Can I start a 5 gallon community tank with betta

[Spirit]

I'm new to fish world. I an plannin on getting a ten gallon tank and dividing it in half.

Then starting a community tank with my two bettas (both are male. Hits the divider) is this a good idea with five gallons on each side of the divider?

What are good fish to go with my boys?

 

[trash.binh91]

No fish at all, communities normally start around the 10-gallon mark.

 

[Colin_T]

Hi and welcome to the forum

A 5 gallon tank is too small for general aquarium fish and whilst a male Betta can live in it, there is insufficient room to safely house other fishes with him. In addition to this, having 2 male Bettas next to each other where they can see each other all the time, is stressful to the fish. Male Bettas have territories about 2 feet in diameter. When another male comes into his territory they fight and one usually swims away, or one gets killed. After the fight there is time (days or even weeks) before another male will come into the territory and another fight occurs.

If you have 2 male Bettas in tanks next to each other and they can see each other, there will be constant stress with each male trying to drive the other out of its territory. This constant stress produces hormones that will shorten the fish's lifespan.

If you want 2 male Bettas, keep them in separate tanks next to each other and have a piece of black card between the 2 tanks so the fish can't see each other. Then several times a week you can remove the card and allow the fish to see one another. They will show off and try to kill each other but won't be able to do any physical harm. After 15 minutes or so you put the card back between the 2 tanks and leave it there for a few more days to a week. Each male will think it has driven the other male away and strut around the tank feeling like a big man.

This way of keeping Bettas allows them to display and fight over a territory once or twice a week and be rested and relaxed for the rest of the time.

If you want a community tank, get a tank that is 3 foot long and keep community fishes in that and keep the Betta in the 10 gallon with a few shrimp and maybe a mystery/ apple snail

 

[Spirit]

Colin,

First off let me clearify the divider I'm planning are getting is black verses clear.

Second, I have no intention to put my boys in the same tank without a divider in place. To keep then from killing one another.

Third, when brough Ying and Yang they where right next to each other in their little clear cups, without a divider.

Forth, I'm on a fixed income and I can't afford much right now. Just spent the last of my cash on a heater. I going to have to wait to get the everything I need for a bigger tank till about the first. I may end up getting a second ten gallon tank. But that is a few months down the road

They are in a 2.5 and 1.5 gallon tanks. If a five gallon I can't do a community tank that is fine. They are getting an upgrade to both of their tanks with some live plants.

 

[Colin_T]

If the divider is black and they can't see each other then that is fine.

The shops have male Bettas in small clear container next to each other so the fish display and people see them all colourful with their fins out and buy them. The other reason they keep them in small containers is because it is safer for the male if they are on their own and not in a community tank where their fins could be damaged. And shops do not always have sufficient tanks to hold lots of male Bettas, so keeping them in small containers on a shelf keeps them all together so customers can pick and choose, and so the fish have a relatively safe (albeit small) place to live while they are in the shop.

 

[NickAu]

If you want 2 male Bettas, keep them in separate tanks next to each other

Good advice, divided tanks are not great, if 1 fish gets sick usually they both do, two 5 gallon tanks side by side are best.