Dividers

[alessasavoca]

ok- I was wondering, how available are dividers for tanks and how do you stop the bettas from seeing eachother all the time?

 

[dthoffsett]

You should be able to pick up a divider at your LFS with no problem. I like the platic pieces that give support to the divider, but don't like the actual divider piece itself. IMO its too flimsy and the holes are too small, so I replaced mine with plastic canvas used in art projects. I know you can completely DIY a divider, but I'm not sure if you can do it without siliconing it in place witch I didn't want to do. As far as keeping them from seeing each other, you can put plants on either side of the divider to limit the view, I did that for awhile, then slowly started moving the plants as they got used to seeing each other. I now have nothing on either side of the divider and they completely ignore each other. That worked for me, but it really just depends on the individual betta.

In this pic you can see the original divider material on the upper right.

Here's a pic of what the plastic canvas looked like before I cut it down.

 

[Myrrh]

I have used "waterproof" bandages (they come individually-sized and in rolls for atheletes) for underwater art-related projects (I work in stained glass and metals, so sometimes stuff has to be placed in water). They're sterile, so they're probably okay; you can always call the company (listed on every package, and on the web!) to find out what exactly is in the product: adhesive, etc., to make sure it won't harm your fishie.

As for an opaque divider: You can pick up a plastic file folder or thingie to hold papers at your local office supply store or $1 store (my fave place for getting turkey basters!). They're easy to cut to size, and can be taped to a clear divider with double-sided tape, or used alone with waterproof bandaging! They're cheap-- a buck or two, and come in many colours. Let us know what you come up with.

 

[zoekin8yg]

My dividers we made ourselves from perspex they have holes drilled in and are sanded on both sides to make them opaque

 

[alessasavoca]

ok thanks guys I will do some hunting! I like the idea of the plastic canvas, also because it isn't so rigid, so i can make it fit more snuggly (as my DIY skills are not very good and wesley's are even worse!

Thanks!

(any more pics of other peoples are greatly appreciated!)

 

[zippa]

In this pic you can see the original divider material on the upper right.

Here's a pic of what the plastic canvas looked like before I cut it down.



i have the same divider as you have in your top pic. what i did to stop them seeing each other was take a piece of sand paper to it. worked a treat

 

[Danno]

All-glass makes a 10 gallon extra extra long tank. It came with 4 dividers inside it for free (promo deal) and they desided to roll with it. Keep an eye out for one at the pet shop for it

If you can't do that look for croshey base-plastic. That and silicone always works.

 

[Biulu]

I had a friend making me a perspex divider with holes drilled into it. I didn't silicone it, since it was made to fit. Already after a few hours they were bored of looking at each other, and they are acting as if the other one is not there.

 

[Kaz1814]

I made perspex ones too, It is a pig to cut though, used a jig-saw and the heat made it fuse together as soon as i'd cut it
Really pleased with the result and can't wait for the new filter to arrive so i can get it up and running. Need more Betta's!!!!!!!

Karen

 

[Betta5]

Would this work?

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/INSECT-REPTILE-FLY-V...1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Biulu]

If you find a good way of attaching it, I think it would be good.

 

[liz2]

i did one really quickly by using aqua glue and putting those plastic things you put papers in to make a booklet.cant think what the proper word is. I then got some plastic canvas from art shop and slid it in the middle. It isnt as good as one I got years ago from a lfs but it works.

 

[Amerce]

All my tanks use plastic canvas and the spines for booklets, easy to do and I just buy tubes of Everbuild AquaMate, always have a tube or two to hand for emergencies cause of the number of tanks I have.

Plastic canvas can be bought from Hobbycraft and the plastic spines (which I sand first to provide extra grip before glueing them into the tank) come from Office World or even Staples office suppliers. The Aquamate I get from a builders merchants I know who buy them in for me.

It's a lot cheaper to buy and fit your own dividers (make them specific for your tanks) than to buy the pre-made stuff which are rubbish to fit.