A Betta In A 2.5 Gallon Tank?
- Thread starter shadowangels27
- Start date
2.5 gal is fine for a single betta in my experience. I keep bettas in tanks from 10+ gal to 1.5 gal. All tanks filtered and heated. If the filter is cycled as mentioned above once a week 50% or more changes are sufficient. Take the bamboo out and get more adequit aquatic plants. No room for tankmates in a 2.5 so please dont consider it. If you want instructions on how to build a very easy sponge filter for a small tank like yours id be more than happy to share-send a PM. Ive got them in all my betta tanks and they work great for keeping water chemistry in check, but are not mechanical filters so any "crud" will be syphoned up with the weekly water changes.
everyone has very personal opinions on "smallest tank size" for a betta, but my fish are healthy and active in my small tanks just as much as in larger tanks with tankmates or not.
Just be on top of the water quality-that is the MOST important thing to consider with smaller tanks. Can go bad very quickly in a small volume of water, which is why it is more difficult/"dangerous" for new fishkeepers who may not be aware this is something to consider.
cheers
everyone has very personal opinions on "smallest tank size" for a betta, but my fish are healthy and active in my small tanks just as much as in larger tanks with tankmates or not.
Just be on top of the water quality-that is the MOST important thing to consider with smaller tanks. Can go bad very quickly in a small volume of water, which is why it is more difficult/"dangerous" for new fishkeepers who may not be aware this is something to consider.
cheers
In my personal opinion it's not big enough and 1.5 gal is just ridiculous. I'm not having a go just stating the blindingly obvious. Of course they can be kept alive in tanks that size but it's not nice is it.
This is not a debate on tank size. The OP wanted information on keeping bettas in a 2.5 gal tank. Im sure there are plenty of suggestions for the poster. Just offering my experience and knowledge in the subject at hand. If this thread turns into a debate, it is being locked. I wont tolerate it. period. The OP can feel free to PM me if it turns into a tit-for-tat.
cheers
cheers
I totally agree it's not a deabte. The OP asked if they can keep a Betta in a 2.5 gal tank and I offered my advice. There is no debate going. I posted once to say what was needed in the tank to keep the betta and again to say your advice is wrong. You may be a mod but I am allowed to disagree with you. Differences of opinion always come up and we should talk to eachother in a civil manner.
OP I am new to fishkeeping so tbh I don't know much. You've been given excellent advice here. Goood luck with your Betta. It would be nice to see some pics of him or her when you get one.
Sorry if I offended with my advice it's just advice I've taken from an experienced Betta breeder when I asked him what size tank I needed to get for one male Betta. Hence I got a 21.6 litre.
2.5g is fine. Especially if it's filtered and heated. If you can get a rectangular tank, all the better. For added fun, plant it up! The betta will love the hiding places and planted tanks are fabulous. It doesn't take much effort and the betta will be rewarded with sparkling clean water and little micro organisms to hunt and play with. Many of my bettas were avid snail killers and would seek them out. I won't tell you how I kept my longest-lived betta, though. That one lived for 4.5 years, but I'll get in trouble if I say how I kept him.
OP
OP
shadowangels27
New Member
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No!! I take it from the cycled tnak, it's because of the nitrates in the water. The bamboo LOVES it. Most plants do, so instead of pouring it down the drain, I water house plants, sometimes the garden... It's from the 20 gal tank.
OP
OP
shadowangels27
New Member
1. The tank is FILTERED, HEATED, AND THERE IS NO BETTA. (I want to make sure whether or not it can be in the 2.5 gal!)
2. The bamboo, yes, is a bog plant. But since it's lucky bamboo, the stem can be in the water. You just have to watch out for roots growing on the stem. As long as the leaves are above water they are fine!
3. The bamboo bowl I have (which the bamboo will be going back to in 5-7 days) was called a betta bowl... it looks way better with marbles and bamboo.
4. No, I am putting the bamboo back where it came from, the bowl. That water got nasty. That's why I put the bamboo in the 2.5 gal. Because the bowl got too disgusting...
5. In the bowl, the bamboo was only in gravel and marbles... Plus 1" of water above the gravel... That won't lead to mold. Sorry but that's the instructions for keeping lucky bamboo. it's 4-6 inches.
6. Like I said before, no betta yet. I know they need larger tanks, but heck if you keep up with water changes and stuff, what's the harm?
2. The bamboo, yes, is a bog plant. But since it's lucky bamboo, the stem can be in the water. You just have to watch out for roots growing on the stem. As long as the leaves are above water they are fine!
3. The bamboo bowl I have (which the bamboo will be going back to in 5-7 days) was called a betta bowl... it looks way better with marbles and bamboo.
4. No, I am putting the bamboo back where it came from, the bowl. That water got nasty. That's why I put the bamboo in the 2.5 gal. Because the bowl got too disgusting...
5. In the bowl, the bamboo was only in gravel and marbles... Plus 1" of water above the gravel... That won't lead to mold. Sorry but that's the instructions for keeping lucky bamboo. it's 4-6 inches.
6. Like I said before, no betta yet. I know they need larger tanks, but heck if you keep up with water changes and stuff, what's the harm?
If you want to have a better idea of suitable size, look into what show breeders use. They are the most knowledgeable folks concerning this species, for the time and money they have invested in their particular lines they are not going to use some guessed at word of mouth methods.
OP
OP
shadowangels27
New Member
When did alcohol get in the midst of this?!? Beer is gross no matter what... and I have two other tanks...
I was just demonstarting how small it is, if someone can drink that amount in less than 5 minutes, surely something can't live in it for years.
And you never said anywhere about growing plants in it, you asked if you could keep a betta, and we gave our opinions. Just because they arent what you wanted or expected is no reason to get haughty. We give advice on this forum, it is your choice to take it or leave it, but generally it is god advice, especially when it is from the more experienced fish keepers (I am not saying i am experienced)
And you never said anywhere about growing plants in it, you asked if you could keep a betta, and we gave our opinions. Just because they arent what you wanted or expected is no reason to get haughty. We give advice on this forum, it is your choice to take it or leave it, but generally it is god advice, especially when it is from the more experienced fish keepers (I am not saying i am experienced)
OP
OP
shadowangels27
New Member
Dear Folks :
I have decided... to use the 2.5 to quarantine new plants and try to grow plants for the 20 gal (I'm hoping to only have live plants in the tank) and the 2.5 gal might not be too big, but it's got filter, heat, and lighting adequate for growing aquatic plants. (well low light ones)
I was thinking some melon swords, anubius, anacharis, and other swords... Anything that's low to medium lighting.
See? No betta.. I just thought about the 20 gal and getting more plants for it. And then I thought just about trying to grow and propagate plants in the 2.5 gal.
I have decided... to use the 2.5 to quarantine new plants and try to grow plants for the 20 gal (I'm hoping to only have live plants in the tank) and the 2.5 gal might not be too big, but it's got filter, heat, and lighting adequate for growing aquatic plants. (well low light ones)
I was thinking some melon swords, anubius, anacharis, and other swords... Anything that's low to medium lighting.
See? No betta.. I just thought about the 20 gal and getting more plants for it. And then I thought just about trying to grow and propagate plants in the 2.5 gal.
-FighterFishh
Fish Herder
Rather than growing some plants, you could create a cute little scape and put in a couple of shrimp?
I think you've made the right decision by not getting a betta for this tank, but I'm sure you could probably pick up a 20L tank off eBay or something for a little man if you really wanted to get one
I think you've made the right decision by not getting a betta for this tank, but I'm sure you could probably pick up a 20L tank off eBay or something for a little man if you really wanted to get one
OP
OP
shadowangels27
New Member
Rather than growing some plants, you could create a cute little scape and put in a couple of shrimp?
I think you've made the right decision by not getting a betta for this tank, but I'm sure you could probably pick up a 20L tank off eBay or something for a little man if you really wanted to get one
Well ... it's a 15 watt bulb for plants... and heck thats like... 0.67 gallon per watt.
No... I don't want to have "travelers" because I want to sell some of the plants, I'm just saying. Not getting the betta yet...
But I will... because I saw a good 5 gallon and it's the same idea of a tank, just bigger... And I'm gonna get it... As soon as I get my money.
I've spent well over 50-60 bucks on new fish, new filters, and fish food. xO
So I've gotta wait... I got like 10 bucks left... (Yes I have a budget on how much I spend on my fish and I think it's riduclous on how much filters cost. It cost 12 bucks for a 1-3 gal filter... I got one on sale... a filter that can filter up to 40 gallons for 23 bucks! I couldn't say no...
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