The Gemstones Have Broken Up!

[AuntieM]

Well, Ruby (the larger) and Pearl (the smaller) had to be put into seperate bowls last night. I last wrote about my 2 little females being sooo happy swimming together and playing and laughing (if they could!) ... well was I delusional. After 2 weeks of bliss, Ruby started going after Pearl with a vengence. It looked like the fishbowl Indy 500. Up, down, across, top, bottom .... poor Pearl. Her only refuge was in the little conch shell in the bottom of the bowl. She would get inside and just peek her head out, waiting for the "all clear". As soon as she would venture out to get some air or stretch her fins, Ruby would be on her like white on rice.

So after watching this for 48 hours, I decided enough was enough and I took Pearl out and placed her in her own bowl. Ruby could care less, more room for her to be her "big bad self". I'm just alittle concerned that Pearl is still shaken up. She's eating and pooping so that's a good sign.

My question: Will there be a time when I can reintroduce Pearl & Ruby together in the same bowl? Should I even bother?

I guess I'm just surprised that after 2 weeks of serenity, Ruby would become so aggressive towards Pearl. But after this, nothing surprises me when it comes to these amazing little creatures.

[ana]

i have all male bettas so i dont know about them but i had this happen with a gourami and theyre very much alike in a lot of ways. fish began to end up dead. i lost 2 and then my female was bitten terribly. it took all this time to figure out who the baddie was and honestly i wont take the chance of reintroducing him. the female gourami died of her wounds last week, though she suffered more when she became filled with eggs, it seems that others will attack in order to get the eggs, im wondering if bettas do this too and if that could be the cause

[AuntieM]

Thanks for the reply, Ana .... Pearl is not with eggs, she's a single gal and so is Ruby. But I'm sorry to hear about your fish. I think I'll probably keep my girls apart. They can look at one another, but not touch.

[ana]

that sounds best, i havent had females but ive read that keeping them in larger groups with lots of hideys works best. also that ones who have been raised from a very early age together tend to get along better

yeah, its best to keep them safe, they can do so much damage even with the little nips

good luck with them im almost tempted to get a female but i have so many males and ive heard that can be a problem if youre not always moving the female

and thank you, i lost my favourite little cory and a danio and my tiniest gourami. the offending fish is now in his own tank where he cant hurt anyone anymore

[AmberD]

I just don't know that a 2 gallon bowl is large enough for two female bettas, even with the hidey hole/s.

Plus I often make it a point to suggest that people get 1 female betta, or 3+, but never 2. They often establish a pecking order of sorts, and if there's only two, you're going to have an extreme heirarchy, a dominant one, and a submissive one. If there's only one other girl to take her agressions out one, the dominant one will be too much for the other to bear.

This is not always the case. I've heard of people having 2 females together for long periods of time without problems. But my experience (and many others') says that 2 is a bad number. I first had two girls in a 3 gallon. They were great together for the first evening, but the next day, the bigger one began terrorizing the other. When I couldn't take it anymore, I separated them. Lost the little one some time later

Anyway, I have the big, formerly mean one in a 10 gallon with 5 others right now. She's dominant, but they get along great.

If you'd really like to keep them together, I'd suggest getting a 10 gallon and a couple more small female bettas. I have 6, but it's not ideal. It was a case of "I cannot decide between these 3, so..." I think 4 might be ideal, that way you could have a few cory cats or algae eaters, too.

Amber

[BettaBGood]

AuntieM,

Sorry about your little gems. Are you sure Ruby isn't a "diamond in the rough...?"

Not too long ago, I bought two female bettas at the lfs. They had been together in the same tank for two weeks (according to shop owner) with some albino cats & zebra danios. I watched them for quite a while - they swam together & seemed to be chums. When I got them home, I placed them together in a 2.5 gallon bowl. They were fine for about 24 hours & then "Betty" began to harass "Boop" in the worst way! I, too, ended up separating them.

I was so disappointed! My plan was to add these two new gals to my two others (which have always been in separate bowls), for a cutsie all-female betta tank. Some sources say if you put 3+ together, there is a more even distribution of their aggressive tendencies toward one another. Some have had success by allowing nature to take its course and the "pecking order" establishes itself in due time. Yet, there are others whose stories are of one, poor, little submissive gal being bullied (or killed) by the rest of the group! Bottom line, each scenerio will play differently.

The tank is in the very beginning of my first attempt at fishless cycling, too. So, when the time comes and the tank is ready - I might not be! If that is the case, I guess my betta boys will be "drawing straws" (or toothpicks - lol) to see which one of them wins the palace.

Also, regarding eggs, it doesn't matter if she's single - an adult, female betta will always have eggs (as little as 50 and as many as 300 ). When she is ripe, her stomach will become increasingly larger and the small, white spot on her underbelly will protrude (it's actually the tube that releases the eggs). Also, she may exhibit verticle stripes on her body & sometimes do a wiggle-dance, lowering her upper body (head down). If her eggs are not fertilized, they will be reabsorbed or released.

My females are very entertaining, but also feisty and moody. (My husband swears those traits are gender specific regardless of species... : I do often wonder if my little gals have invisible, underwater, mini-menstrual cycles that they ride around on all day!

[AuntieM]

Thanks to all for your input. BettaBGood, I appreciated also the info on the "egg drop" situation. I didn't know that they will release eggs when they are ripe. Something else for me to experience. Like "becoming a woman" all over again. LOL ;D

I now have set Pearl (the smaller) up in a bowl right next to Ruby. She seems a little less stressed but I noticed that her fins have taken a beating in the last few days. I plan to medicate and hopefully she will be back on track. Ruby ... she's happy as a clam. ;D

I have heard that 2 bettas together is not a great idea, I'm sorry I had to find out the hard way. Now I would like to get a male and place him in his own bowl right between the 2 females. Bit of a tease!

Thanks again for all your replys ... I'll keep you "posted".

[Jenny]

I would suggest melafix as a medication for her. It's gentle and supposed to help with the regrowth of fins, while preventing new infections from stress.

[AuntieM]

Thanks Jenny, I'm picking some up tonight. I even bought an eye dropper at lunch today. I read on one of the HB boards that the bottle doesn't come with any time of measuring device.

[Jenny]

You're right; it doesn't. I think that they assume it will be used for larger tanks where you can use a teaspoon measure. But for smaller tanks you need a dropper. The dosage is ten drops per gallon of water.

[BettaBGood]

AuntieM,

Didn't you say that you inherited Ruby & Pearl from an art exhibit in which they were displayed together? (I think they must have been on their best behavior for the critics... )

If you want to see some mating "wiggle-dances," wait until you put that lucky male nearby! There will be "a whole lotta tango goin' on..." The joke may be on Ruby, the wanton domineer. She won't be able reach Pearl to bully her into submission & win the guy!

About the eggs, my experience is VERY limited. It wasn't long after I placed my girls near guys, that I noticed their bellies swelling, verticle stripes, etc. I was curious, so I read some (Spawning101) articles for more info. Happy to "spread the word," though! Interestingly, during the spawning process, the male betta actually squeezes the eggs from the female, causing her to fall temporarily unconscious! (not going there...) The male collects the eggs in his mouth and blows them into his bubble nest. "Daddy" ;D takes care of the eggs & guards the nest until they hatch a day or two later.

[mickey]

sorry that you had to learn that 2 girls alone dont get along to well.... atleast you caught it before the little one got to torn up or killed .... i keep my girls in a 30 gallon filtered/heated tank with natural gravel and a very large (almost 1/2 the tank) clump of java moss on one side and a large sandstoneish rock with holes in it on the other ..... they ahve a small pleco and lots of grass shrimp ( cant tell how many as some get eaten and some multiply) and 2 eels ( cant remember the neam of the eels just know that they just eat bloodworms and hide in the gravel all the time ..... there are presently 24 girls in the tank and thye do chase sometimes but on the whole they are very happy in the tank and pretty much (other than when im feeding them) leave each otxer alone .... if you ever wanted to introduce them together again then id get atleast a 10 galllon and add 4-6 more girls and introduce them all at the same time and make sure there is places that every one can hide plus a couple extra hidey's just to be sure and i agree totally with the mela-fix for the damaged fi~s ...i use it at every water change with every fish includeing dhe 4 10 gallon 6-plexes that the guys live in even tho i know txat the mela-fix is atleast partially removed by the undergravel filter and carbon heads on it ...i jsut feel safer that its in dhere and its very mild and seems to perk everyone up ..... good luck .... Mickey

[Betta MVP]

Sorry it didn't work out with your girls. I just had a bad experience myself with 5 females I put together recently. They killed one of my favorite little sweeties unfortunately during the night when I wasn't there to intervene. It's been a week now and the remaining four are doing fine after they established their pecking order.

They had some nipped fins too and after 1 week of Melafix, you can't even tell they were damaged at all! That stuff is like magic!

[AuntieM]

Your responses have been great. I've taken the advise from all and am using what I need to keep those scamps healthy. And I agree with BettaBGood, they were definitely "dressed to impress" for the art critics. I never heard anyone say "Oh, look at those fish killling each other!" But I'm sure they were expecting it because the information card called them "Siamese Fighting Fish".

I'm now starting to see Pearl's personality come out a little more. She doesn't have to hide from Ruby so she's free to be! Pearl is laid back & serene .... a true fish from the "60's" , while Ruby is a total head-banging goth fish. I swear sometimes late at night I hear Black Sabbath playing. ;D LOL

Again, thanks everyone ...... this has been a fun and informational exchange. There is a lot of very witty people at this site.