Are betta sororities bad for female bettas? Do they get stressed?

If there is a strong current, it would not be recommended for a Betta. There is also the water temperature differences for these species to consider. Corys are cooler water fish, doing best in water in the lower 70s F. Bettas do best in warmer water, between 78 F and 80 F. Platys are hardy and adaptable and do well in all but the coolest tanks.

Typically beta fish are very territorial and have to be in a tank alone. Otherwise they will fight and possibly kill each other. I would recommend housing the beta alone to help prevent this. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Hi there! The general rule of thumb is 1 gallon for each inch of fish, so I think that you may need a bigger tank. If the bettas are 2 inches each, they each require 2 gallons of water, making the minimum tank size 14 gallons. Since male bettas can be territorial and aggressive, I highly recommend a larger than normal tank with lots of hiding places for 7 fish (at least 20-25 gallons). You should also watch them very carefully for fighting, and have a backup plan in case any of them need to be separated. Good luck!

Betta are definitively very territorial and you may notice multiple fights for space at the beginning. Definitively the aquarium must have multiple spots for hiding like Terra Cotta Flowerpots and PVC Piping, moss or bushy plants, ornaments, rocks and driftwoods. This will avoid open fights and will provide good places to have some rest.

This could be bacterial infection. Most minor infection can be managed or resolved by providing pristine water conditions and a tiny bit of plain aquarium salt (NOT table or Epsom salt). Perform daily partial water changes, about 30%, using aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent further stress or shock. Dissolve about 1/2 teaspoon of plain aquarium salt per gallon of water into the tank. Treat for 10-14 days then reassess their condition. If necessary a broad spectrum antibiotic can be found in the aquarium section of the local Petco. Follow label directions carefully. As an aside, Bettas do best between 78F and 80F. Cory cats prefer cooler temps, between 60F and 75F. They do not do well at temps that Bettas are kept in, eventually they will become stressed which can lead to infection. Consider separating one or the other into a tank with the appropriate water parameters.

You will need to use a solid or opaque divider to obstruct their view of one another. If they can see each other, it can stress them out. As the male matures, he will want to breed with the female and she will spend time swimming as far from the divider as possible to move away from him.

A 2.5 gallon tank is fine for a Betta and 2 snails. If you have artificial plants, use ones made of silk instead of plastic which can harm delicate fins. You'll need a heater also. Bettas are tropical fish and do best between 78 F and 80 F.