Betta Care?

[Sybilline]

I've been looking into getting a Betta and was wondering if this would be acceptable. I have an 11L tank (3 US Gallons/2.5 Imperial Gallons) and was wondering if that would be an adequate size for a single Betta. I have a Small World filter, but I've read that Bettas prefer a tank without a filter? I also have a 25W heater from a friend, but I was wondering if 25W is too powerful for a tank of this size?

Thanks if advice, if you know of any other things a noob Betta owner should know then feel free to tell me!

 

[fuzzynicki]

Hi there! An 11 litre tank would be ok for a betta. A lot of people would say that it is too small, but many people do keep their males in small tanks. I prefer to have at least 15 litres per male, but I do have one in a 10 litre tank and he always seems happy enough to me Yes to having both a filter and the heater in the tank Sponge filters are ideal for bettas. They don't like a fast flow current.

If you have any specific questions your best bet would be to post in the betta splendens section of the forums

 

[james_fish]

I'd only ever keep a Betta in anything 5 gallon(us) or above but thats just my personal opinion. A filter is absolutely necessary in my opinion, as well as a heater (unless you could maintain a tropical temperature without one)

I've only ever kept one fighter, so i'm not an expert. But you don't need to be an expert to keep them as they are really easy!

Happy fishkeeping

James.

 

[Sybilline]

I'm planning to do a fishless cycle, but do I have to have the heater on and dechlorinate the water when cycling?

 

[Essjay]

Cycling goes faster with a heater. The fishless cycling guide on here http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/113861-fishless-cycling/ recommends having it higher than when you have fish, around the mid to upper 80s F. The filter will cycle without a heater but it will take longer.

I would dechlorinate the water too. I suppose if your water company uses chlorine it would gas off pretty quickly but if you do any water changes or topping up you will need to dechlorinate or you'd kill the bacteria your are trying to grow.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

If your betta doesn't like the filter, you can cut a bottle and place it over the filter to slow down that flow. You just cut the ends off the plastic bottle. rinse it very well, and cut a slit all the way across one side, and you can fit it over the outtake. I did that for my betta when he was in my quarantine tank and it kept him from getting freaked out by the fast flow of the filter.

 

[Sybilline]

If your betta doesn't like the filter, you can cut a bottle and place it over the filter to slow down that flow. You just cut the ends off the plastic bottle. rinse it very well, and cut a slit all the way across one side, and you can fit it over the outtake. I did that for my betta when he was in my quarantine tank and it kept him from getting freaked out by the fast flow of the filter.

Thanks for the tip, I don't think it'll be too much of an issue as its only a small filter and from what I've read the current isn't huge, but it filters the water nicely.