Gouramiguy17

Well I have been doing really good in school and not fighting with my sisters do my parents are deciding that I can switch my 55 tall with a 55 long!!! They told me I can divide the tank too. I'm pretty sure I'm going to get a pair of cons in they 1/3 and with the other side I will have my kribs, swordtails, my syno cat, my betta, and maybe an African knife(not sure if it will work). I know it doesn't sound like alot but it is something I have been wanting for a long time.

Chris123

Cool

I have a 55g long myself and i love it.

Cant wait to see pics!

Prince Powder

Congrats on the new tank! I wouldn't recommend dividing it though. It would be better to leave it as is and (if you decide to) add more fish which are compatible with your current stock.

Chris123

Sorry if hacking your thread GouramiGuy i appoligize

Question Why wouldnt you divide it I've seen many people divide there tanks that way

Gouramiguy17

I'm not going to divide with a glass divider, I'm going to buy one.

Jake the Fish

Prince, if you read the fish gouramiguy is going to stock his tank with, you would realise he would need to divide his tank otherwise his betta will attack each fish.

harpua2002

Actually, the planned pair of cons would get medieval on the betta.

I'm going to have to recommend against dividing this tank per the plan in the OP. Dividing a 48" tank into thirds means that the cons would only get a 16x12 footprint. This really isn't enough. I know it works in terms of gallons, but vertical space means little to cons. They need a lot more horizontal space than that. The smallest recommended tank size for them (20 long) has a 30x12 footprint.

The betta is not compatible with the other fish you have listed. The kribs and/or swordtails will likely kill it, let alone the other fish you mentioned. I don't know much of anything about the knife fish, but I'd assume it's like others and will eat anything it can fit in its mouth (probably including a betta).

Gouramiguy17

I have had my betta with my tank for over 9 months and she has worked fine. I've had my kribs spawn in the tank while the BEtta was in there and it worked fine too. I would have a pair of cons on 1/2 then I would have the other1/2 as a "community" if that would work.

Tigerfishy

Congrats on the upgrade!!
The only fish you have that I'm familiar with is the betta, so I'll leave others to comment on the other species.
I want pics when you're done though. Pleeeeeeeeeeeease!!!

Etcetera

This sounds like a potentially scary situation. 55G is kind of a minimum requirement for something like a knife fish.. I think you could get an equally unique fish that stays smaller and is less likely to eat everything smaller than itself. Have you ever thought of something like a kuhli loach? They're adorable little guys, they're very unique looking, peaceful, and they're entertaining to watch when you keep them in groups. I also think that you should think about a different tank for your betta. Eclipse makes a nice little 3G kit that comes with a light and a filter. It can be easily cycled and can support low light plants, it's only about $45.