Okay, I think I have a solution. I am going to move my new betta to my 10 gallon tank for now. Hopefully he will be okay when the new glolight tetra come home. Cross my fingers. I am going to turn down the heater just a little so that the transition will be easier. This afternoon I am going to start removing water from his tank and replacing it with water from the 10 gallon until he is totally in that water. Then I will put him in the 10 gallon.

Major Questions:

-That tank has a little freshwater salt in it, will he be okay or should I remove some water and replace? There is probably about 1 and 1/2 tbsp in there.

-There is a bio-wheel, will this be a major threat to him or do I need to do anything special to protect him? I removed air stones that agitate the other end so that end is pretty still.

-I am going to remove everything except the gravel, a smooth rock arch, and I have about 5 silk plants I can put in for now. I am thinking about trying to do some live plants in there. Will he be okay in the meantime? I think the rocks in there now would be too sharp, so I am taking them out.

-Will I still be able to feed him okay by just sticking my finger in to get his attention and then giving food once he reaches the top, or will I need to do something special?

-Do you think he will be okay once the glolight tetra come home, or should I maybe do some other type of tetra or small fish?

Thank Y'all so much! I am hoping that this will work out better for him.

Sorry I started a new thread but I had some specific questions.

Help anyone?

I'm gonna skip the glolight tetra idea. I'm going to put him in there, and if I want something else, I will probably divide the tank and get another betta. Each betta would have 5 filtered and heated gallons. I'm working on a divider and decor plan. Or I may just leave him in all 10 gallons- he'll be in 10 gallons for now anyway . . .

I think you'll do fine with your last idea. Having two Betta's would be cool. I think you have the right idea prepping the tank for your Betta too.

The salt should be perfectly fine, it'll only help kill bacteria and calm him a bit in his new surroundings.

The bio-wheel should be perfectly fine for the betta, as long as the current isn't too strong, but in a ten gallon, it should be fine.

Taking the sharp rocks out is a good idea, you don't want him tearing his delicate fins :D The arch is fine, as are the silk plants. A little terracotta pot "cave" would probably be cute as well. My boys love them! :D

I wouldn't really do tetras as they've been known to nip, but otos would be fine, however, the divided idea is a great one. It's what I'm getting ready to do to my ten gallon!

As for feeding, he can smell the food in the water, and he'll be able to find the food quickly. Try to feed him when he's looking up at the top, or drop it right above his nose to ensure that you catch his attention, he'll be sure to go for it right away. If he doesn't eat too much the first few days it'll be because he's just getting used to his new ginormous betta house!!

I may be wrong but I thought I read somewhere that if you divide the two bettas, they are not supposed to be able to see each other. Not sure where I read it.

Well, I'm working on making silk plants following your instructions, jdizine! The are going to be down the sides of their dividers to at least give them somewhere to get away from the view of their "neighbor." I may give a peep-hole to where they can watch each other and then just see what happens. I'll make sure that they are comfortable with each other or I will entirely block their line of vision for a while.

Worse case scenario, one of them will go into my 1.7 gallon tank until I find solution.

Hakkobetta- I noticed that you have some betta in 1 gallon tanks, how does that work out for him? I originally put him in the 1.7 gallon tank that I bought, and then I read that he might not be happy there. Do your 1 gallons have heaters?

Just trying to get some more info. :D

I don't know if y'all saw my other thread, but last night I had a problem with him and the bio-wheel. I figured it would be a no-brainer for him, but he kept getting too close to the biowheel, then he would start gushing off in the current, then he would freak out and get dangerously close to the intake with his delicate fins.

I ended up putting a little piece of nylon stocking over the intake just to protect him.

He has some damaged fins from when I bought him, will these heal and is there anything special I can do for him?

Sorry for the novel! :lol: But this is my first betta!

Here is a quick pic or his fin-damage. This is the best I got with my quick pictures just now. As you can see he was very still and cooperative. <_< [/URL][/IMG]

The tank is not rearranged for him yet.

I have several varieties of one gals, I have two of the aquascene triangle shaped ones, and then several kritter keeper gallon sizes.

The triangle tanks have lights, so that keeps the water pretty warm. A heater in a one gallon isn't advised, it can get too warm and crisp your bettas fins. My one gallon with my steel blue VT in it is my favorite tank, lol. I decorated it just right, and it just makes me happy to look at it! :D

My other one gallons employ the "desk lamp behind the tank method", to keep the water warm enough. Normally I'll settle for a nice 75-76 degrees, even though they prefer warmer. Although bettas prefer warmer water, they can do quite well in cold climes. You can also either wrap a towel around the tank or try a heating pad set on low, as long as you're watching the temp of the water. I've actually always wanted to try sticking one of those eight hour heating pads on the bottom of the tanks to see how they work since it would involve less electrical outlets.

My boys really enjoy one gallons. It is the minimum requirement for betta living, and changes are a little more frequent, but other that that, they enjoy their little kingdoms.

As for a 1.7 gallon, that's plenty of water for a betta. Betta paradise is considered five gallons pretty much, and a single betta in a ten gallon is wonderful.

As for the dividers, it's okay to have them where they can see eachother. Flaring produces endorphins in betta males and females, which makes them feel good. It's actually healthy for them to flare several times a day, it helps them liven things up a bit. The idea for the peep hole is good. I wouldn't necessarily say you have to close the whole divider off, but several well placed plants will be just fine. Most of the time I keep paper in between tanks that I know contain very angry bettas, then move the paper for a time each day, at least five to ten minutes. Flaring definitely makes healthy and happy bettas. Flaring too long though (in excess of forty-five minutes to an hour) can cause the fins to split in fish with weaker fins, some males never have the problem though.

As for the fin damage on your boy (his coloring is lovely!!) putting some bettafix in the water will help them grow back really quickly. Also, to make sure that it's not the onset of finrot or something like that, I'd add about five tsps or more of aquarium salt to the water to keep the bacteria at bay. It looks like general fin damage that comes with transport sometimes though, so I wouldn't really worry about it.

Also, what'd you name him? :D