gavin423

Okay, I am new to the world of Bettas (usually stick with puffers) and I have a couple of questions, so hopefully someone has a moment to help

I have a ten gallon that I'm setting up at the moment. My plan is to divide it into two 5 gallon tanks (to hold two bettas). After I get that tank going, I am going to be setting up a 20 gallon tank. I plan on dividing that into three sections - also for bettas.

My first question is how separated must they be? I am planning on using those screens they sell at the pet stores to divide them and I am wondering if there will be problems (or if they'll be stressed or unhappy) if they can see one another? If so, could I attach java moss to the screen and let it grow into a nice 'privacy curtain' for the bettas?

My second question is, I plan on having live plants only. However, what I need to know is do the bettas prefer a lot of wide open space or dense plants? My dwarf puffer tank is a jungle of lily, java fern and java moss which I could easily transplant some of those into the betta tanks but they grow CRAZY, lol, and I don't want to crowd the bettas.

I hope those made sense - it's 1:30 in the morning and I"m fried, lol. Hope to hear from you all - thanks in advance!
Tiffany

namehater

i have a divided tank and at first, my crown-tail would flare up looking at my veil-tail, but he eventually got over it. after about 2 weeks, its like the other betta doesnt even exist.

Tony G.

my boy tarzan likes DENSELY planted tanks better, but thats just tarzan :P
i guess it depends on the betta

gavin423

Ok, thanks so much!

Butterfly

Here's a link to an easy and cheaper way to divide a tank for Bettas
Dividing a tank for bettas..fun and low cost
Bettas love live plants as long as they have plenty of room to get to the surface to breathe.
Carol

aquarist48

LOL Butterfly you beat me to it. I had just copied and pasted.

Butterfly

Shawnie

remember when dividing any bettas, that after 2 weeks they are still stressed/flaring, they are not going to work in a divided tank without being not able to see one another..thats very important ....but some of the mesh comes with very dark colors and I also double up the mesh for the nawty boys/girls who dont relax

Butterfly

Shawnie could yu put plants in front of the plastic to keep them from seeing each other?
Carol

Shawnie

absolutely....fake or real...just remember if you do that, dont have the plants go up to the top of the divider or they will use them as a trampoline to get on the other side
(nice visual wasnt that carol )

Butterfly

I can believe it after seeing my little girls I had go from side to side without any help. Even with the water down they did it.
Carol

gavin423

I have java moss growing out the wazoo so I figured if they didn't quit stressing one another after that amount of time, I'd hook the moss to the screen in the center and let it attach - thereby creating a visual block without creating the "trampoline"!

Also, I've seen mentioned a few times that it's good to have a place for the bettas to rest near the surface to breathe and I was curious if something would work (looking for input, I guess). I have a couple of shot glasses as hiding spots/caves in my other tanks and got to thinking the other day doing dishes - what if I put a margarita glass with some sand in it in the betta tank - it would provide a nice high bed for the betta to be near the surface? Has this been done and would it work?

THanks for all the help and I'm heading over to check out that link now!