Is this true?

[afireinside]

I read that if you put two bettas next to each other, and they flare, but are in seprate tanks, their fins get more impressive and they get healtheir. Is that true? Some one on the forum told me that, I just don't remember who.

 

[OrkyBetta]

Yes this is generally true. Just don't do it for too long or else you stress the fish out. A "healthy" flare keeps them amused and alert.

 

[afireinside]

Amused and alert? Please tell more, as I do not catch on fast.

 

[Ben]

It keeps them happy and makes them more aware of other bettas.
Just like we do exercise and go for walks to keep happy and fit, Bettas flare.

DD

 

[Ethos]

I know I had to place a peice of paper inbetween my 2 betta tanks when I was moving because I didin't think it'd be health for them to be flarring all week.
The sat in my parents room on top of their TV for like...ever.
They were Happy to move into there new homes....
I hope atleast.
I've never heard it was actully health for a betta to flare..but I guess it makes sence..

 

[afireinside]

Ok, so how long a day do you recromend it? I'm trying to get Emeralds, Kings, and Rockets fins nicer lookin.

 

[Ethos]

Just a random guess - I'd say less than 15 minuets...maybe 8-10?
Correct me if I'm wrong..

 

[afireinside]

Uh oh, i've had them for over an hour.

 

[Ethos]

Hmhmhm...That'd might be stressing it. I think they'll be fine. No really damage done. Just make sure they're in the dark tonight.
My room never gets too dark, but dark ebnough for me to sleep, and I dont usually fall asleep to easily.
I love "Overnighters", but usualy me and my friends dont sleep.
We laught and tell secrets, its almost like a girls sleepover, minus the makeup and the sleeping.
We watch finny movies...ect.
Little off topic.
I maybe completely wrong with my estimate of 8-10.
It could be up to 2 hours of so!

 

[afireinside]

My room gets pitch black in the night.

 

[SRC]

I believe it was me that told you that...in your thread in the member's tanks.
I told you to put your fish where they could see each other to take pictures of them...that it would deepen theri colors and make them look better.

Letting them Flare at each other everyday or every other is very good for them. It's basically exercise for fish. They are like people in that if they never exercise they get lazy, and lazy fish are easier to turn into sick fish imo.
An active fish is a healthy fish, a depressed, lazy, bored fish is not.

I let mine see each other until they get tired of it. You can tell when one of them is tired of it..they will find a spot to get where they can't see the other fish.
It's a good idea when letting them see each other that you have a plant in there where they can get away when they need to.
15-30 min is a good time frame though...if you wanted to start a daily schedule for them.

They do need some dark time, as with everything else..they need rest also. You can't get much rest when the lights are on all the time you know. I'd say they need at elast 4-6 hours of "rest" time to keep them in optimal health.

 

[jollysue]

Well I guess I will have to move my veil tail boys into separate tanks, then They have been in a split tank since Bryan, formerly known as Jack, and Samson arrived. They spend all day glaring at one another. Especially since I moved Cracker into the sorority tank.

Bryan and Samson can see each other (about a foot apart), but they are much more interested in the girls right behind them and trying to keep their nests together.

 

[SRC]

If they are already use to one another it isn't going to hurt anything. As long as they have a way to get some privacy when they decide they need it, they should be fine.

Most people dont want to keep their boys close by and seeing each other all the time because after a while...they won't flare anymore..they tend to "get used to" seeing them.

And then some people say that letting their boys see another boy too long makes them bite theri tails. You just have to watch them and see how they are reacting to teh situation.

With mine, after about 30-45 min....they are like "ehh" and go about their business lol. I usually take the dividers down when I get to work and leave them down until I go home (usually about 5-6 hours of dividerless time 4-5 days a week).

 

[jollysue]

So SRC some boys will live together more or less peacefully if there is enough room and some hidy spots? But a divider sould be up when there is no one to watch?

I kinda wondered how they survived in the little cups all crammed together on top of each other if they got over stimulated near one another.

My 3 girls are doing fine after the initial face offs.

 

[SRC]

Just depends on your fish. If you watch them and after an hour they have quit flaring and are just back to milling around..then yeah thy'd probably be fine to leave in view of each other.

Just later on when you actually want them to flar..they aren't going to lol....cas they're all like "oh, phhft it's just you Frank" *swims off**.

That is why alot of peopel are dissapointed in teh rWal-mart bettas. Becasue they won't flare and seem "docile". It's because they have gotten used to seeing the other guys and they don't bother them anymore.

You can make them more aggressive again though...just leave them where they can't see any other fish for about a week..and they will start flaring again.