Opinions on my bad fishkeeping

Anyone ever kept 2 male betta in a small tank together without bloodshed?

I have 2 male betta in a commercially divided 3 gallon - they will not stay separated but are strangely acting very peaceful to one another. What are the odds that this is going to end badly in the couple days I need to finish set up of permanent housing? So far it's been 4 days of persistently jumping the divider & behaving peacefully.

I foolishly took in 3 fin-rotted males after all 5 of my "fair fish" tanks had been broken down for the season & I'd given a bunch of equipment away - trying to downsize. So a borrowed, divided 3 gallon & 1.5 gallon will have to do for now (have 2 hospital tank sized heaters left). Surprisingly, all 3 are healing well so far - even the guy with the rot right up to his body. But these two males *will not* remain separated. The temporary tanks have poly plants & lots of floating guppy grass.

If bloodshed is inevitable my options with the equipment I have, is to today break down the tank I cycled, dirted, planted & made dividers for on Sat (20g L) to replace the sand & dirt with fluorite so I can do a quick transfer or wash up & make another, more secure divider for one of the empty 6 gallons as another temp tank before the long tank is ready. Never used fluorite b4 so don't know if "immediate transfer" is even possible with it.

What do you think? I'm exhausted beyond belief at this point & hoping you all can think for me on behalf of these fish.

Is a betta battle inevitable?
Is the breakdown & doing fluorite gonna get me to immediate transfer?
Is making a proper divider & transferring to a 6 g for a few days best?
Am I blanking on another solution?

Thanks in advance.

 

Don't think this counts as bad fishkeeping, since you used a tank with a divider--I for one also would not have foreseen the whole jumping the divider thing!

Can you jury rig something more on top of the divider to ensure they can't jump? Even if ugly, this would be the way that I would go, particularly if life was too busy for me to handle anything more for a few days.

 

It's super possible to keep two male bettas together in a bigger tank so there's no issues. If there's no issues and they're kept in a big tank with supervision and possibly other tank mates, they should be fine! What if you got a clear divider to see how they interact that way?

 

Don't think this counts as bad fishkeeping, since you used a tank with a divider--I for one also would not have foreseen the whole jumping the divider thing!

Can you jury rig something more on top of the divider to ensure they can't jump? Even if ugly, this would be the way that I would go, particularly if life was too busy for me to handle anything more for a few days.

So far they've jumped over the divider, pushed it out at the sides & pushed it up from the bottom. But you made me think I could make up a new divider, stuff the sides with coarse foam & secure extra mesh to float on top & impede jumping. Thanks for jumpstarting my tired brain.

It's super possible to keep two male bettas together in a bigger tank so there's no issues. If there's no issues and they're kept in a big tank with supervision and possibly other tank mates, they should be fine! What if you got a clear divider to see how they interact that way?

Have you successfully kept males together? I'm contemplating this. The 20g L I've planted & divided for them isn't clearing well w/the Seachem 35 Tidal in the centre chamber. The dividers are opaque plastic mesh. I'm guessing at this point I'm looking at having to either remove dividers or use separate filters & reconsider electricals w/the other tanks.

Thus far, they flip over, under or at the sides of the divider, swim to each other & do absolutely nothing aggressive - play in the guppy grass or push around the tiny bladder snails or just swim side by side. 20 some years of keeping these creatures & I've never seen anything like it.

If I leave these two in the 3g undivided & observed, maybe all 3 could ultimately go into the 20g long undivided, heavily planted with a back up 6g just in case? I've always kept bettas in separate tanks except for breeding but can't manage 3 more permanent tanks right now. Don't want to imperil the fish tho simply because I made a foolish decision.

Anybody else done this successfully?

Thanks Maddiegrace!

 

So far they've jumped over the divider, pushed it out at the sides & pushed it up from the bottom. But you made me think I could make up a new divider, stuff the sides with coarse foam & secure extra mesh to float on top & impede jumping. Thanks for jumpstarting my tired brain.

Have you successfully kept males together? I'm contemplating this. The 20g L I've planted & divided for them isn't clearing well w/the Seachem 35 Tidal in the centre chamber. The dividers are opaque plastic mesh. I'm guessing at this point I'm looking at having to either remove dividers or use separate filters & reconsider electricals w/the other tanks.

Thus far, they flip over, under or at the sides of the divider, swim to each other & do absolutely nothing aggressive - play in the guppy grass or push around the tiny bladder snails or just swim side by side. 20 some years of keeping these creatures & I've never seen anything like it.

If I leave these two in the 3g undivided & observed, maybe all 3 could ultimately go into the 20g long undivided, heavily planted with a back up 6g just in case? I've always kept bettas in separate tanks except for breeding but can't manage 3 more permanent tanks right now. Don't want to imperil the fish tho simply because I made a foolish decision.

Anybody else done this successfully?

Thanks Maddiegrace!

Of course! Yes, one thing that is generally true for DIY is that 'where there's a will, there's a way'!

There have been numerous discussions on FL about keeping multiple male bettas together. I was just trying to find one of the better threads so as to link it, but couldn't. Do some searching. The main takeaway is that it has been done, but that much boils down to the individual bettas and that there is a high chance of it ending badly; another takeaway as I recall is that things can go well for quite some time before ending in disaster (much like betta sororities). To me, a 20 g long seems too small to try this with--I probably would want a heavily planted 75 gallon as a minimum to even think about it for three. But then again, I have only dappled in bettas.

 

Have you successfully kept males together? I'm contemplating this. The 20g L I've planted & divided for them isn't clearing well w/the Seachem 35 Tidal in the centre chamber. The dividers are opaque plastic mesh. I'm guessing at this point I'm looking at having to either remove dividers or use separate filters & reconsider electricals w/the other tanks.

Thus far, they flip over, under or at the sides of the divider, swim to each other & do absolutely nothing aggressive - play in the guppy grass or push around the tiny bladder snails or just swim side by side. 20 some years of keeping these creatures & I've never seen anything like it.

If I leave these two in the 3g undivided & observed, maybe all 3 could ultimately go into the 20g long undivided, heavily planted with a back up 6g just in case? I've always kept bettas in separate tanks except for breeding but can't manage 3 more permanent tanks right now. Don't want to imperil the fish tho simply because I made a foolish decision.

Anybody else done this successfully?

Thanks Maddiegrace!

I personally haven't kept two males together, but I didn't help a friend keep his two males together. The key is to make sure they get along and have a heavily planted tank if possible. The second you see them nipping or flaring, be sure to separate. I think you'll be fine keeping them together if you know what you're doing! Honestly seems like a good idea if they truly like each other and get along! Good luck and feel free to do a bit of research too

 

Of course! Yes, one thing that is generally true for DIY is that 'where there's a will, there's a way'!

There have been numerous discussions on FL about keeping multiple male bettas together. I was just trying to find one of the better threads so as to link it, but couldn't. Do some searching. The main takeaway is that it has been done, but that much boils down to the individual bettas and that there is a high chance of it ending badly; another takeaway as I recall is that things can go well for quite some time before ending in disaster (much like betta sororities). To me, a 20 g long seems too small to try this with--I probably would want a heavily planted 75 gallon as a minimum to even think about it for three. But then again, I have only dappled in bettas.

Thank you. That's exactly why I'm hesitating. I've heard tell about it being done in 35g+ - not 20g, even long. I might have to resign myself to at least one housed in a 6g in another room - provided the 2 males playing best friends at the moment remain non-aggressive. Really appreciate your help.

I personally haven't kept two males together, but I didn't help a friend keep his two males together. The key is to make sure they get along and have a heavily planted tank if possible. The second you see them nipping or flaring, be sure to separate. I think you'll be fine keeping them together if you know what you're doing! Honestly seems like a good idea if they truly like each other and get along! Good luck and feel free to do a bit of research too

Thank you Maddiegrace. I think what I'm going to try is diying a better divider ready to jam in if I see any aggression with these two in the hospital tank & ready the 20 long for 2 bettas, keeping the 3rd in a separate 6g in a separate room for space & electrical safety. I tend to go wild with plants & tannins - like 80-90% plants but even with that, 3 might be too much in 20 gallons.

My brain is slow just now so I'm really grateful you & AP1 stepped up to help me sort this. It took all that to prime my brain pump to even pull out the new bag of purigen in my stores to clear the water in the 20Long. Sigh.

Christmas is coming, santa is still shopping & hauling out decor & I'm back to running 7 tanks atm instead of 5. If only the pet store had kept their betta where I could avoid seeing them & there hadn't been a conscientous employee on shift when I walked in!

Thanks again.

 

Of course! Just to confirm, is the betta a definite no-go in the other tanks? (you said you have 7, but I'm guessing that there is non-betta-compatible stock in the other 3-4?)

 

Of course! Just to confirm, is the betta a definite no-go in the other tanks? (you said you have 7, but I'm guessing that there is non-betta-compatible stock in the other 3-4?)

Yeah - I keep nano rasbora & other peaceful denizens in 3 of the tanks (shrimp, loaches), a pea puffer in one & a single aggressive betta surrender I chose to keep in another. I'll be at 7 permanent once the 20g & a 6g are set up for these guys. Short of the 9 I started out the summer with tho. Good question. If they were anything but bitty rasbora, I'd consider it. Appreciate the suggestion!

 

In that case, if it were me, I would honestly just put one betta up for adoption on craigs list or fb marketplace. Better to be sure of helping 2 (and ultimately really still 3, since the last would assumedly go to a good home) then to wind up trying to rescue 3 and winding up with 2 in a potential bloodbath situation (which would also be stress-inducing for you). If the betta was listed as free in the ad, you'd probably get multiple interested parties and could vet them to find someone who knows what they are doing.

 

In that case, if it were me, I would honestly just put one betta up for adoption on craigs list or fb marketplace. Better to be sure of helping 2 (and ultimately really still 3, since the last would assumedly go to a good home) then to wind up trying to rescue 3 and winding up with 2 in a potential bloodbath situation (which would also be stress-inducing for you). If the betta was listed as free in the ad, you'd probably get multiple interested parties and could vet them to find someone who knows what they are doing.

Good suggestion. My normal channels for rehoming surrenders are full-up right now. It was a busy summer for fairs handing out bettas & goldfish as prizes. :-( Using kijiji or something like it is possible. I appreciate not only the suggestion but the recognition of stress. Thank you for 'getting it' and helping so much.

 

Of course. And 'aargh!' regarding fairs and fish prizes!

 

Just an update....

Confirmed for me, after decades keeping the little critters, that male bettas cannot be kept together even in a 20 long & at least to my comfort level, even if that tank is well divided & heavily planted.

Transferred the two 'friendly' males to the 20 long with a secure divider ready to slip in. The first few hours were okay. The dominant male just cased the joint; the more submissive male chose his territory pretty quickly & stayed there... until the dominant scooted over, performing a magnificent flare & spread, grabbed the submissive by the tail, forced him to the substrate & appeared to try to drown him.

They were separated in a heartbeat & the DIY, tight fitting, opaque mesh divider came down. The dominant then spent *all* his time trying to get past that divider while the submissive hid on the other side. Don't know why, in a much smaller, unplanted hospital tank, neither of these two so much as burped at one another, but there it is. Not comfortable with the divider either given the constant flaring of the dominant & hiding of the submissive betta.

Reached out again & found a breeder two hours away wanting to take the two males now healed from their original fin rot. Delivered them & while there, bought half a dozen corydora agassizii to live with the marbled male. He lost another chunk of tail in the attack, but seems to be recovering his spirits & the rest of the tail is at the clear webbing stage of healing. He's paying the bumbling, highly amusing cory no mind, is back to hand feeding & now exploring every inch of the tank.

Thanks for your suggestions when my brain was unable to think. My housing betta in one tank aspirations are done & thankfully, with no deaths. Foolish human.

 

Cover your tanks.
They won't land in water every time they jump.
Just saying.

 

Cover your tanks.
They won't land in water every time they jump.
Just saying.

The corys or the betta? I keep bettas either covered or with a 2ish inch lip to water gap but I'm eyeing these cory acrobats skeptically. There's heavy floaters (largely guppy grass) as well as the gap on this tank. Are the the corys likely to launch themselves to disaster despite the gap?

 

Always a good idea to put two male bettas in a bigger tank.

 

Always a good idea to put two male bettas in a bigger tank.

Yeah. A 20 long, no matter how it's sectioned or how heavily planted wasn't going to work for them or me. Beguiled by a persuasive betta keeper's youtube tales & my own desire not to return to a multiple betta tanks operation.

Have you successfully kept males together in bigger tanks?

 

In my experience, Bettas do not get along for a decent period of time. When I first started keeping fish I had a male and a female and that did not end well. Honestly, I would get the division set up if it does not see about getting it to go all the way to the top. Usually bettas especially males will kill each other

 

In my experience, Bettas do not get along for a decent period of time. When I first started keeping fish I had a male and a female and that did not end well. Honestly, I would get the division set up if it does not see about getting it to go all the way to the top. Usually bettas especially males will kill each other

Thanks! I've kept betta for a lot of years but never contemplated co-housing until I was hit w/three ill males at once after giving away a bunch of equipment. 2 co-existed in a tiny, borrowed hospital 3 for a while, breaking down the flimsy manufactured barrier so much I just left them undivided w/nil aggression. Into the 20 long tho & wham! Aggression. I wasn't happy w/the aggression/submission even behind a sturdy divider tho.

The treated & healthy males were re-homed & the marble male healing more in the 20 long w/corys.

Long ago I kept some 1 male to 2 or more females tanks & that was relatively successful. No injuries but their life spans were notably shorter than when kept separately - like 2 yrs compared to 4 or 5. Must have been fever dreams that I even contemplated a permanent divided tank for 2 males knowing that!

 

Thanks! I've kept betta for a lot of years but never contemplated co-housing until I was hit w/three ill males at once after giving away a bunch of equipment. 2 co-existed in a tiny, borrowed hospital 3 for a while, breaking down the flimsy manufactured barrier so much I just left them undivided w/nil aggression. Into the 20 long tho & wham! Aggression. I wasn't happy w/the aggression/submission even behind a sturdy divider tho.

The treated & healthy males were re-homed & the marble male healing more in the 20 long w/corys.

Long ago I kept some 1 male to 2 or more females tanks & that was relatively successful. No injuries but their life spans were notably shorter than when kept separately - like 2 yrs compared to 4 or 5. Must have been fever dreams that I even contemplated a permanent divided tank for 2 males knowing that!

I have heard of several people keeping males in a divided tank, but in general, I would advise either heavy plants at the divider or a divider that cannot be seen through (i.e. dark plexiglass with some holes drilled in it for circulation) I tried a divided tank, but failed miserably as my divider never stayed in place -_-

 

I have heard of several people keeping males in a divided tank, but in general, I would advise either heavy plants at the divider or a divider that cannot be seen through (i.e. dark plexiglass with some holes drilled in it for circulation) I tried a divided tank, but failed miserably as my divider never stayed in place -_-

For me, neither completely opaque mesh or the heavy planting on & up against the divider did the trick. The DIY dividers stayed in place too, but the animals were super aware there were other males in the tank. Not glad either of us failed but feel better knowing I'm not the only one who tried. Thanks inari!

 

For me, neither completely opaque mesh or the heavy planting on & up against the divider did the trick. The DIY dividers stayed in place too, but the animals were super aware there were other males in the tank. Not glad either of us failed but feel better knowing I'm not the only one who tried. Thanks inari!

No worries! I have actually moved onto a new challenge of Angelfish -_- I had 4 one of them disappeared without a trace so now I'm down to 3 but they seem to be doing just fine. Not all fish are the same so keep that in mind as well

 

No worries! I have actually moved onto a new challenge of Angelfish -_- I had 4 one of them disappeared without a trace so now I'm down to 3 but they seem to be doing just fine. Not all fish are the same so keep that in mind as well

Holy. I swear I'm starting a new series on totally flamboyant fish that disappear in clear waters! My current challenge is pea puffers. They disappear into my overzealously planted & cave bedecked tank. For all I know, they've bred massively in the jungle or there's only a bloated single remaining, accounting for the daily dozens of gobbled snails. An angelfish tho .... I'm guessing UFO's & light transport? Good luck & thanks for the advice & convo!

 

Holy. I swear I'm starting a new series on totally flamboyant fish that disappear in clear waters! My current challenge is pea puffers. They disappear into my overzealously planted & cave bedecked tank. For all I know, they've bred massively in the jungle or there's only a bloated single remaining, accounting for the daily dozens of gobbled snails. An angelfish tho .... I'm guessing UFO's & light transport? Good luck & thanks for the advice & convo!

I also some how lost 2 corries and about half a dozen neon tetras....it's like they just evaporate, no ammonia spike, no remnants nothing!

 

I also some how lost 2 corries and about half a dozen neon tetras....it's like they just evaporate, no ammonia spike, no remnants nothing!

I'd love to blame that kind of thing on snails & shrimp vigorously tank cleaning but it happens too often in gastropod & invetebrate free tanks too. Close encounters ...

 

You can use porret sponges to divide tanks, add biological filtration and no one knows who is on the other side.
Mattenfilter Shop - SWISSTROPICALS
If you don't have a lid and you have missing fish I ask if you have a dog or cat?

Cover your tanks.
They won't land in water every time they jump.
Just saying.

 

You can use porret sponges to divide tanks, add biological filtration and no one knows who is on the other side.
Mattenfilter Shop - SWISSTROPICALS
If you don't have a lid and you have missing fish I ask if you have a dog or cat?

Fortunately I haven't experienced mysteriously missing aquatic animals but I sure have heard tales of AWOL fish without good explanations!

Thanks for the link for the mattenfilter. Lately I've been playing around with alternative filtration in new tanks & this looks interesting. Can't see it eliminating transfer of betta hormones as a divider, but it looks like it would be sturdier & easier bacterial media than the DIYs I've come up with! Thank you.