Valchitsa

I just got a 10 gallon tank and was seriously thinking about putting a divider in the middle and putting two bettas in there. I'm thinking a male on one side and a female on the other. But now I'm kinda confused. i've heard people say that it's ok and they would actually enjoy seeing each other, and then other people say that it would be too stressful, too likely to catch a disease, won't filter enough, etc. Of course I don't mind just using the whole tank for one betta (and maybe an oto if the betta won't threaten it), but I would really like to have two in a divided tank.

So... yay or nay for the divided tank?

platy ben

yay, but i would have 2 males instead of a male and a female

sirdarksol

It's a matter of personality. Some bettas would get way too upset (more likely if it's two males) and would spend all day flaring at each other. Other times, two bettas together will just ignore each other. If you do put a divider in, make sure there's a solid top with no space above the divider. Wild bettas are natural jumpers, and our splendens remember this to some extent. More than one person around here has had a betta hop a divider to get at his/her neighbor.

COBettaCouple

SDS is right, it really comes down to personalities. There is the potential for if one gets sick, they both do and the side without the filter does receive less filtration, but I'd put the aeration on that side to help compensate some.

Valchitsa

See what I mean? Everything is mixed. I'll try the girl/boy set-up but if they don't work with each other I'll just have to bring one back and try again. I'm going to make their spaces planted though and I'm kinda hoping that the plants will at least partially block their view from each other so they won't feel constantly together.

What filter would be good for this set-up? I'm not that noligable in the filter department, especially when it comes to smaller tanks.

COBettaCouple

The genders of the 2 bettas in a divided tank is really personal preference. There are advantages and disadvantages to each arrangement and the success of it comes down to the personalities of the Bettas more than anything else.
Aqua clear filters are pretty highly regarded. With Bettas, look for a filter that you can adjust the flow. This way you can start out with a lesser flow and increase it as your Betta develop more swimming strength. If the tank will allow it, a small 2nd filter on the far side would be good, something like the Azoo palm filter.

sirdarksol

Not mixed. It would be mixed if I said "nay," but I didn't.
This is the problem, there is no simple answer. It can work, and it can just really stress your bettas out. If you put two bettas in a divided tank and they sit at the divider, flaring at each other all day, and if you don't remove one of them to a separate tank, they'll wear themselves out and get sick.
But it's quite possible that they'll get used to each other and only flare periodically, like apartment-mates getting into a tiff.

chickadee

I have also used a sponge filter in the side that does not have the primary filter and it takes care of the problem. The main problem I had with my divided tank when I had it was the temperature with the heater only on one side. So I had to end up with two smaller heaters... one on each end as bettas are so sensitive to temperature and if they get too cool it does affect their ability to digest their food and causes constipation. This can be a real problem. So to keep both sides evenly warm I just got two small heaters and used one on each end.

Rose

Valchitsa

Ok, so small filters and heaters for both sides. Not a problem, just hope the fish won't end up as betta soup. But the more I think about it the more complicated this is getting. I think I'll just get one betta, I really don't want to buy two and then end up with them constantly stressing each other out. ... And now I have more questions. If I do jsut get the one betta is there anything else I can stick in there with him/her? Like an oto cat or shrimp. I also saw some freshwater crabs and I'm very tempted by them.

Ok, so dear betta peoples, what would you do (or have done). 10 gallon tank, one betta or two with a divider? Or what else have you stuck in the tank with your betta? I know they don't need another fish to interact with but the tank would just be too empty for me if there is just one fish in there.

And sirdarksol, when I said it was mixed I meant that you said they have a better chance of getting along if they are different genders. But platy ben said that they should be both males. Stuff like that confuses me and makes me unsure of everything. I know there is no simple answer but sometimes I wish there was. Too many maybes in the world ya know?

Butterfly

Valchitsa I don't think I've had the opportunity to welcome you to FishLore - so WELCOME!
I have kept corys and Otos with my bettas with great success. they occupy two levels of the tank so this is why it works Betta = Top, Corys, otos = bottom, although they some times visit different areas these are their main levels.
I believe Rose has kept other bottom dwellers with hers, this is all I have experience with.
BUT (I know theres always a but) Bettas have varying personalities so watch and make sure yours doesn't harass whoever you decide to put in with him. One of my bettas(Betta Boy) is so laid back if you put a huge shark in with him he would be like" Hi wanna play?" The other one(Pumpkin) would probably try to kill the shark. Both beautiful bettas just different personalities. Pumpkin has a big mystery snail with him and Betta Boy has an oto. What ever you put with him put them in first so they can get settled before introducing your Betta. And last but not least Their GREAT little fish enjoy him
Hope that helps.
Carol
PS if you decide to divide you could fix it so they couldn't see each other but would definitly need two filters and two heaters.

chickadee

I have Cories and otos with my boys and one boy by himself. And in one big 25 gallon tank I have a pleco (Gypsy King Tiger) and 2 cories, and 2 yo-yo loaches and some Dwarf Chain loaches and 2 otos. Now that is a bit overstocked for now but they are going to be sorted out soon. The betta that is in there is calm and gets along with everyone and has always been here with others.

For beginners though I would really recommend the cories or otos to start as the others are sometimes very hard to start. An Apple snail with a betta is great fun too but then it does decrease the number of fish you can keep as they add a lot to the bioload. So you can choose an Apple Snail or 3 Cories or 4 otos in a tank (10 gallon) with 1 betta. That is a nice tank and a fun tank for a beginner. And a full tank no matter which way you chose to go.

The Cories will give you more activity as the Otos are a nocturnal type of fish. they do not come out much during the day but are sweet and cute little fish.

Rose

beyzagorkemli

Hi, I can talk about mines. I have two male together in a divided tank(11.5 gallon)with a glass. And they seem very happy.

hockeyref88

For us it was trial and error. We have 2 divided tanks and when we put the betta's (4 all male) there was some aggression between 2 in particular so we changed them into the other tanks and everything is good. 2 of them just live peacefully without incident and 2 of them flair a little even though the divider is opaque. We have found that each of these little guy's has there own personality.

Rick

chickadee

You are so right, Rick. The trick is the personality of the betta. Some bettas will do fine and others will not tolerate any other living creature in the water with them at all. You always need to have a back up plan with two different bettas. You never can tell until you try as there is not any way of knowing until you try it.

Rose

Valchitsa

Alright, I have decided on one betta and a couple of cories. But now I meet a new problem (yes, I'm full of em). What should I use for the substrate? Some people say gravel but apparently the fins might get caught by it and will then be torn. Others say marbles (flat or normal) but then I'm wondering how are the cories gonna eat. So.. cories like something soft and small so they can find the food, but the betta might try to eat that. Is there any substrate that would suit them fine or am I taking my chances with all of em?

sirdarksol

Small gravel will likely work with all of them.
I've not had any problem with sand with bettas, but the sand that I have would wreak havoc on cories' delicate little whiskers (the Caribbean Moon black sand is apparently really sharp stuff).
EcoComplete, I would think, would work. This would likely pretty closely mimic the betta's natural environment, and also makes planting in the tank easy (something that will make everyone involved happy).
Hopefully some others, who have more experience with bettas and different substrate, will come and give you some ideas, too.

COBettaCouple

You could try the coated small gravel that's like river rocks, or the small flat marbles. Or regular marbles and a weighted dish to put the corys food in.