Stressful or good exercise?

[Weaver]

Ive put 2 of my bettas in adjoining tanks
They have flared at each other constantly all day
Do you think this is stressful or not?
Should I block their view of each other,at least for some of the day?
Cheers

 

[Booboo puppy]

After my experience on Wednesday, when I sat my two bettas next to each other for a few minutes and then George apparently chewed up his own tail, I will not be letting them see each other again. I suspect it depends on the individual bettas.

 

[Naughtygirlrlw]

I have all my bettas set up so they can see each other. I tried to space out their tanks one time and they all got 'mopey' so I put them back together. I think it just depends on the personality of the fish.

 

[FishEnthusiast]

I keep my bettas side by side, but off set, so they can't always see eachother. This reduces the amount of flaring, but still gives them exercise. After a while they will get used to eachother and will ignore eachother. At least that has been my experience. I have had them in a divided tank, and when the divider was clear they flared constantly. It appeared to be stressing them, so I used craft canvas instead, and the aggression died down considerably.

It really does depend on the fish. If you don't want to move the tanks, you can "card" them. Just slide a peice of paper in between the tanks, that way they get some rest.

 

[3neko]

All of my bettas are within seeing distance of one another. They've gotten used to one another enough that there is minimal flaring. Once in a while Saburo or Pooky gets hyper and flares at the other, but it doesn't last long and they go back to their lives after their little contest.

 

[bkk_group]

don't let them see each other all the time unless you want docile, wimpy, lazy fish.
card them by all means but also give them time to flare every day, no more than an 1/2 hour to hour tops. if you make it a routine the fish will get used to it too and really put an effort into showing off.
for the mental health of the fish make sure they are in a quiet environment. if you keep them next to the stereo or tv or where people are walking by all the time your fish will not be happy, he or she will get tired and ultimately become more prone to disease. i really believe in training the fish by carding especially if they are show quality or even pets.

 

[JackDemp528]

Mine are all set up in rows on a shelf in my "betta hallway". And they don't always see eachother but can when they want to. I think they enjoy it.

 

[Alix]

my bettas dont eat when the books arnt between them!

 

[SPLiSH]

Jeremiah and Pearls' tanks are about 3 inches apart, and they are in full view of each other. For the first day or so, Jerry went nuts: bubblenesting like mad, swimming twice his normal speed and flaring. Pearl swam frantically up and down the glass trying to reach Jerry. The next day they only stopped and stared at each other when they saw each other, then after 5 seconds or so went away. Now they completely ignore each other. I believe, as most people have said, that it comes down to the nature of the fish.

 

[SRC]

Mine can't see each other...but I'm sure they know they are there (all in the same tank and all). They get to see each other usually once a day (except weekends) for about an hour or so.