Topic: Keeping Males Side By Side?

[AquaGoldie]

I have 2 male bettas and 1 female betta.  My male and female are in bowls side by side but I have a piece of cardboard in between so they won't see each other and she won't get stimulated. My other male is in another bowl in another room.  I was wondering though can I put my 2 males together side by side?  I thought this wasn't a good idea for males to see each other constantly because then they will get frustrated, is this true?

[skyebloo]

No, its not bad. It would ahve the same effect as if your bettas are in a divided tank. My 3 males are in a divided tank and non of them seem to be stressed.

[afterdark]

I agree with skye... they may flare up a storm for a few days, but the activity between them will slowly die down. Eventually they may flare occasionaly or not at all. Right now 2 of my males are having a contest to see who can make the biggest bubble nest in their tank.

Just a little note though: If you put them next to eachother you'll want to put a cover over their bowls to make sure they don't try to jump out.

[skyebloo]

^ That is exactly what Skye Bloo (before i put him in the isolation tank...) and Crimson were doing. It was really interesting to watch. Crimson won in the end, his was HUGE ! And really deep too !

[Squeek]

Oh yeah, not a problem...3/4 of my boys are next to eachother and there is no problem whatsoever! yes they did have a massive flare-off in the beginning, but now they just occasionally get worked up! It gives them something to do and stops them from being depressed!

[AquaGoldie]

OK thanks so I will put my two males side by side.  My bowls are covered with saran wrap.  Will that be enough to stop them from jumping out?

How about the female, is it best for her to be isolated from the males since I am not breeding them now?

[Snapple]

I don't think it would hurt her to be near the males. She just might get a little fat every now and then. Before I turned my 10g to a sorority I had a divider in it for Halloween on the smaller side and Freckles had the other 2/3rds with the guppies. She was so cute, she'd swim along the divider with him flaring at her. She seemed to be saying 'Na Na NaNa Na You can't get me!'

[AquaGoldie]

I guess your right Snapple.She is  seperated from the males now and she is fat, so I guess if the same thing happens when she is next to them then it shouldn't be a problem for her.

[firestar]

Just poke a couple of small holes in the Saran wrap so there is some air flow.

[AquaGoldie]

Definitely, that was the first thing I did.  I don't want  my "babies" to suffocate.