Betta type bowls/tanks to small?

[Fishnoob78]

Well i'm glad that I didn't come home tonight with the couple of Bettas that I was planing on buying at Petco this morning.

I've been reading around here and it seems that the majority of people feel that all of those small Betta bowls/tanks that you see in all pet shops are infact to small for a Betta.

I had already bought two Betta tanks, about 3/4 gallon each but if they are to small then I wont use them.

I thought that the bowls they are kept in at pet stores are to small but thought that the Betta tanks would be fine. I just thought that they dont need that much space and are mostly inactive by nature and not by the small tank.

My cousin had a gallon bowl with a betta in it and half the time it was swimming and have the time it was just floating there. I thought that was just how they acted. It lived for two years.

I am new to Betas but not to fish, I have a 55 gallon cichlid tank.

So please let me know whats the smallest size I can use. Id like to give some Betas homes and have a few spots for some of those Beta tanks but not much larger than that.

thanks

[sonofbreeder]

i say bettas need atleast 1 gallon but i'd prefer a 5 gallon tank

[Scuba Kid]

id also say 1 gallon minimum.

[seraph]

I'm new to owning fish, but I found the 1 gallon a bit too small (though better than the tiny jars sellers say they can live in)--- especially if you have a filter and heater taking up space... the water needs to be changed too often and the betta can't be as active as he would in a larger tank. I moved him to a 3 gallon, which was MUCH better... I added two corydoras and a dwarf frog... unfortunately my betta got sick and died and since then I kept having problems with the tank... so now I have a 6 gallon with a new betta and the cories and frog... the betta swims all over the place (the cories are more active too), I can see all of them better, the betta's less affected from the current created by the filter, and all of them just seem much happier... so that makes me happy!!!

[Chastney]

im sure you have heard this saying alot!

just because a betta can survive doesnt mean it can thrive.

i have recently set up a 6gal tank which im planning to have a betta and maybe a few dwarf cories in. i would'nt feel right if i had a betta in a 1gallon bowl but that is just me.

[fishn00b]

If it was up to me, I wouldn't put a betta in anything less than a 5. I say that because I have had a lot of problems trying to keep tanks with less water stable. The one 2.5 gallon I have grows all sort of green hair like algae from the filter and the tank is just unpleasant to look at. It is alot of work for a 1 gallon tank because you have to change the water every few days.

I'm not saying don't do it, I'm just saying I'd never do it again.

[Chazwick]

I don't think any fish should be in lower than at least 2GALs.

[osteoporoosi]

10 gallons is in my opinion the minimum for any fish, and even that really isn't much water if you start to think about it.

[honmol]

I have 6 gallon tanks for all my bettas. They each have a pet ADF. Also, they are very active fish. Just give them something so that they can entertain themselves as boredom can lead to tail biting. I also currently have 1 alone in a 55 gallon and it uses up all of the tank space. That's not permanent but I just thought that I'd tell you that whatever size they get, they'll use all of it. I'd get maybe a 10 gallon and divide it or you could get a 10 gallon, a betta, and some white clouds. Also, the small castles at petco are great for bettas and they love them. They also like the anemones at petsmart.

[Alisha]

I'd say the 3-4 gallons you got is okay for the bettas. That's about the size tank my bettas have, but I am trying to upgrade them all into at least 5-10 gallon tanks. My one male will be going to a 20 gallon. I have found that the bigger the tank, and the more decor/plants; the more active my bettas are. So the 3-4 gallons are okay, but not great for your fish.

[BettaLVR488]

i have a betta with about 1 gallon and a half i need to get him a new tank cause he hangs out at the top all the time so i would say at least 5 gallons

[vettech909]

bettas are lazy and dont move that much and i would keep one in a half gallon but i would really incourage you to get a 1 gallon bowl.you can get a net,1g bowl,gravel,plants,and free samples of food for $8 each at wal-mart.
thats what i would perfer.

owner of 24 bettas(12females&12males)each in 1g bowl.

[trashion]

i disagree with vettech. that's not true at all! bettas are very active fish when given plenty of room and a HEATED environment.

[dolifisis]

I've kept a Beta in both my 5 and 12 gallon and they enjoy every inch of it. The more room you give them the more active they'll be!

[vettech909]

NOT TO BE MEAN
all my bettas are NOT active unless they see food.i clean them twice a week and one is 6 years old.i have a overhead heater and i use to have 1 in a 10 gallon but it stayed on one side.thats why i have them in 1 gallon containers and deciding weather they are active is by the fish itself and it is an opinion.

[JBReef]

I have Frank in a 2.5 gal. no filter or heater, The temp is perfect with the house and I clean the tank once a week. Frank is the most happiest fish I have.
I put him on a low table next to the coutch and every time the cat sit's on the arm he plays hid and go seak, at first I thought he was scared of the cat but I'v watched him and I think Frank actualy scares the cat.

So I'd say a 2.5 as long as you have some hiding places and keep the water warm and clean.

[PoptartShop]

1-2gls is good, but more is always better.

[darkfalz]

The bigger tank I have kept bettas in the longer they have lived. To me that just about says it all.

[karazy]

ive seen a nice planted 10 galon with a few shrimp and a betta as a bigger fish

[khachdatinh]

125gal minimum per each betta is best.