A sorority is a group of female betta fish that are kept together in a shared aquarium. Unlike male bettas, which are known for their aggressive behavior and territoriality, female bettas can typically be housed together in a community setting.
A sorority tank can be a beautiful and interesting addition to any fish enthusiast's collection, as the fish will display a wide range of colors, patterns, and personalities. It is important to note that betta sororities require a larger tank and more frequent maintenance than keeping just one betta fish, and not all females will get along with each other and might require separating them.
So let's talk about the basics of making your own betta sorority.
The tank.
Picking the right size of the tank is very essential. As we going to house multiple bettas together, they will be needing more space. So make sure your tank is big enough to house your bettas without any space problems. Bigger the tank, the more bettas you can keep together.
The tank décor should consist of lots of hiding places. This is essential so as to help your fish de-stress.
The tank can have live plants of your choice and a dense plantation will be a great choice as it provides with lots of hiding spaces for the fish. Remember, having lots of hiding places is crucial as it helps your fish to take shelter if things get aggressive in the tank. Make sure the plants or any other tank ornaments do not have sharp edges, as it can damage the betta's fins.
The Bettas.
Betta sorority will need more than 6 bettas together. The majority helps in controlling aggression in the tank, as it avoids a particular fish being targeted by others. All of them should be roughly of the same age and size. This makes them used to living together and brings down aggression.
Also make sure you bring and introduce these bettas together so as to avoid territory problems.
Generally, bettas who are introduced earlier will already have their territory marked up and thus bully any newcomers in the tank.
While buying, check if the bettas are healthy. They should have a good body shape, fins (extremely torn fins maybe an indicator of fin-rot), bright coloration, and active swimming. Acclimate your bettas and introduce them into your tank.
The pecking order.
On the first day of introducing them, you won't be noticing anything different. This is because your bettas may still be acclimating to their new home. Once they are completely set, the arrangement of the pecking order starts. The pecking order is a social hierarchy where the group of fish sets rankings by behavioral and physical dominance.
You may start to notice slight or extreme fin nipping and attacking among the fishes. This may be random or targeted. Observation is important in this period. In case you notice extreme injuries to one or more bettas, find out the most dominant and separate her into a temporary tank for a day or two. If a single betta is attacked by the whole group, that particular betta can be separated as well.
Completely setting up the pecking order may take a week or two. And once its done, there's not much fighting in your tank.