Betta "flaring" ?

[Deadline]

Hey guys, quick question.

I have a 10 gallon aquarium housing two male Bettas w/ divider of course! Now when I first got the tank, I had my one male betta in the whole 10 gallon, then about a week or two later I divided it in half and put my new betta in it. At first they both flared like normal, my original Betta would take huge gulps of air if he was flaring by the surface and blow the bubbles out, not sure if this was normal, the other one was not doing this at all.

Anyhow, now the new betta is still flaring about a week and a half later, but my older betta is not, but whenever he goes close to the divider (Which seems to be alot, I think he likes bothering my new betta) there are two lines on both sides of his head, on his gills, that lose all color and go completely pale. You can literally SEE the color fade from the two lines and come back when he moves away from the divider and the other betta. Is this just his way of "flaring" now? Also, when I was changing my female bettas tank the other day, I put her in a clear plastic cup, put the lid on and put her in the side of the tank with my old betta, he Flared like normal, gills out and everything, so I know he is capable of it... just lazy knowing the other betta cant get to him??

Sorry for the long question, guess it was not quick

 

[nicole1788]

If 2 male bettas can even see each other it can stress them out and they get puffed up. My friend had a betta tank with a divider and a blue piece that went through the two tanks..once you removed that blue piece and it was just the glass they both got puffy and flared. I dont know why your other fish wouldnt flare..maybe he just doesnt care.

 

[Deadline]

Figured he is just lazy, just wondering if the color fading in those two spots on his gills was normal or not.

 

[NinjaPirate]

Color fading is a sign of stress, usually. If you have nothing obscuring the divider, I would definitely consider adding a plant to partially obstruct the view so they don't come into contact all the time.

 

[platytetrafan]

yep my betta flared too when I tried to add a background to his tank he was not happy sorta looking at me like how dare you try to change my house lol. His gills faded in color too. From what I have read having two male bettas in the same tank will stress them out if they constantly see each other. I just bought another betta a crowntail and am gonna get a separate tank for him if you want to keep them in the same tank then definitely find something that will obscure their view of one another. Think less stress happier betta. Good luck!

 

[musho3210]

flare only maybe 15 minutes 3 times a week? (this is what i heard most people do)