Divided Aquarium. Betta's not getting along!

[bettabeauty]

I have a 6 gallon aquarium that i have divided with one betta on each side.

One betta is totally chill with the whole idea. The other one is constantly flairing and trying to push through the divider to fight the other guy!

How many days do I give them to warm up to one another before I move one of them to a different home?

I put them in Thursday night...

[doggyhog]

Give it about a week more. They should calm down soon.

[ChristinaRoss]

ya i agree with doggyhogg

[BettaxFishxCrazy]

Yeah, usually by a week or two they get used to it. Putting plants up against the divider helps also.

[dh5daaaccfdd]

You sould NOT have bettas in the same tank even with a divider.

[BettaxFishxCrazy]

Some people think it's mean to put two bettas in the same tank even with a divider because they are fighting fish, but that's your opinion. I've had my first two together for over a year and they actually get depressed when I move them apart. When I put my first two together my thoughts were, well they flare at their reflection, so what does it hurt to put another fish beside them when they're just going to flare anyways? In a week or two they calm down and they don't mind it. My first two barely flare at each other and I have some that never flare anymore. Even though they do occasionally flare, they realize that they can't get past the divider so they get over it. I do think that they enjoy each others company. I read somewhere that they rarely kill each other in the wild, the only reason why they kill in tanks is because they can't get away once their done bullying. I don't know if this is true or not, but it kind of makes sense.

[bettabeauty]

Ah, well they've finally calmed down. They still flare a little but it is nothing like it was a few days ago. Actually, in a weird way they seem to becoming buddies... I came in the room the other day and both of them were resting/sleeping on two leaves right across from each other.

[dramaqueen]

There is nothing wrong with putting two males in the same tank as long as it's divided. They'll flare at each other for awhile but they get used to each other.

[sandystar]

Originally Posted by BettaxFishxCrazy

I read somewhere that they rarely kill each other in the wild, the only reason why they kill in tanks is because they can't get away once their done bullying. I don't know if this is true or not, but it kind of makes sense.

According to The Betta Handbook by Robert J. Goldstein, Ph.D you are correct. That in the wild the defeated male retreats and relocates. And in the Animal Planet book for Aquarium care of Bettas they suggest that flaring is a good exorcize for the bettas.

:) I like books, but I do agree that either keeping multiple bettas in one tank with dividers or having tanks next to each other is a personal choice. There is no right or wrong too it.

[doggyhog]

Originally Posted by dh5daaaccfdd

You sould NOT have bettas in the same tank even with a divider.

Actually, mine do fine!! I have three males in a divided tank and they actually like the company. :)