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If I were to put two males in a 5 gallon, with a divider, would it be too stressful on them?

If I did this, I'm thinking I would like to make my own divider that is siliconed in the front and back of tank. I'm thinking I could use Plexiglass or some other acrylic and drill holes into it.

However, I think this divider needs to be semi-permanent. If I need to service the UGF, which is what will be running (great for bettas I'm finding), I can't have it in permanently. The UGF will be running on an Azoo Battery Backup Air Pump to ensure no interruption should power be lost (which solves the biggest reason I avoided UGF's).

[link=http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=8120&N=2004+113402]http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=8120&N=2004+113402" style="COLOR: #C000C0[/link]

Of the dividers I've seen on the market, all look too cheesy. I tried one with tracks a while back and it was not only too flimsy, but it was ugly as sin .

I'm open to any ideas that would make it asthetically pleasing. If you know of a product that is good, link me to it.

Pictures would be appreciated.

Most of all, I need my initial question answered about whether the two boys - one red, one blue, would be under constant or high stress in the same water together, despite the divider.

Thanks

Diane

Well first of about them being in the same tank, IMO there is plenty of room for them both. Your only concerns would be a disease in the tank, which would more than likely infect both Bettas and the fact that they would be in constant view of each other which is probably not the best.
As far as the divider goes , I was actually going to suggest that flimsy divider you mentioned. I tried to do exactly what you talked about with the plexiglass, and although it is possible, it's very difficult to get nice clean holes in plexiglass without cracking it. It would have looked great if the plexiglass didn't crack on every hole I tried to drill. I tried a couple of different things and ended up back at those flimsy dividers. If you take your time and cut it just right it is quite nice looking and very functional. Good luck in what you decide. I though I had a pic of it but I don't

EDIT: Something else to think about would be to omit the UGF, as it is not really neccessary for Bettas and would be very tough to cycle a 5 gallon anyway. This would open the door for a permanent divider of maybe glass sealed in with aquarium silicone. Then just a couple of large plants and a couple of hiding spots so that they are not under each others watch 24/7...Just a thought



Last edited by Jessnick at 06-Apr-2005 18:34

Hey Diane!!!

It sounds like you are planning on doing what I did to a 10 gallon for 2 of my betta boys (now wishing I hadn't been lazy and made it for three) But, in all honesty I am quite happy with my ten gallon divider creation and I use it with my UGF, it didn't cost much to make, wasn't really too incredibly hard or time consuming maybe 5 hrs? and that was with little one up and about, and me up and running around

My hardest part was I forgot about the heater and where to place it...I've managed to place it on the wall of one side and it is heating the tank quite well....

No the 2 boys don't constantly flair at each other...though they do on occassion, and I'm planning on adding some plants to the divider, and have thought about adding the java moss to it, to grow *shrug* still haven't decided yet though. Of course having them both in the same tank can create the problem of shared sickness, but this is with every tank, and is something I was willing to risk, for the benefit of having a less expensive set up for more than one betta...though I really like my 2.5 gallon tank for one betta, let's face it $20 can get me the room for 4 bettas ...So Diane without further ado, I shall show you the pictures I have of my set up...heidi



heidi attached this image:


"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

note to the above it is plastic canvas 7 or 8 count, and is sewn together with fishing line...I have the back and bottom sewn together. I added the bottom to give it stability. The top is actually 1 thin piece along the back (about 1/3 of the width). Then another piece that is half the length sewn down the middle to the divider and back section. and 2 more sections just over 1/3 the length sewn to the back only--this is the flaps I use for feeding and cleaning, along with any other maintenance. The divider is sewn to the top middle and back section, the back, and the bottom...It is stable, and occassionally when the bettas notice that their tanks have visitors they have tried to go around it, but have yet to be successful, so I really don't see it happening.

The key to putting it together is to have your tank beside you while you are cutting the plastic canvas, and cut it a couple squares larger than you think it might need to be, you can always trim...I tended to place it in the tank as I was sewing it to be sure it was fitting

And once everything is sewn place it in the tank on top of the UGF and add your gravel...the gravel holds everything that might have even thought about being loose solid...well that's what I have done, and will more than likely do again...Leslie helped me plan it out, so I owe her lots of thanks too...

Here is a picture of Kelpie, and Surprise in their home, before I added more gravel...

heidi

heidi attached this image:


"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

The boys get used to each other after a few days. Provide areas for them to recoup

EDIT:
Dividers made of plastic canvas and fitted with poster hangers for rigidity. base buried in gravel on top of UGF and held steady up the top with 'runners' made from glass gems siliconed on to the glass.

Callatya attached this image:


Last edited by Callatya at 07-Apr-2005 00:59[/font]

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

Interesting ideas people. .

I'm finding that my boys aren't liking the small, filtered containers. While they don't appear stressed, both have experienced tail fin meltdown now. I believe it is stress related. Neither of them had this when in a gravel-less, unfiltered container. So, either bacteria is building in these things despite partial water changes every 3-4 days or the temp is swinging and stressing them.

Ruby had a good reason to stress - he almost got sucked up the gravel tube. What I don't know is if I caught a piece of his tail to begin the meltdown. But he had two close calls in a matter of about 3 second as I tried to get away from him.

Hmmmm.....wonders if dresser will collapse under weight of a 10 gallon

Last edited by Cory_Di at 07-Apr-2005 10:22

Dianemy dresser never collapsed under the weight of 2-10 gallons You've got to do something, and well you know, I'd treat him with some melafix...do something...heidi

Calla, where do you get the poster hangers? and by glass gems do you mean the ones that look like smashed marbles? that would be so much easier...

Last edited by heidi at 07-Apr-2005 19:26

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

Heidi - I inspected the dresser some time ago with the drawers out and discovered that it is merely stapled, and in a flimsy way I may add. For drawers it's ok, but to put 100 1bs on it is another story.

I am using Bettafix atm for both and it seems to be helping. Neither fish did this (fin melt) while in the 2 gallon containers where water was changed weekly. Ruby did it when he was neglected before I took him and he was in putrid water for 2 weeks. But Ruben wasn't neglected. It was 1-2 days after I got him into the new tank that his tail fin just melted away - not enough time for bad bacteria to develop. It seemed to stop with Bettamax, then he went through another episode again a week later. Now Ruby gets nearly sucked up the tube and I find her tail fin going through a meltdown the following day.

There's not a lot of current either - it's really low flow.