2 male bettas...one tank

For a couple of months now Betta the male betta (I never really gave him a proper name) has lived by himself as the king of his 7g tank. Yesterday however...I put another male betta in with him. Betta was furious!
Now now...calm down, it's not what you think!!!! They are separated and Betta cannot get to the new intruder. He is refusing to give up however, and continues to charge and flare at him sporadically and even started building a bubble nest I do hope he does not wear himself out

Well, that was the short version, if you are intrigued into how this situation came about...feel free to continue reading!

Yesterday my parents came home from a wedding where the groom was Vietnamese. One of their traditions is to give their guests a live fish as a symbol of good luck. Well it might be good luck for the people who actually decide to keep the fish, but not for the betta whose new owner decides to keep them in that unheated, unfiltered 0.5 gallon prison!!!!
So my parents brought home their prize knowing that I would gladly take care of it...the question at the present time however is...how?
Well, my first plan was to con my brother into driving me to a pet store so that I could purchase a breeder box for the new betta (who I will now refer to as Bruise as he is black and blue) so he could temporarily live in my 50g...the conning did not go well, and so the glass container that Bruise arrived in is now sitting in the 7g with a plastic thingy covering him so that:
a) Betta could not rip him to pieces...or vise vera and
b) he did not freeze during the night as it is winter here
Do not worry, the plastic thingy has holes so that fresh air reaches Bruise.

So here I am trying to decide whether to get Bruise his own tank or to divide the 7g or to get a bigger tank and divide that...
And my family is not helping with the 'What's wrong with the glass container he's in now??'
Sometimes I wish I had family members who actually understood and care about fish as we all do on fishlore...*sigh*

So yeah...sorry...I just had to rant ;D

 

Hello StefJane,

Congrats on the new boy! I'm glad that you have them separated as Betta doesn' not look too thrilled.

I think it would be fine for you to divide the 7g tank. However, going to a 10 gallon and dividing would be good if it's within your means. Either way as long as you keep up with your water changes, keep them warm about 80 degrees, hopefully everything will be fine.

Beautiful boys you have there!

A link you may find interesting if you haven't already seen it:

https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfi...ing-a-tank-for-bettas-fun-and-low-cost.46452/

Best of luck and please keep us posted.

Ken

 

If you end up doing the DIY divider for your tank and Betta is continually aggressive toward the other male, double up the plastic mesh so that they can't see each other and make sure you use dark-colored plastic mesh. Also, put some of the plastic mesh over the top so the two boys can't jump the divider and get to each other. I've had that happen and it did not end well for either boy.

 

Well I finally got to a pet store last wednesday and got a breeder box. I put it in the 7g instead of the 50 gallon just to see if Betta would eventually calm down...he did, though that may be because he can't see Bruise as clearly as he could before
After much pondering I've decided to divide the 7g. It's the easiest thing to do. Getting Bruise his own tank will require a place to put it (good luck finding one!) as well as more electricity and yet ANOTHER tank to clean (which I hate doing lol, my 50 gallon is enough work!), and the table which currently supports the 7g doesn't have much room for a 10 gallon It was rather tempting though!
So tomorrow I'll go shopping (I HATE shopping!) to find something to divide the tank.
Thanks for the link Ken, it's given me a few ideas!
Bassbonediva: I'm sorry about your boys...and thanks for making sure it doesn't happen to mine

 

Looks like you made the best out of a sad situation. The tank looks nice.
Bruise got lucky having your parents bring hm home to you.
Hopefully they'll behave until you can properly divide it.

 

Well...went shopping....and didn't find ANYTHING!
I did buy a background a $1 though They're usually $6-8 in pet stores

 

Did you check out the DIY divider Thread? Most craft stores should carry the mesh...

 

GUESS WHAT!!!!! THE 7g IS NOW DIVIDED!!!!!!!
It has taken over a month!!!! I finally found and bought a plastic divider over the internet and attempted to cut it to size with a bread knife (it is a VERY sharp bread knife, and has not even been dulled by the ordeal! ;D). It is a little too big so it is curved, but it is definitely secure!
I also bought some riccia fluitans because I thought that the bettas might enjoy a floating plant.

 

Nice job stefjane! That tank looks really good.

 

Hello StefJane,

Yeah!!! Your tank looks great and I love your plants! You have some beautiful bettas.

Thanks for keep us updated!

Ken

 

Thanks guys! I'm really happy with how the tank looks although the way that the divider is curved does irritate me slightly, but I'll need something better than a breadknife to cut it smaller LOL
Oh, I forgot, yes RED1313 I did check out that link, but I don't live near many craft stores apparently
Anyway, it is definitely a VAST improvement from how it originally looked in late 2008...

 

Very nice!

 

HI my name is ally and I have a question about my 2 male bettas. this is the second time I have taken care of bettas and finally I'm doing it the right way with the heat pad and stuff. ok the question is will it stress out my bettas by putting them in a divided tank? they are always flaring and showing off but not attacking the glass. I would like to know immediatly if I need to get another tank. thanks for a quick response....Ally

 

welcome to fishlore Ally
heres a cool link to read..and a fun way to divide tanks....https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfi...ing-a-tank-for-bettas-fun-and-low-cost.46452/

 

thanks!

 

Hello and Welcome to Fish Lore

I have moved your thread to the Betta Fish section of the forum.

Thanks

Ken

 

HI Ally welcome to FishLore!
Are you wanting to divide the 1 gallon that's in your aquarium info?
I hope you'll consider getting something bigger to divide and give your babies some swim room

Good luck!

 

You can divide a nice 10G with aquarium heater and filter (I have the heater on one side and the filter on the other.). Ideally, bettas need 2.5G at the very minimum due to their activity level.

If they keep flaring after 2 weeks it won't work, but give them this time to settle and they should be fine.

 

When I had a divided 15 gallon, I put plants and rocks by the divider on both side. It gave the boys enough of a barrier that they didn't get stressed and flare all the time. They got peeks at each other, but not a full show every day.

 

That should be fine as long as what your dividing isn't smaller than a 5 gallon.

 

I bought it that way its a 1 gallon tank. but I may have to get another tank but they don't flare all day they just show off lol

 

It would be best if you could get a bigger tank, you'll really see their personalities come out then and it's better for them to be able to swim about, they are very active in the right environment

It's kinda like us living in a cupboard when they're in a tiny tank

 

+1 to Tigerfishy

 

Hey guys, well it's been a while but I thought that I would update.
About a week after I FINALLY divided the tank, Betta died, so Bruise has had the whole tank to himself for a while now, and is LOVING it! I was just planning to put up a picture but my camera phone is dead, so I'll do it within the next couple of days.

Other news: I cleaned the 7g yesterday, and forgot to plug the heater back in when I finally remembered this morning, the tank was at 19 C. Considering that inconsiderate people keep their bettas in bowls that get colder faster, Bruise should be fine right? He seems a little lethargic but he ate just fine
Anyway, I'm going away for a couple of days so I'll have to get my mum to keep an eye on him.

 

I think your original betta died of stress..
But I still think you did the right thing with the rescue.

RIP betta!

 

Happy you saved em!

 

Well I guess I'm getting 2 more male bettas. Yea me. Lol. Apparently my daughters friend has had them about 6 months together in a what sounds like a 1-2 gallon bowl. No heater no filter. While she goes to town to get them looks like I better refill my 29 gallon and do a quick redo of my 20 gallon snail tank, waters kinda green lol and gotta go out the garage and scavenge a filter and heater.

 

Together? As in together together?

While it maybe working now, I wouldn’t continue to keep them together. (I’m sure you already know that)

I did know of a librarian that had two male bettas in the same 10 gallon tank for almost a year. Both fish died eventually (probably due to the stress) but when I was watching them I saw absolutely no signs of hostility what so ever. They even fed together without issue. Not very helpful but just I story I thought you might find interesting.

 

Yea that's why I'm refilling 2 tanks. Lol. And yea as I understand it together together in a tiny bowl. They won't know what to do with all the swimming space once I get both tanks filled and she gets back with them. I know were the bowl will go right in the trash. Lol. Sitting here watching a tank fill I'm almost tempted to drag in one of my 55's for the 2 of them. Too bad I don't have much to put in it as far as plants or decor and I think it would be too bare to keep both together.

 

I am cringing at the idea of 2 male bettas together in such a small space! Those poor fish!
In a 29 gallon tank, two males would be fine together... with enough decor and visual blockage that is.

 

Right now I don't have much to put in the tanks to break up line of sight. Only some small stuff for like a ten gallon gallon. The other thing with the 29 its deep not long.

 

Don't throw away the bowl! Use it to house the only type of fish that it can hold, goldfish crackers!
Great job rescuing the bettas though, I'm sure they will love being in tanks that size. Can't wait to see pictures!

 

Don't throw away the bowl! Use it to house the only type of fish that it can hold, goldfish crackers!
Great job rescuing the bettas though, I'm sure they will love being tanks that size. Can't wait to see pictures!

Or shrimp/pest snails.

 

Well she showed up with one of her other friends we dug threw my accumulation of stuff and she headed back to take her home with one of them and her new to her 10 gallon setup for him. Didnt think to take a pic. Lol. Yea my oldest daughter has a friend that wants the other one. She will be here in about an hour. Cant get a good pic. Between the cheep phone and the tuperware container. Lol. I will ask for pics from them once they are in their tanks.

 

Don't throw away the bowl! Use it to house the only type of fish that it can hold, goldfish crackers!
Great job rescuing the bettas though, I'm sure they will love being in tanks that size. Can't wait to see pictures!

Bowls are more than capable of holding fish. I have Swedish fish in a 1/2 bowl right now.

 

Bowls are more than capable of holding fish. I have Swedish fish in a 1/2 bowl right now.

I forgot about those, maybe that's what I'll stock my next tank with! Except I foresee a major die off in the first two hours

 

Oh and the bowl didnt survive the trip home. Lol. She just tossed it in the truck bed. Yea big die off. Lol. Looks like the snails get to keep the 20 gallon for themselves.

 

Wonder if ya'll saw the petsmart black friday ad, the whopping 1 gallon top fin liquidy split dual betta tank... That combined with their half off pets sale, I am horrified to consider what has probably happened today.

 

I'm sure they sold a bunch of them. Atleast that's divided by the look of the glass pieces in the back of the truck this was just a round bowl.

 

took me a few tries but I found another working filter and heater. Lol. I have way too much fish tank stuff. So does this sound ok. I sent the first one with a 10 gallon tank, heater, filter, chunk of sponge from my big tank, substrate, cheap digital thermometer and a couple soft fake plants. Have found enough stuff for another 10 gallon setup she just has to pick what substrate she wants. If your wondering I got most of this stuff for next to nothing at moving sales. Lol. On the plus side didnt gain any extra tanks to take care of, got rid of some more of my accumulation and the big tank got a big water change. Lol