[MAP]

Hi there!

Hope you are all doing excellently well!

I have a 16 gallon, well planted tank (small front plants and bigger plants in the back) with also driftwood (2 good chunks) and moss (christmas and java fern moss) that currently houses 2 betta females. I was wondering if such sized tanks would require me to
1- just leave these two beauties alone living their happy lives enjoying the space (as I intend to do, except if I get good opposite advice from this amazing communitiy - and I always do )?
2 - add some more bettas to reform a sorority (though I fear that would mean needless stress and agression) or donate one betta to prevent them from fighting (which they do a little sometimes but not verry often at the moment)?
3- add some other tankmates for company (neons, or dalmatian mollies, or....)?

A bit of information regarding why there are only two bettas at the present time: It was a 6-headed sorority in january, but unfortunately, due to a a tragic incident 3 were killed due/ following to tap-water problems as there was an issue that was fixed in our building without the company telling us that they used chemicals to clean the water afterwards; chemicals that proved to be fatal when waterchanging, even with accurate treatment when the incident was identified.
one was unfortunately a jumper who managed to escape the lid

I'm very grateful for the very good advice I have always received from this amazing community!
Many thanks in advance!

 

[JackTheCaptain]

Hi
If it were me, since I'm not one who adds other types of fish to my betta tanks plus yours isn't an oversized tank, I'd probably leave these two as is

 

[MAP]

Hi
If it were me, since I'm not one who adds other types of fish to my betta tanks plus yours isn't an oversized tank, I'd probably leave these two as is

Hi
Even if I heard here on the forum that an actual sorority should never go below 4-6 individuals? Then it's sold for me! I love bettas over any other fish, because they're so curious! I was just worried they would get bored or agressive in such big space. thanks a lot again for your kind advice

 

[JackTheCaptain]

I love bettas over any other fish,

I do too - they're so unique in their abilities to swim, -- in a way they remind me of hummingbirds

an actual sorority should never go below 4-6 individuals

I think they'll probably be fine. Just keep an eye out for any signs of stress, and you can always add some tannins for calm. Some people put in a clean pingpong ball or two now and then for interest and to see if they'll play with them, and there's also a floating betta log.

 

[MAP]

I do too - they're so unique in their abilities to swim, -- in a way they remind me of hummingbirds


I think they'll probably be fine. Just keep an eye out for any signs of stress, and you can always add some tannins for calm. Some people put in a clean pingpong ball or two now and then for interest and to see if they'll play with them, and there's also a floating betta log.

Hi,

Unfortunately I saw a lot of agression today from the yellow female against the white-blue female. This cannot be good in the long term. Tomorrow I will have to find a solution (maybe I'll try switching my male with the yellow female, both male and white-blue female are verry shy so maybe this will be for the better until I do some changes (either get one or the two females away, either add tankmates)

 

[JackTheCaptain]

Drat, that's too bad. Your solution sounds good, or maybe divide the tank and have one female on either side?

 

[Feanor]

Sorry, if I got this wrong:

You want to replace your male with the yellow female?

 

[BettaloverSara]

I would try putting a divider. I do not believe you will have success with any two betta in the same 16 gallon tank.

 

[MAP]

Drat, that's too bad. Your solution sounds good, or maybe divide the tank and have one female on either side?

Hi, hereby a photo of my thank (sorry if it is bad, there has been some brown algae recently and there is tanin from catapa leaves)....

As you see I have the problem that the middle of my thank is a bunch of root full of moss and plants (linke a mountain of driftwood with unerneath a tunnel where they can swim trough (they love it). Difficult to put a divider so what I am doing now is thinking hard to find another solution

 

[MAP]

I would try putting a divider. I do not believe you will have success with any two betta in the same 16 gallon tank.

Hi, regarding the hereabove photos of the tank, if you see how to fit a divider i'm all in for it!

 

[MAP]

Sorry, if I got this wrong:

You want to replace your male with the yellow female?

Well the male is shy as hell so there is a small probability wont bother the other white female who is equally shy.
If he does like her that would be very nice but in all his existence here he flares very few and hasn't shown agression.
(as said before, he's a rescue with a very tragic history of abuse)

 

[JackTheCaptain]

What a gorgeous tank!

There's a plastic mesh that you might be able to obtain, it is stiff enough to stand up by itself but flexible. Is it possible that you could divide the tank along its length curving the mesh around the driftwood, so that one female is on the driftwood side and the other is on the other side?

 

[MAP]

What a gorgeous tank!

There's a plastic mesh that you might be able to obtain, it is stiff enough to stand up by itself but flexible. Is it possible that you could divide the tank along its length curving the mesh around the driftwood, so that one female is on the driftwood side and the other is on the other side?

Hi, I have plastic mesh but it is impossible to cut as to be able to go around the driftwood without harming plants or moss, and there will always be ways for one of the betta to enter or exit?

 

[JackTheCaptain]

I see, I didn't know for sure. (--That certainly is a lovely setup )

 

[MAP]

I see, I didn't know for sure. (--That certainly is a lovely setup )

for now they are all 3 in separated tank (one is to see if my iridescent white blue and my betta will like each other)
If they do I will then put them both in the 16 gallon tank while the yellow female will go in the shrimp tank. And then....well see

 

[Feanor]

Sorry, you can‘t put a male with the female.

Introduction to Betta Fish Care

 

[MAP]

Sorry, you can‘t put a male with the female.

Introduction to Betta Fish Care

You can only If they have been introducted before and you want them to have little betta's together.
For now my male has its own tank and that's how it will stay