Tank Divider?

[FishySarah]

Well, my molly gave birth last night, and this morning I could not find a single baby molly in the tank. It is as I feared- they have been eaten, probably by my barbs, black skirts and/or gourami. I am hoping that there may be one or two survivors hiding but I'm not getting my hopes up.

I want to see if I can save some from her next drop. Well, another tank is out of the question, and so is a breeding net (Mollies are much too big, it would stress her too much) So the only option I can see is a tank divider. I could move her when she's about to give birth and then raise the babies.

So I found two online. Has anyone had any experience with one of them?

http/www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18275/si1379379/cl0/pennplaxtankdividerextralarge

http/www.bigalsonline.com/StoreCatalog/ctl3684/cp18275/si1380080/cl1/lees_aquarium_divider2955_gallon?&query=tank+divider&queryType=0&hits=12&offset=

Or of course I could try to make one- I read something about crafting one out of the things you get in a craft store for needlepoint and fishing line.

Has anyone had any experiences with tank dividers and can help me?

 

[chigwellhammer]

I haven't but i hear most people use these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/JAD-GUPPY-HAT...pplies_Fish&hash=item3a5872cb4c#ht_1197wt_911

 

[aly_starh]

hi, for my male betta divided tank i used cross stitch grids with plastic paper binders. They worked well.

Although for live bearer fry i would use the above link or you could use a 2L pop bottle (top spout cut off and out of water) with lots of holes popped on the sides which are big enough for fry to go through but not adult fish. Feed the fry in this bottle so they will knwo its a safe spot.

 

[VaegaVic]

I would really suggest this as opposed to those silly little breeding traps.

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/Betta-Container-Siamese-Fighting-Fish-Separator-/250645435635?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item3a5ba1d4f3#ht_1010wt_1137

 

[Jenste]

I would really suggest this as opposed to those silly little breeding traps.

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/Betta-Container-Siamese-Fighting-Fish-Separator-/250645435635?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item3a5ba1d4f3#ht_1010wt_1137

this is even worse than the breeding trap - - each fish is given about 2 inches of space, even if you remove the dividers, you only have a width of 1.5 - 2.5 inches, not enough for a molly to turn around in!!!

 

[VaegaVic]

It's the length of 2/3 breeding traps put together..
I know, as I have one..

 

[Jenste]

how big is the main tank?

what you could do is go out and get one of those critter keepers, and put it IN the main tank, filled 5/6 of the way with the tank water and an airstone, plenty of plants floating for cover. this way the surrounding main tank water (level may have to be dropped a bit to be beneath the level in the critter keeper) maintains the temp of the water in the critter keeper, it would stress the molly out much less by leaving her plenty of swimming room, with her being able to see the tank she is most used to . you also will not have to worry about the fry swimming though the little gaps in the divider. once the mama is done giving birth, you quickly and easily move her back to the main part of the tank, and now the fry have a decent sized little tank, with temp regulated, to grow a bit in. this also makes the fish very used to seeing fry without being able to eat fry.

 

[Jenste]

googling the dimensions of that type of divider, it is about 16 inches long X 2 inches WIDE X 4 inches high....the length is only nice thing, the 2 inches wide is not acceptable at all for pregnant molly. she would not be able to turn around (assuming she is close to adulthood), and there is not need to make her additionally stressed while preparing for birth

 

[VaegaVic]

googling the dimensions of that type of divider, it is about 16 inches long X 2 inches WIDE X 4 inches high....the length is only nice thing, the 2 inches wide is not acceptable at all for pregnant molly. she would not be able to turn around (assuming she is close to adulthood), and there is not need to make her additionally stressed while preparing for birth

How odd, mine's 3 inches wide..which is wider than the breeding traps.
Fair enough, don't buy that EXACT one, but still...you know..

 

[FishySarah]

This is what I tried.

I have a little one gallon betta tank, which I put in the big tank and propped up on a rock (its a 55 gallon tank, but on the rock the one gallon container fits with the top just above the surface, had to drop the level a bit, but its ok.

Only problem- no filter in the tank and thus no air circulation. If I change 50% of the water every day that the fry are in there, do you think it will work without a filter? A gallon isn't huge, but its much better than the breeding trap.

 

[aly_starh]

googling the dimensions of that type of divider, it is about 16 inches long X 2 inches WIDE X 4 inches high....the length is only nice thing, the 2 inches wide is not acceptable at all for pregnant molly. she would not be able to turn around (assuming she is close to adulthood), and there is not need to make her additionally stressed while preparing for birth

How odd, mine's 3 inches wide..which is wider than the breeding traps.
Fair enough, don't buy that EXACT one, but still...you know..

Exactly, i also have that for betta fry.

And TBH, i have kept a female betta in one of those for about 1 week as there was aggression in the tank and she was fine. And female bettas are large.

Its entirley up to the OP on what they choose to use. Its just a suggestion.

 

[Jenste]

Could u possibly put an air stone in the 1 gallon with the mama?