Moving fish between tanks

thekoimaiden

I bought some bettas (2 males; beautiful creatures) about a month back but had to keep them in bowls ( I know). Now that I have the table space, I need to move them. I have three options:

1. put the bettas in the 10 gal where my black kuhli loaches currently are and move the loaches to the 25 gal that recently became free of fish;
2. set up another 10 gal for the bettas and leave the loaches where they are;
3. put the bettas in the 25 gal and leave the loaches where they are.

Setting up another 10 gal would require me to buy another filter and another heater, and cash is a little tight right now. If anything goes in the 25 gal I need to buy a heater (previously had coldwater species in it). The loaches have been in their current 10 gal tank for about 5 years and have NEVER given me trouble; I'm worried that moving them will stress them out too much. I really love those little eely guys and don't want anything to happen to them. But I need to get my bettas into a suitable home. What do you guys think I should do? I'm caught between a rock and a hard place.

Groovysunflowers

I have no clue about Betta ANYTHING, as I have never cared for bettas, but i do have a Kuhli Loach and I dont see any reason why you would have to move them at all...It seems easier for you to just leave them where they are...im sure the bettas would leave them alone, provided they have plants and hiding places?

KendraMc

you aren't planning on putting the bettas together, are you? because they will fight and one will probably die, if not both.

Groovysunflowers

That's exactly what i though, too.

Byron

Yes, two male betta in the same tank will mean the death of one sooner rather than later, and highly stressed fish in the interim. A 10g with a divider would work, but not with the loaches as then they would be divided.

With the tanks you have, the probable best action would be a divider for the 10g with the two Betta, and the loaches to the 25g.

thekoimaiden

Oh don't worry. I've had bettas before (forgot to mention the divider thing; I kinda assumed people would know). I'm not a novice, but I'm no veteran either. I wasn't planning on putting the bettas and the loaches together because of the divider issue. Loaches are social, and I don't want them to be separated.

Another reason I would move the loaches to the 25 gal is that I plan to add more tank mates (more kuhlis + something that people can actually see) when I get the funds. It would also be the least expensive. But I'm still afraid that stress of the move will cause disease in the loaches. I've never had any trouble with them before, and I really don't want any now.

PS. Anyone know the average life span of Pangio oblonga? I've had mine for 5 years now. If they're nearing the end of their life expectancy I don't think I'll move them.

Byron

I have no personal experience, but have read varying numbers from 5-8 up to 11 years.