How Do You Have More Than One Betta? Aquarium Questions.

[PeachesNCream]

Ok - so after reading these posts, It seems to me that everyone agrees the smallest tank for a male betta is 5 gallons. Betta's also need heaters and preferably a filter.
 
So how do you do it? How do you have more than 2 betta and not have a house full of tanks? or is that the only way to go? I currently have 7 betta in individual tanks and its killing me! I want to get more betta just because I LOVE them, but having all these individual tanks and things to plug in is not good for my apartment lol. So, how do you do it? I mean is it all big tanks and dividers or are there like multi-tanks, share your wisdom!!!
 
 

 

[Paradise3]

A lot of people divide bigger tanks like 2ft into 4 sections to house 4 males. Females can be kept together so you can get a 3ft and have a decent group of females easily.

 

[Wildbetta]

Larger cycled tanks are easier to maintain.  I recommend divided tanks as they have a better chance for a more stable enviroment.  I have had 6 males in a 20 gallon long tank with two sponge filters and one central heater.  Using a material like craft mesh for the dividers lets the airflow and heat go all over the tank with no problems.  With a bigger divided tank, water changes are easier to keep up with and from personal opinion--the males are less bored (for the ones that tend to have boredom issues).  Although this could be an issue with some males that stress easy and shred their tails because of that response so be aware that this is not an option for every betta.
 
Females are good canidates for sorority tanks but caution does have to be maintained as these are not easy tanks to keep.  They are a like a volcano with the ability to explode at anytime without warning.  When one goes good it is an awesome tank to have with tons of colorful beauties and active curious fish.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Well there are lots of Betta species, not just splendens. Betta imbellis can be kept in mixed sex groups in the same tank. I did this for a couple of years and got fry.
 
There are about 70 described species and another 6 undescribed. http/www.ibcbettas.org/smp/species/index.html

 

[PeachesNCream]

Thanks! So I've tried dividers before in a ten gallon split in half, but I had the problem of one jumping over and attacking while I was at school. So instead of buying the typical fich store divider is there something else I could Use?

 

[attibones]

You could attach the typical divider to either a glass or screen cover suitable for your tank size. If a betta tried to jump, he'd be unable to access to other half of the tank. Screen would be easiest. Depending on the divider, you may be able to use wooden craft dowels to secure the bottom of the screen cover to the top of the dowel, and use fishing like to tie the screen to different sections of the dowel for security.

 

[Wildbetta]

When I divided my tanks, I used craft mesh -- you find in the crafting section of a store like Walmart and suction cups.  If you make sure the divider comes to the very top of your tank and you keep your water level around an inch lower than the top of the divider -- you should be able to keep them from wanting to jump.    You can also use pieces of plexiglass/acrylic cut to size with tiny holes in the divider to let water flow through. 
 
TTA is also correct about the other species of bettas that are available.  The majority of bettas I keep are wild species and can be kept in species tanks without the worry of having them kill each other (most of the time).  That is how I can have as many as I do.