What the betta?

[Jeni]

I really don't know if I am a beginner or what...But anyway, I was wondering... I purchased a "female" betta from a fish dealer many months ago... probably about a year and a half ago.  I had it in a community aquarium, and it was fine.  Then I transferred it into a smaller 2 gallon bowl, which already held a male betta.  I added another, much smaller female to the bowl about a week later.  Within a few weeks, the "female" had killed the male betta and was pushing the much smaller female around.  The "female" eventually bullied the smaller female to death.  I, thinking that they only had to sort the social order out, left them together until it was too late.  Recently, I have tried putting the "female" back into a community aquarium and it was fine with all the other fish.  The only problem was the male betta I have in the tank puffed up like he was in with another male.  I asked at a local fish dealer, and they don't know what the problem could be.  A friend of mine, who breeds fish, suggested that the "female" is really a short-finned male.  Is this possible?  I have never heard of a short-finned male betta before.  And how big do the females usually get?

Thanks for any help you can give me... i'm 100% confuzzed ???

 

[clothahump]

It could have been a Wild caught Betta or just one that had reverted to the wild form.
All long finned males have been selectively bred from short finned wild stock. 8)

 

[dattack]

Bettas usually should be kept alone at all times unless you want to breed them.  Females will kill males or females if they don't find their mate to be compatible or if they are of the same sex.  Usually people put a clear divider like glass to see if they will breed or kill each other before introducing them together.

 

[tabby360]

I agree with dattack, you should only keep one per tank in such small tanksand you shouldnt mix males and females unless breeding.

 

[Jeni]

I currently have 2 small females, and one male in a 20 gal, and they are all happy together wit everyone.  I don't have any problems with any fish except my one "female" betta.  How big do females get, anyway?  Mine is as big as the male i have in my tank.

 

[soapywater]

Females usually get as big as the males but without the long fins usually.  There are some long finned females but its sorta rare.  One way you can check if that betta you put in is a female is if you look at it at the bottom there should be a egg (white bulge) there.

 

[Jeni]

I shall check when i return home and get back to y'all on the subject

 

[Jeni]

well i checked, and the results are in... she's is a ......  she :.  all that worry for nothing.  Well, now I am going to try to make she a mommy ;D.