Poor Little Lapis D:

[LyraGuppi]

One of my sorority girls, Lapis, is not in the best shape. She's the smallest and I believe youngest out of the bunch (She's probably a juvi), and on top of all that the most recent. She's a inch long, with mustard gas coloration.
 
She isn't lethargic, she eats well, and isn't fin rotting, but almost always has her stress stripes on. It's sad to see. Her fins are also torn up, and some of her scales are beat up.
 
I want to drop her out of the sorority. I think the stress on her may weaken her immune system, and with those torn fins, fin rot may say "Oh hai!" to me again

 
I have a spare 5 gallon, and the 10 gallon Azul is in. I have a heater for the 5 gallon, and I could buy a filter, but I wanted to save that tank for a Hospital tank. I could divide the 10 gallon, but Azul seems to enjoy all the room. He is a big fish.
 
I'm kinda stuck. Any suggestions?

 

[attibones]

Check Craigslist or thrift shops? You could pick up an inexpensive small tank. Or depending on your location, I've got a spare ten gallon I don't need.
Or if you've got a Rubbermaid tub available, set one up as a tank. They work well enough, though aren't as pretty.

 

[LyraGuppi]

Over sleeping on it, I have an idea. I could buy one of these* and use it as a hospital tank, and put Lapis in the 5 gallon. I would just need to buy a heater and filter for it, and that's no problem.
 
*http/www.amazon.com/Rubbermaid-2970-AR-WHT-2970-AR-WHT-Dishpan/dp/B000UGN82G/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1422369862&sr=8-9&keywords=rubbermaid+tub
 
A question, would Lapis live her whole life out in the 5 gal, or would she be moved back to the sorority after she's healed and grown?
Another, could I simply put the new filter sponge into the 10 gallon for a few weeks, then take it over to the 5 gallon?

 

[AshleyNZ]

Also, MG (Mustard Gas) is a copyrighted trademark by Jude Als. The actual Mustard Gas line has gone extinct, so I highly doubt you have a real Mustard Gas
More information : http/www.bettysplendens.com/what-is-a-mustard-gas-betta.html
 
Anyways, I kind of have the same issue. I got four bettas from a breeder, one male, three females. Well, the one said to be male is the only female. So one of the betta died, and I wasnt sure at the time why, apart from a few torn fins. I posted a picture of my "females" in my community tank to learn they are males. Anyway, I have one tiny male, and a larger male and female. I have set up an 8G to house the smallest one, and I think that is the best move I can make right now. I have never seen the female, or the small one without stress stripes
 
The stress of moving is alot better than the stress of being harassed/bullied IMO. 

 

[LyraGuppi]

Thanks, I guess it's just the angle of the lighting. 
 
She's definitely a female, I check for ovipositors  often.
 
I think I'll carry out my plan.