Who Gives A Fish Forums

The Story:

I set up a 10-gallon tank back in May, using some reused filter media from my main tank to get it cycled. I added one of my mystery snails to keep the wood pieces I bought free of that annoying white stuff. She's done a great job so far. Initially, I planned to turn this tank into a small community tank, but after browsing other aquarium forums and seeing those awesome divided betta tanks, I changed my mind. I've already built a DIY divider - it's sturdy, with double-layered mesh to allow water flow, but it's pretty hard to see through due to the small overlapping holes.

My Question:

I've noticed people divide their 10-gallon tanks in different ways - some do it twice, others three times, with one fish per section. This means each fish only gets about 3 gallons of space, which seems pretty cramped to me. Is there an advantage to dividing the tank three ways, or should I stick with a simpler two-way divide?

I'm worth noting I haven't bought any betta yet, the tank is just waiting for its future inhabitants. When I do get fish, they'll be rescues from the local Petco - their care for these animals is pretty subpar, so I'd like to give them a better home.

Honestly, I think the number of dividers doesn't really impact water quality - it's still a 10-gallon tank, after all. However, since bettas do swim a bit, I believe giving them a bit more room would be beneficial. From my research, it seems like a 2-way divider might be the better option, simply because it allows for a slightly larger space for each fish.

Historically, a 2.5-gallon tank was considered the minimum for a betta, leading many to believe that dividing a 10-gallon tank into four sections was acceptable. However, the consensus is shifting, with many now advocating for a 5-gallon minimum. Consequently, dividing a 10-gallon tank in half is becoming the new standard.

The notion that 2.5 gallons per betta was sufficient originated from the old American standard, whereas the new German standard, which is gaining widespread acceptance among betta enthusiasts, recommends a minimum of 5 gallons per betta. I firmly believe that a betta will thrive in a "5-gallon space" compared to a "2.5-gallon space." Providing ample room for swimming contributes significantly to a betta's overall happiness.

While there are exceptions to this rule, with some owners claiming their betta preferred a smaller space, these instances are relatively rare.

I've never been a fan of dividing tanks, reason being if one fish gets sick, it's usually a matter of time before the others follow suit. You could look into alternative layouts, though.