Need Advice On Dividing Tanks

[GuppyGoddess]

Hi everyone,

Right now I have five bettas:

Female in 10 gallon (w/heater/filter)
Female in 3 gallon (w/heater/filter)
Male in 5 gallon (w/heater/filter)
Male in 5 gallon (w/heater/filter)
Male in 2 gallon (w/heater only - 7.5 watt - helps but isn't raising temp high enough)

I plan to divide up my 10-gallon into two sides and move one of my other bettas into that. I'm considering either the female in the 3-gallon or the male in the 2-gallon (if I moved the female, I'd move the male to the 3-gallon so no matter what, no betta will be in the 2-gallon - I'm getting rid of that.)

The three questions I have are:

Which would be less stressful for the fish. . .having two females side-by-side or having one male and one female? The female in the 10-gallon was VERY sensitive to stress and whenever I've added other fish to her tank, she's turned pale blue. Now, by herself, she's a deep rich blue so I know she's going to have to have a low-stress situation.

What is the best way of dividing? Taking the female out. . .then do I need to rearrange the tank before dividing? The decorations I have are designed so I can only do so much moving around. How do I adjust the girl in there?

And, also re: water. Should I change the water right before adding the second fish or should I change the water then let it sit a day or two? Right now the tank is NOT cycling and once I add the second, hopefully it does! Normally I do about a 1/4 water change every 4-5 days.

Thanks for help.

 

[Zenandra]

If your female is easily stressed it would probably be the best idea to move the other female in with her, it would be much less stressful then having a big old male flaring at her all the time.

Take the fish out and drain the tank, it will be much easier to divide the tank and rearrange it without any water in it. Remember to bury the divider into the gravel a bit so no sneaky fish can shimmy underneath it.

Add all of you conditioners and such when you fill the tank back up, as well as some aquarium salt (its a great stress reducer) and add both fish at the same time that way they are both on neutral ground, neither will have an established territory that they will feel the immediate need to defend.

Here's a crappy picture of my divided 10gal

 

[GuppyGoddess]

Okay, thanks. Draining the entire tank is necessary?

 

[Honeythorn]

You'll have to completely empty and drain the tank and dry it. You need a dry surface to apply the aquarium silicone to for the plastic runners to stay in place. After you've siliconed them on you need to leave them overnight to cure. Then you can put the mesh divider in .

You should put the divider in BEFORE adding gravel or sand substrate back in. The substrate will help hold the mesh upright and also stop bettas squeezing underneath.

As for heaters , some choose to put them in one section, others cut the divider very carefully to pass the heater through so it rests in both setions. You have to cut the mesh enough for the heater to pass through witout touching, but not enough for a betta to squeeze through the gap. That gap should be no more than a couple of millimetres so you have to be very precise.

It's easier to have the heater in one section and make sure water flows over to both sides.

Most people filter one side of the divide, since the water passes through the mesh both sides get filtered ( make sure to clean it periodically of any bit and debris to make sure flow still goes through )

Depending on what sort of filter you have, it may be best to attatch a spray bar so the outflow goes into both section equally. Just face the holes at the back to deflect current.

 

[Jonty]

Just to say that I'd keep the 2 gal in case one Betta in the devided tank falls ill and needs to be quarantined.