LauraFrog
Fish Gatherer
Basically, I worked out how to make a set of plastic storage drawers (AU$25) house six bettas at a stretch or four comfortably.
There are two drawers inside a plastic case. This case keeps dust etc out, and heat and jumpy bettas in. Each drawer has three slots where dividers can be put. You can put a divider in the middle one or both the end ones, the first arrangement halving the drawer and the second cutting it in thirds. At a stretch you could keep six bettas in this thing, but I wouldn't do that unless I was totally desperate because that would make the divided sections too small. Each side holds about 2.5 gallons, so I wouldn't split it into three.
The dividers appear to me to be pretty tough. They have a split in them so there's a bit of give there, but I've whacked them with my fingers pretty hard and I don't think I can bust them. The container's roof stops bettas jumping the dividers. I'll give them a practical test later on - I'll put Valhalla in one side (that's where he's going to live) and Password in the other. Password can't stand to have another betta anywhere near him, he goes ballistic. If he can't knock it down, nothing can, so I'll test it out with him (standing there with a net of course!) Once there is gravel in it that will give the dividers even more stability. I reckon that with a decent light above it you could even grow some lowlight-tolerant plants (java moss, java fern, anubias nana) in it. I like it...
So... bettas can live without filters and in the tropics I don't need heaters really, but this could still be set up to take them or at the very least an airstone. It's only plastic - drill holes in it and poke the wiring through. The biggest problem is closing the drawers - you have to open them right out to feed the betta at the back and they are HEAVY - if you don't support the weight though, they just go flying. Then when you close them, the water sloshes everywhere if you aren't careful.
Anyway, what you all think? I think happy bettas!
There are two drawers inside a plastic case. This case keeps dust etc out, and heat and jumpy bettas in. Each drawer has three slots where dividers can be put. You can put a divider in the middle one or both the end ones, the first arrangement halving the drawer and the second cutting it in thirds. At a stretch you could keep six bettas in this thing, but I wouldn't do that unless I was totally desperate because that would make the divided sections too small. Each side holds about 2.5 gallons, so I wouldn't split it into three.
The dividers appear to me to be pretty tough. They have a split in them so there's a bit of give there, but I've whacked them with my fingers pretty hard and I don't think I can bust them. The container's roof stops bettas jumping the dividers. I'll give them a practical test later on - I'll put Valhalla in one side (that's where he's going to live) and Password in the other. Password can't stand to have another betta anywhere near him, he goes ballistic. If he can't knock it down, nothing can, so I'll test it out with him (standing there with a net of course!) Once there is gravel in it that will give the dividers even more stability. I reckon that with a decent light above it you could even grow some lowlight-tolerant plants (java moss, java fern, anubias nana) in it. I like it...
So... bettas can live without filters and in the tropics I don't need heaters really, but this could still be set up to take them or at the very least an airstone. It's only plastic - drill holes in it and poke the wiring through. The biggest problem is closing the drawers - you have to open them right out to feed the betta at the back and they are HEAVY - if you don't support the weight though, they just go flying. Then when you close them, the water sloshes everywhere if you aren't careful.
Anyway, what you all think? I think happy bettas!
