betta forum?/betta question

[surf city baby]

Didn't there used to be a betta forum?

Here are my questions.

I have two bettas. They're in big glass vases with hydroponic houseplants. (If you don't know what I mean I'll post a photo.) Their names are Boomer & Cruz, but I call them both Fishy-Fish. They go nuts when I talk to them. I really adore these guys. They have great personalities.

I'd like to get an aquarium for Fishy-Fishes, but I know they have to be separated. Does anyone know if they make a partitioned aquarium? For example, a 5- or 10-g with a glass pane in the middle, creating two separate living spaces?

I want my bettas to be as happy and healthy as possible. I think they can be happier & healthier in a flowing, filtered aquarium, and I want them to be able to fight for companionship. (A little anthropomorphism, I know.)

Finally, once I get them in an aquarium, what kind of plants should I introduce? I know in the wild, bettas live among roots....

thanks, folks. :cool:

[Sum-X]

There are plastic tank dividers you can purchase, for not more than like $10 or so...

As for plants, they like lower lighting, so maybe some floating plants, you could also get some easily thriving plants, such as Anacharis, and perhaps some Cabomba. Ideas are limitless.

[Dangerdoll]

just as a warning, make sure when you get the divider (provided they don't have predivided tanks) that the divider stands substantially out of the water. My sister had two betta's (Frankie & Ralphie) and wanted to do the same thing. She put the divider in, it was maybe a half inch (maybe a little less) over the water level and low and behold, I came home from work the next day and found Frankie on the other side and Ralphie a complete mess(AD). Keep an eye on them closely if ya do that as the temptation of seeing each other might be more than they could handle.

[ChilDawg]

There hasn't been a betta forum here since I've been here...perhaps you're thinking of Tom's Place or Practical Pet Care?

[Sum-X]

ya theres never been a Betta Forum on AC

[t_h_e_s_a_c_k]

i dont know much about bettas (planning on getting one for myself) but would't they go crazy trying to attack eachother through the divider if it were glass or transparent plastic?

[ChilDawg]

For a while, but they'd eventually just accept each other. To get the territoriality responses, you'd need to use an opaque divider in conjunction with the transparent one and remove it at irregular intervals. The "card" (as the opaque divider is often called) will remove the constant low-level stress of having the other fish permanently in view.

[Sum-X]

Originally posted by ChilDawg
For a while, but they'd eventually just accept each other. To get the territoriality responses, you'd need to use an opaque divider in conjunction with the transparent one and remove it at irregular intervals. The "card" (as the opaque divider is often called) will remove the constant low-level stress of having the other fish permanently in view.

very well put, thats how i would have said it.

[ChilDawg]

Thank you very much, Sum-X. Since I have such great respect for you, that means a lot. :)

[Sum-X]

Originally posted by ChilDawg
Thank you very much, Sum-X. Since I have such great respect for you, that means a lot. :)

lol great respect? is that a joke? :D :confused:

[ChilDawg]

Not a joke. I was being honest...I've seen your "greatest hits" post-wise, and you definitely know what you're doing!

[Sum-X]

Well then thanks a lot man! :)

[Dahlia]

I think the Eclipse mini-bow 5 comes with a divider... one of those little prepackaged Eclipse tanks does. At the LFS they have it on display with 2 bettas in it and the divider in the middle.

[ChilDawg]

Pretty much any of the Mini-Bow-type aquaria have dividers now a days...but the dividers probably aren't high enough...the kicker is that some do extend to the tank lid, so check that out before you buy one...otherwise you might have two Bettas in an essentially half-sized aquarium.