Betta Barracks

[BettaBoyz]

for those who don't know, the Betta Barracks is a long plastic thing that can be seperated into four compartments, made to house male Bettas safely side by side. there's a 'hood' with a hole for each compartment, and smaller holes drilled into the 'front' for circulation. it can be suctioned to the side of any larger glass tank.

because our water died, i had to move my Boyz and Grrl into my Barracks, of course i covered the dividers with aluminum foil so no one gets stressed. i'm beginning to think of leaving them in there, though. in their own tanks the temperature wavers, in the fifty it stays constant. they get light, and clean water, and they get to see the goings-on of the tank and chat with their neighbors. all three Boyz have nests built- something i've never seen King Tut or Flashy achieve (usually it's a bubble here, a bubble there...) and everyone seems happy- even though they're living in roughly 2"x3"x2.5" of water! Rinkee adores prancing before her foil, checking her little fishie self out in her own personal 'mirror'; King loves to show off for the Platties and make sure they know he's a BIG TOUGH fish; Flash likes to watch bits of vegetation float by, and nibble on shrimp feet; and Roc just seems to like the clean and light, as he was in a teeny teeny little tank before i brought him home.

do you think it would be cruel to keep them here permanently? the only thing i have against it is space; but none of them seem to mind. they'll get all the good stuff, and this will leave my .5g's open for QT and hospital tanks, so i can cure anyone of anything without worry once we get water back. PLUS this gives me the option of a few more close-quartered Bettas to add spice to the fifty.

good idea, or bad idea?

 

[shrks1fan]

IMO, barracks are only for raising Juvis, not to be used as permanent homes. Even though they can "survive" in such a small space, it's just not a very good home for them, they want room to swim around like all other fish, and I also think it would shorten their lives in such cramped quarters their whole lives. But that's just my opinion.

Linda

 

[Flowerpetal]

I'm not a big fan of betta barracks. My concern also with them is the suction cup. If the suction comes loose and the bettas are able to get out it is not going to be pretty at all. Since you had to do it for your water problems it is ok but once that is solved they might be happier in something bigger.

All my bettas are in homes that are one gallon or more. In the future I am going to split a ten gallon for them.

 

[JobySp]

I placed a Betta Barracks in my fry tank with a males Betta whilst I was sorting out their other tank - and I didn't notice that the suction cups came off...

Needless to say - I had less fry and one happy Betta!

 

[wuvmybetta]

lol Joby

Yeah, I must agree, they're too risky (from what I hear) even you have had them slip before bb'z, just chunk the betta barracks and put them back in their homes.

 

[Auratus]

If the dividers remove maybe you can just pick one and keep him in there. Even if the suction cups came off only one betta would get out.

 

[wuvmybetta]

Good idea Auratus!!

Do they come out BB'z?

 

[Butterfly Betta]

For the suction cups, you could use an aquarium sealant and stick a piece of glass underneath the barracks and a little upright.

So that it kind of looks like a sideways "L".


That way, if the suction cups gave way, there is no chance of the barracks falling much lower than where they should be.


Just a thought.

 

[BettaBoyz]

thanks for all your input, guys. i found out why it fell the first time, and it was my fault- i didn't *click* the suction cup in! actually, now i can't get the damn thing to come apart unless i slide the cups out of the water and yank

i might just buy a second barracks, and divide them halfway- then just keep the quartet in larger quarters, but still seperated and in the safety of the fifty.

more space, a little over a quarts worth, methinks. only thing i ever had against a quart of Betta water was the water change schedule

edit: actually, i could get four seperate Barracks and keep one in each. i just checked out the fifty, and i can fit two in front and one on each side! MORE space, and they still get stuff! i might even be able to put some floating silk plants, or really light silkies, in for them =)