MissMTS

Hi Guys,

I have a problem that I have been debating for weeks now. I am unable to come to the right decision myself, so I am hoping that you can help me out and give me your thoughts. I have tried running this by other people (such as my husband), but I feel like betta owners are the only ones who will truly understand.

I currently have 8 bettas:
Dumbledore (5.5 gallon tank)
Buddy (29 gallon tank with plecos)
Sparticus, Zeus, and Mizu (10 gallon divided 3 ways-3.3 gallons each)
Dusty, Bijou, and Bubbles (10 gallon divided 3 ways- 3.3 gallons each)

Here is my dilema:

I realized how hard it is to treat bettas when they are in divided tanks and how often they seem to get ill AFTER I had the tanks set up for a few months. I started to get really anxious when I heard about everyone's bettas getting sick and the disease spreading throught the divided tanks.

Recently, since Bubbles had that awful case of velvet (which is still not completely gone), and 5 of my bettas got finrot, I have truly realized that my setup is not ideal. My two bettas who are consistantly the most healthy are the two that are in their own tanks. My problem is, getting more tanks is not an option. I don't have the space or the money for them at this point.

I'll stop beating around the bush....
Would it be better for my bettas, for my to re-home 4 of them, so that they could each have their own tanks? I feel like it would be really hard to give up whichever 4 I decide on, but I feel like the 4 that I keep will be happier and healthier bettas with more swimming space. My only concern is....what if the 4 I give away are not treated well. I know that when you give up any pet, you cannot guarantee that they will be loved as much as you love them, but you just have to take the chance. Do you guys think it would be better to re-home my 4 bettas, or keep them as they are and deal with all of the health issues?

Thanks for any imput you guys may have. I hope I don't come across as cold hearted. I truly do have my pets best interests at heart.

Alessa

Im sorry you are going through this

this a totally personal descicion. Like you said, there is no guarantee that the ones you decide to give away will receive the proper care (unless there is a betta lover fishlorean in your area who would be willing to take care of them), And the sole descicion of giving them away is hard enough by itself.


I know it takes animal (specifically bettas) lovers to understand what youre going trough. And whichever descicion you make, we fishloreans and betta moms/dads will be here to support you

jdhef

Well, it seems to me that you believe the best thing for the Betta's is that they all be in individual tanks. So, if that is what is best for the fish, then you should probably do what it takes to get them in individual tanks.

Just be careful about who you adopt them out to. Try to find people you trust, and people who would contact you with questions if they arouse.

Now go watch "Sophie's Choice" have a good cry, and feel good about yourself for doing the right thing, no matter how difficult.

Lucy

I agree with Alessa, this is such a personal decison that only you can make.
I admire your bravery for even thinking that if you couldn't take care of them properly you'd give them to someone who can.
If I were in Ca., I'd surely help you out and take one if that's what you decided to to do.

Whatever you decide, we're here with you.

Martinismommy

If you decide to re-home one of your betta boys I have the PERFECT home in San Diego right now....It is my Daughter Brandis boyfriend...He just lost his boy Greg this weekend....He has owned 2 bettas and he has a 10 gallon perfect set up.....He is a full time college student with his own place and is looking to adopt another....He actually called me and asked me to breed my boys so he could have one of mine but of course we know what I told him....If you are serious about this please let me know....

Annadvn

Not knowing what plecos you have in the 29gal.

Would it be an idea to split the 29gal 3 way and only the 10gallons in half? This way the bettas could have more space possibly with less stress therefore reducing illnesses?

It would still mean they are all sharing the water but with increased space they might be happier?

As i said it would depend on the plecos you have if you could move them to another tank or keep them in smaller tanks.

Trying to help you keep them all (im going through tank shuffling as well to be able to keep all my fish)

Anna

Tazmiche

I have not read any other replies as i just have to say KEEP THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU!!! are caring for them as best you can!!! Having just lost one of mine ,Sky, i know how no matter how much we try to keep them healthy nature will decide our fate!!!! keep your fish,they know you!!!! they know you love them!!!

Martinismommy

Well said.....Very well said.......

MissMTS

Oh gosh guys!
Thanks so much for your responses. It is so good to talk to people who actually understand. I am still not sure what I will do. Maybe I can keep them and heaven forbid I lose any of them, I just won't replace them. It is such a hard decision to make I certainly want to keep them, but all of these health issues like ICH, velvet, and finrot just makes me feel like its my fault for cramming them so close together. I put them together before Rose told us all about divided betta tanks not being a good idea

Karen, if I do decide to re-home them I will definetly let you know. Thanks so much for thinking of someone.

Anna, to answer your question, I would not be able to divide the 29 gallon. I have 8 plecos in it at the moment with piles of rocks and driftwood all through it. My plecos need their hiding spots and love cuddling together, so I feel like it would be cruel of me to seperate them from eachother (not to mention, it would destroy my current setup). Thanks for trying to come up with a solution though. I really appreciate it.

Tazmiche, you really make me want to keep them. I know that they would be loved by me and as long as I keep them they have zero chance of ending up in an awful bowl!

Argggg! This sucks, but you guys make it so much better Thanks for the replies and if you happen to think of anything else, let me know

COBettaCouple

A real dilemma, I can think of reasons to go either way.. I think I'd try to find a way to keep them but if I couldn't do it and could find them homes I KNEW would be good, then I could accept them going to those homes.

shellbell4ever

I totally understand how you feel It's a hard decision either way.I to am thinking of giving up 4 of my babies,I have to cut down on my tanks at least for the showing of my home which is now on the market,and our eventual move to a smaller place,and I do believe they are more manageable in their own tanks as well,But the idea of letting someone have them not knowing if they will get the care or love that we know ourselves have giving them is a scary thought...I too know if someone from here were close enough to take them I would feel more comfortable.
Best wishes with what ever you decide.

mrsmuffin

Awww, I am sorry that you are having to think about that! I can't even begin to tell you what you should do, because I can't imagine having to think about it. I wish CA and TX were closer, I have a 5 gal set up just waiting to bring a betta home (well, as soon as I move my son's ADFs out in a couple of weeks!)

I am sure that any decision you make will be made with love and care.

Tazmiche

If i could i'd take them!! We have the space but the UK would be quite a drive!!!!!

jdhef

Not to mention the swim.

Shawnie

geez kate...we both have decisions to make ...im in the same way with my oscars...as far as your kids, I say like the rest..keep them!! they are having a great life with you and you are very knowledgable on taking care of them..so unless you find a place you are totally sure can take as good of care as you, keep them handsome kids!

Tazmiche

haha

MissMTS

Thanks for all of the great advice you guys I would like to keep them all, but I feel like I need to figure out a way to keep them from getting sick. It is not fair for me to keep them if I cannot keep the healthy. I feel like the divided tanks are spreading disease and bacteria continually from one betta to the next. I have been doing 75 percent water changes once a week and using garlic guard and vitachem on top of all of their other medications! The substrate is marbles and none of their decorations have sharp edges. I am just frustrated because I feel like I am doing everything I can for my boys and they just keep getting sick. I really do want to keep them all and hate the thought of parting with them. Can anyone think of anything else I could do to keep them healthy?

ShaynaB

Have you tried looking on Craigslist or Freecycle for cheap or free set ups? I know they'd probably be used, but you can disinfect them and then you'd be able to separate all of them!

I think I'd try that before I absolutely had to re home them!

russ757

wahts freecycle? I would help cause i have a ten gallon planted that should be ready in a few weeks but
Cypress,TX is a pretty far drive to So.Cali and i cant drive lol

Allie

Sometimes having too many tanks is overwhelming &, expensive too when they are sick. Trust me, I am at the end of my rope right now.
Betta are very hard to keep 100% healthy and I know you are doing the best you can to look after them. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

MissMTS

Yeah I totally know what you mean. At this point, with my job getting busier, I feel like I would not have time to do the upkeep on extra tanks. My bettas would then probably suffer from accidental neglect on my part, because I wouldn't have time to do all of the extra water changes, etc. Plus, the cost of meds is really burning a hole in my pocket. I just feel like they are constantly sick

Freecycle is a group where you can look for stuff that people are giving away for free. The purpose of the group is to keep stuff out of landfills by giving it to someone who can use it. Yeah, Texas is a little far, lol.

I actually have an extra 10 gallon laying around, but at this point we litterally don't have any more space for tanks. 11 tanks in a 1 bedroom apartment is a pretty tight squeeze as it is. At this point, literally every shelf and surface has a tank on it, lol. My husband would freak even if I did find a way to set up the other tank.

ShaynaB

Ok, no more tank space... How bout dividing them with pieces of glass sealed with aquarium sealant instead of the mesh and putting small filters in each, like sponge filters? That way they're still in the same space but with their own water.

I'm so sorry! You're in so cal too, so I can ask around to see if anybody I wants a betta or two. (With proper care, of course!)

Dark_Rider2k3

I like this idea a lot!!

If you do end up having to give away your bettas, I have a 2.5 gallon that is not being used that I could set back up to take care of one of your bettas..

The problem, though, is the betta would have to be shipped to me, and IDK how big a risk that is but.. i don't know if you'd really want to ship a betta..