Can male betta “smell” each other in a divided tank?

I'm dividing my 10 gallon and the divider I got (by life with pets I think) is solid black with small holes here and there. I haven’t set anything up yet as it’s still coming in the mail. However, someone told me that male betta fish release hormones and that will stress out the other betta?? I’ve never heard this before, is this accurate? Is it big enough of a reason to not divide the tank?

 

This is purely an educated guess but, I'd imagine it's true to some extent. But likely mitigated by water changes.

 

I think it’d be fine as long as you keep up on water changes. Try to add in some extra decor near the divider and you should be good

 

Live plants a huge plus too!

 

I think it’d be fine as long as you keep up on water changes. Try to add in some extra decor near the divider and you should be good

Yeah, the tank already has about 8 live plants and if I divide it I'm planning on getting about 6 more. I'm just worried that if I get him and something happens then I won't have any place to move him to.

 

Yeah, the tank already has about 8 live plants and if I divide it I'm planning on getting about 6 more. I'm just worried that if I get him and something happens then I won't have any place to move him to.

I think he’ll be fine! It sounds like he’s living a great life and I bet the second betta will too!

 

I'm dividing my 10 gallon and the divider I got (by life with pets I think) is solid black with small holes here and there. I haven’t set anything up yet as it’s still coming in the mail. However, someone told me that male betta fish release hormones and that will stress out the other betta?? I’ve never heard this before, is this accurate? Is it big enough of a reason to not divide the tank?

They don't smell each other, but yes, they bettas can sense each other's hormones and this may stress them out a bit, but if you add a lot of plants around the divider to break up sight lines, you shouldn't have any issues.

 

I think he’ll be fine! It sounds like he’s living a great life and I bet the second betta will too!

Okay thank you!!!! I was so worried because someone else on a different forum said not to ever do it (at least if the divider allowed any water flow between the two sections)

They don't smell each other, but yes, they bettas can sense each other's hormones and this may stress them out a bit, but if you add a lot of plants around the divider to break up sight lines, you shouldn't have any issues.

Okay, I'm hoping to put plants up and down either side of the divider to help with that! Thanks!

 

I'm dividing my 10 gallon and the divider I got (by life with pets I think) is solid black with small holes here and there. I haven’t set anything up yet as it’s still coming in the mail. However, someone told me that male betta fish release hormones and that will stress out the other betta?? I’ve never heard this before, is this accurate? Is it big enough of a reason to not divide the tank?

I have a 15g with a black divider with holes for my 2 bettas. I bought it from life with pets as well. Here’s why I did that: (this is just my opinion) Water circulation and heat distribution are better with the holes. I have a heater on one side and the thermometer on the other side. Originally, I started out with a tidal 35 filter (I know - overkill) on one side and a small sponge filter on the other, but I found the sponge filter side was really dirty. So I put another tidal 35 on that side as well. It’s been that way for about 6 months and is working out well. Some say pheromones and hormones will upset the fish, but I don’t find that to be the case. Both my bettas are calm, un-riled, they don’t attack the dividers, try to get to the other side, or flare at it. In fact, I bought a 20g long with the intent of using 2-3 of the same dividers so I can have more bettas. I do have plants on both sides, but not necessarily up against the dividers. I’ve had my 2 bettas in that tank with that setup for 13 months now. I think they were so happy to get out of those little cups at petsmart, they don’t care who’s on the other side!

One more thing......Sheila also sells clear dividers with and without holes. I would not use clear dividers with bettas because then they can see each other and will re-act by swimming back and forth along the divider, flaring, and stressing out. But you shouldn’t have any problems with the black ones.

 

My bettas do fine. They can see each other a little bit through my divider and they do little flare dances once in a while but they never seem "stressed"

 

I think it’d be fine as long as you keep up on water changes. Try to add in some extra decor near the divider and you should be good

Here's what I did!!!

 

Here's what I did!!! View attachment 735363View attachment 735364

Nice set-up and the betta on the left is just stunning!

 

I have a 15g with a black divider with holes for my 2 bettas. I bought it from life with pets as well. Here’s why I did that: (this is just my opinion) Water circulation and heat distribution are better with the holes. I have a heater on one side and the thermometer on the other side. Originally, I started out with a tidal 35 filter (I know - overkill) on one side and a small sponge filter on the other, but I found the sponge filter side was really dirty. So I put another tidal 35 on that side as well. It’s been that way for about 6 months and is working out well. Some say pheromones and hormones will upset the fish, but I don’t find that to be the case. Both my bettas are calm, un-riled, they don’t attack the dividers, try to get to the other side, or flare at it. In fact, I bought a 20g long with the intent of using 2-3 of the same dividers so I can have more bettas. I do have plants on both sides, but not necessarily up against the dividers. I’ve had my 2 bettas in that tank with that setup for 13 months now. I think they were so happy to get out of those little cups at petsmart, they don’t care who’s on the other side!

Thank you!! This is very helpful. Did your betta's take a few days to "adjust" to each other? The betta who had this tank all to himself is puffing up his fins almost constantly and flaring at anything brightly colored outside the tank. However, he doesn’t attack the divider or really seem to notice the other betta. Is he maybe just skittish and will hopefully calm down?

Nice set-up and the betta on the left is just stunning!

Thank you!

 

Thank you!! This is very helpful. Did your betta's take a few days to "adjust" to each other? The betta who had this tank all to himself is puffing up his fins almost constantly and flaring at anything brightly colored outside the tank. However, he doesn’t attack the divider or really seem to notice the other betta. Is he maybe just skittish and will hopefully calm down?

I’ve had a divided tank before. It did take a few days but even though I had an aggressive betta that always flared when he saw the other they still were very happy and neither had any negative affects from the divider.

 

I’ve had a divided tank before. It did take a few days but even though I had an aggressive betta that always flared when he saw the other they still were very happy and neither had any negative affects from the divider.

Okay, that is such a huge relief! Thank you!

 

Thank you!! This is very helpful. Did your betta's take a few days to "adjust" to each other? The betta who had this tank all to himself is puffing up his fins almost constantly and flaring at anything brightly colored outside the tank. However, he doesn’t attack the divider or really seem to notice the other betta. Is he maybe just skittish and will hopefully calm down?

No, actually I didn’t see any signs of aggression in either of them. They were too interested in checking out their new surroundings. The 2nd day I had them, they both built bubble nests, so I took that as a sign of content. Both of them have been very calm the entire time I’ve had them.
I’ve read that some bettas are more aggressive than others, and that may be what’s going on with your guy. You might want to try keeping the lights off for a couple days. The dark can be soothing sometimes. It could be that he’s trying to figure out what happened to his home. How long have you had him? How’s your other guy doing?

 

No, actually I didn’t see any signs of aggression in either of them. They were too interested in checking out their new surroundings. The 2nd day I had them, they both built bubble nests, so I took that as a sign of content. Both of them have been very calm the entire time I’ve had them.
I’ve read that some bettas are more aggressive than others, and that may be what’s going on with your guy. You might want to try keeping the lights off for a couple days. The dark can be soothing sometimes. It could be that he’s trying to figure out what happened to his home. How long have you had him? How’s your other guy doing?

Yeah, Musi is a pretty agressive boy. I've been keeping the lights off alot (I have live plants so I need a little light but just for 3 ish hours). I've had Musi (the original) for about a month and a half. The other guy is doing good. He's been getting used to the tank, exploreing, started coming to the top when I feed them etc. Here's some pics of both of them! (Musi top old, Hamari bottom new)