Hello! Sorry if it was asked before, but I'm thinking of getting bettas and have a 60l fish tank. I figure most people suggest 30l for a betta so I thought maybe it's possible to install a divider in the middle and get 2 bettas? Would it have to be opaque? Would I need to get 2 heaters? Is this even possible, or a really bad idea...?
Hello there Anon! It hasn’t been asked before, but if you’ve ever got a question (even if it’s been asked+answered before) don’t hesitate to ask! :)Is it possible to install a divider in the middle and get 2 bettas? Is this even possible, or a really bad idea…? 60l is about 15 US gallons, so 30L is roughly 7.5 US gallons, and that’s a great size for a betta! :D You could definitely do a divided tank if you wanted to ^-^ I know that some keepers are either very anti-divided tank or have had bad experiences with divided tanks. However, I’ve met just as many people who have had no problems with a divided tank. More info on this below.Would it have to be opaque?Yes! more info on that below :)Would I need to get 2 heaters?2 heaters is a good idea :p It allows the water to heat more evenly ^-^If you only wanted 1 heater, though, i’d say to put it either in the filter (if possible) or near the middle of the tank.2 filters is also a good idea! either 2 small hobs, or 2 small sponge filters :p If you used a mini canister filter, you could put the intake on one side and the output on the other to direct the water’s flow, though :p in a divided tank, 2 filters ensures that the water on both sides is filtered evenly and there are less dead spots ^-^ If you only wanted 1 filter, though, I’d recommend putting it near the middle of the tank or moving the filter between both sections at least once a week, to help lessen the chance of dead spots in the tank.’more info on that below’The risks you take with a divided tank are:1 bettas getting around the divider2 illess spreading from one betta to another3 stressed fishTo mitigate these risks:1 bettas getting around the divider- silicone in a permanent divider (usually a glass or acrylic panel. These types of dividers can have drilled holes to allow water circulation between the two sections or can be left solid, creating two completely separate tanks)- ensure that the divider you use has no gaps around the sides, and isn’t easily pushed over or moved- keep the water level low and the divider high (some fish will jump over the divider, so keeping the water level lower and using a divider thats as tall as possible will help keep your fish in their designated sections. Short-finned bettas are more prone to jumping than long-finned bettas.)2 illess spreading from one betta to another- use a permanent divider with no drilled holes- quarantine any new tank editions prior to adding them to the tank3 stressed fish- don’t use a clear divider (bettas that can see each other may become stressed by constantly flaring and displaying)- don’t house 1 male next to 1 female unless you use a permanent divider with no water circulation holes (I’ve heard that males and females shouldn’t share water, and I’ve also heard that males and females sharing water is fine but I don’t know who’s right since I haven’t seen any scientific evidence that either side it correct, so I err on the side of caution in this situation and dont recommend housing males and females in divided tanks that share water)/* If anyone has a divided tank and would like to share some tips, or corrections, please feel free to leave a comment, reblog, or let me know! :) */
