watching the male betta chase the female bettas around.
Other people prefer not to add a male betta fish to their tank as they think that it will just cause more stress for the female bettas.
If you do decide to add a male betta fish to your sorority tank, then you need to make sure that you are prepared to take care of him properly.
We do not recommend that you add a male betta fish to your sorority tank as it is an advanced tank setup and much harder than a betta sorority tank!
We have an article going over keeping a betta harem tank that may be helpful if you are interested in keeping a male betta in a tank with multiple females.
The Best Tank Mates For A Betta Sorority!
One of the most common questions that we get asked about sorority tanks is what the best tank mates are for a betta sorority and to be honest, there are a few different options.
The first option is to add in some non-aggressive fish such as danios, neon tetras or even guppies.
These fish are all very peaceful and will not cause any problems in the tank, however, they can be a little nippy so you will need to keep an eye on them.
The second option is to add in some shrimp or snails into the tank.
This is a great option as it will not only help to keep the tank clean but the shrimp and snails are also very peaceful creatures that will not bother the bettas.
The third and final option is to add in some live plants into the tank.
This is a great option as it will provide the bettas with plenty of hiding places and the plants will also help to keep the water clean and free from toxins.
Conclusion
That brings our guide going over how to keep a betta sorority tank to a close. We hope that we have been able to help as many of our readers as possible set up the perfect female betta sorority tank with the tops and tricks that we have covered in our article above.
