How Many Times Can I Divide This Tank?

[OldMan47]

I don't understand how the length to height enters into things Betta_246. We know full well that a Betta splendens can be kept with good success in a small container, like a gallon or two, so how does the height ratio enter into things? We are not talking about a breeding situation where the height is reduced to reduce the work the male must do to tend the nest, we are talking about a multiple fish divided tank with decent filtration and a good heater, at last I thought so.

 

[Rezatii]

I think Betta_246 was reffering to how betta's prefer a longer tank to a taller tank because of 1) increased gaseous exchange and 2) because it's easier to get to the surface to breath

 

[aly_starh]

yeh, thats what i meant, thanks Rezz for clearing that up. i thought the OP, would have known what i was talking about, which is why i never went into detail with it.

**********--Im not flaming but can i just point out;- I have had 4 bettas in total, i have researched hell of a lot about them, so i wouldn't give someone advice which i thought was wrong or incorrect in anyway. I have also dedicated a website to them, which i wouldn't have started if i knew nothing about them. The website is doing well, so there is obviously people who trust my advice.

Its things like this that make you not want to carry on giving advice to people on this forum, because people always stop you for everything you say.

And sorry, if i offend anyone, ramble over.

 

[lilacamy931]

I have to agree with "if its temporary" but you have to also consider what happens with sick fish, treating, will you be held responsible? The more water given them the better health they are likely to maintain. I would keep up on water quality even with fully cycled filters..Just consider all aspects before diving in, are there others that can also temporarily hold them so they have enough space at all?

 

[Honeythorn]

2.5 gallons is lots of space for a betta... Isn't that what is recommended ??

No it isn't. Not remotely. And no, I would absolutely not reccomend it at all for a permanent home.

Whilst 2.5 gals of in a divided tank can be done ( though I never ever ever would in a million years as I find it abhorrent ) - since the tank should be well heated and filtered with a spray bar attatchment to deflect and regulate the flow and heat into the sections, a 2.5 gal tank on it's own is more difficult to keep stable ( requires far more water changes which are stressful ) and find decent basic equipment for even if filtered and heated.

 

[Just_Another_One]

2.5 gallons is lots of space for a betta... Isn't that what is recommended ??

No it isn't. Not remotely. And no, I would absolutely not reccomend it at all for a permanent home.

Whilst 2.5 gals of in a divided tank can be done ( though I never ever ever would in a million years as I find it abhorrent ) - since the tank should be well heated and filtered with a spray bar attatchment to deflect and regulate the flow and heat into the sections, a 2.5 gal tank on it's own is more difficult to keep stable ( requires far more water changes which are stressful ) and find decent basic equipment for even if filtered and heated.

lol actually 2.5 gallons IS enough for a betta. Would you rather have them kept in the 1/4 gallon "tanks" that you find in the LFS

I've kept my first betta alive for 4 years now in 2.5 gallon's. Its heated but no filter. They get full water changes once a week. None of my bettas have ever gotten a diesese or been sick either so I don't see whats so bad about a 2.5gallon tank. Surely if it was soooo bad he would of died 3 and a half years ago.

 

[Honeythorn]

I didn't say it couldn't be done. In fact if you read the post again I said it could. I have NEVER said it can't be done, only that it shouldn't since it is not enough swimming space and ammonia will build quicker in such a tiny amount of water espescially if it's not filtered. Have you ever tested your water right before doing a water change? You cannot possibly tell me it contains no ammonia.

If it does contain any ( and after a week it will more than likely do ) then you are subjecting your fish to their own waste products which is known to cause disease. No yours haven't become sick yet, but that doesn't mean they won't, since ammonia and nitrites in noticeable levels are one of the biggest causes of diseases in fish (not just bettas). They certainly should not be exposed to ammonia and nitrites like that. Fish can adapt to water with ammonia present , many goldfish have endured and a tough fish of any sort will do the same. This does not mean it should.

Yes 2.5 is better than a cup or whatever, but this does not automatically make it a decent amount of water or a safe to manage amount. It should be cycled and filtered to provide a stable environment and keep ammonia at the lowest possible levels before water changes. Having a labyrinth organ does not make these fish magically immune to their own waste. Their finnage may have been bred to be longer and more fancy than their wild counterparts but their internal organs and bodies still function in exactly the same way as any other anabantid.

If you keep them that way then fair enough, that doesn't make it the safe thing to do for the fish nor does it mean I have to agree with it.

 

[OldMan47]

You certainly do not need to agree with others Honeythorn. Each of us finds our own way to care for fish that works for us. I find that I really enjoy keeping my bettas in community situations and they live long and healthy lives. I do not require that most people give up their prejudices that say bettas are not good community fish. I find that in my tanks they are very good community citizens but we each have our own experiences to go by. I have read many threads where folks deplored decent flows in a betta tank because they somehow thought of their bettas as some kind of cripple that could not handle decent filter flows, that is not my experience with them. I have also read tons of threads right here in the betta section that described the male betta as some kind of aggressive beast that could not properly share quarters with other fish, again it runs counter to my experiences. I truly enjoy my bettas. While sitting here typing this I looked over at my 45 gallon endler tank and saw my blue veil tail playing in the canister return flow with some of the endlers. Two years ago that same betta was sharing a 10 gallon with some endlers and had a filter driven by a power head in his tank. At that time he got much more of a workout than he does today. There was no place to hide for long from the current in that tank and everyone in it got a decent workout. I would not hesitate to keep a betta alone in a 2.5 gallon tank as far as the size is concerned. The only thing that would bother me about that would be having a betta with no company. I find their personalities come out more when they have tank mates to share their space with. My fish are not decorations or displays where I must keep a single fish alone or fear that he will interact. Bettas in the company of other fish do more than swim to the glass and flare, they are real live fish if you give them a chance to have a normal life.

 

[Amberleaf]

Well said, Oldman, well said.

Umm....

Oh, right! Yeah, this is what I was going to say: First of all, STOP YELLING. Quit arguing with each other, and try to give the OP the best advice possible. Aside from that....

I kept Mr. Wimpy Fish in a 2.5-gallon which was non-heated, AND, non-filtered; and I only moved him out when he had some weird growth parasite-thingy in his gill. Once I moved him to a heated tank, well.... The thing just.... Well, it disappeared. Other than that, he would've lived in it for quite some time. However, I found myself wanting another Betta -- so I divided the 5.5-gallon tank that he lived in then, and turned it into 2 2.5-gallon sections. I must say, 2.5-gallons is *quite* a LOT of a space for a Betta. Now -- because of the internal filter (I looooove Tetra Whispers <3), it's true that Libra doesn't have much swimming space. He doesn't *MIND*. He enjoys either napping curled up around the stalks of his plant (green cabomba), or, when he's not doing that, he's checking out my room, looking at me, or, when the lights are off, flaring at Mr. Wimpy Fish. Naughty boys. XD Anywhoo.... I do not see what your problem with keeping Bettas in 2-2.5-gallon tanks is. It works for me; it will continue to work for me -- and, I must say, this 2.5-gallon tank was what started all this with the bowls and whatnot in my house. ^^; Now, my Mom uses it for floating candles (no fish ), but.... Still. ^^;