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I have a 2.5 gallon Mini-Bow aquarium, currently housing my female guppy...but I was looking for something bigger for her (and possibly a few friends). This leaves me wondering about the Mini-Bow.

This aquarium comes with a divider, specifically for the purpose of housing two bettas...I'm really wary about this (perhaps because ths guppies always find some way to swim around the divider), and am also worried that the bettas might be able to jump out via the space where the lid doesn't completely cover the top of the tank.

Can anyone who has also owned this type of aquarium give me some advice? I'm also worried about the filter's current stressing any betta that I put in this tank, regardless of what side of the divider it would be on.

My betta (Sparky) lives in a 2.5 minibow tank.

I don't use the divider, for several reasons. First, it really doesn't provide any space at all. Second, it is seethrough, causing stress if two bettas see each other all the time.

I don't use the filter it came with. My betta didn't really like the current, and I found no practical use for it as I do 100% water changes once a week.

HTH

Yes, the tetra whisper filters those mini bows come with are far to strong for bettas, even on the lowest setting, your pretty much better off just changing the water like in a regular bowl.

Their divider isn't good either, my 2 bettas used to be able to slip past it.

I would stick with 1 betta, or the 1 Guppy, if you have the 2G, if you have the 5G you could go along with perhaps 2 Guppies.

Another consideration would be livebearer endlers or Killifish.

Just don't use the divider. That tank isn't really all that big and one nice male will enjoy it very much. I use the whisper filter that came with it and just turned it down to the lowest setting. My betta often plays with his food in the current. I think whether or not you use a filter sometimes depends on the individual fish and your preference.

Another vote against the divider. Not only can the bettas get past it (saw a male and female chasing each other from one side to the other in a store and complained. The clerk's reply? "Well, they both can get by, so it's safe!", but it lets disease flow right back and forth, and bettas are famous for passing stuff to each other.

-Molly
Visit shelldwellers.com!

My son has a 2.5g Mini-Bow, one betta, doesn't use the divider. He does use the filter though and I have to say it's one of the happiest looking bettas I've ever seen

~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is water at the bottom of the ocean

I'm with Theresa, I use it for my betta with the filter on the lowest setting, and he still makes betta nests that take up a whole half of the tank. The filter doesnt bother him at all, he actually likes swimming behind it. My tank didnt even come with a divider though. I would def. suggest putting your betta in it.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Wow! Awesome, guys - thanks for the input!!

As for the filter, I'm thinking that when I finally get my guppy moved out of the Mini-Bow, I'm going to put the betta on the side of the divider that's farthest away from the filter's current for a day or so, just to get him acclimated, then remove the divider and see how he does. I tried this with my guppies (one on each side, until the male slipped past the divider to join his girl, who he had been following around ) and it worked pretty well.

But again, it depends on the temperament of whatever betta I get But just one for this tank...I'll probably end up bringing home more than one (or another snail!) and putting them elsewhere though.

I have a minibow and my betta loves the current. It's hardly anything. I have the setting on the second from the lowest. A filter with a gentle current seems better than stagnant water in this size of a tank IMO. I wouldn't do 100% water changes every week on a 2.5 either.

[span class="edited"][Edited by Jubilee 2004-08-03 07:13][/span]