Minimum Fair tank size

[leongreenway]

Hi can anyone tell me of the most minimum, without being cruel (none of this Betta in a vase nonsense) that i can get away with.

Do they get on fine by themselves, or do they need tank mates ?

Please let me know as I think they are excellent fish, there is one for sale in my Local Fish shop.

Thankfully

Leon

 

[OohFeeshy]

I'd say, very minimum is 1 gallon. No tank mates, you could maaaybe have a couple of shrimp or an ADF if you got a bigger tank.

 

[Idolz]

Id say minimum 1 gallon bowl or tank, by himself
Make sure he is in a room that the temp is consistant or have a mini heater
Also do regular water changes, weekly or bi weekly because its a smaller home.
Good luck

 

[3fsh]

IMHO, 1/2 gallon is the smallest container you can keep a betta in without it being considered "cruel". I personally would never keep a betta in anything less than a 1-2.5 gallon. My favorite tanks are the 2.5 gallon "Mini Bow" with "Whisper Filter" (that you can adjust for the perfect current flow ) and the 1 gallon "Aquatic Gardens Mini-Life Aquarium". Here are links to both of them:

http/www.petsmart.com/global/product_det...D=1110905240054

http/www.petco.com/product_info.asp?sku=...24&dept_id=%2D2


BTW- I'm not awfully fond of either of these stores, these are just for example purposes.

 

[Jen21]

I heard (please don't jump on me for saying this!) that bettas actually enjoy small living space, that in the wild they like to have small living quarters. Has anyone else heard this... or correct me if its wrong!

 

[lovebuzz]

I think 2.5 gallons is good.

 

[The-Wolf]

Personally I'd not keep a betta in anything less than 5 gallons
however 1 gallon is the accepted min.

 

[OohFeeshy]

I heard (please don't jump on me for saying this!) that bettas actually enjoy small living space, that in the wild they like to have small living quarters. Has anyone else heard this... or correct me if its wrong!

Nope, not true. The shops tell you that to get you to buy patheticly sized containers, then buy more bettas when they die of ammonia poisoning. They live in rice paddies. Heres some pics-
http/images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&lr=&q=rice+paddy

 

[uabassoon]

I heard (please don't jump on me for saying this!) that bettas actually enjoy small living space, that in the wild they like to have small living quarters. Has anyone else heard this... or correct me if its wrong!

This is a very common MYTH. Sometimes you get lucky and a Betta will survive in a small space, but surviving doesn't mean happy or having a good life. The Betta does not enjoy being cramped, they like to swim and stretch their fins. A small bowl will quickly build up ammonia which is caused by leftover food and excrements, the ammonia can quickly kill your betta. It's also hard to keep a good constant temperature in something small. Please don't get anything smaller than a 1 gallon, if you look around you can find a decent 1 gallon for cheap.

 

[SuckerLove86]

What you can keep it with depends greatly on the size of the tank you're planning on getting, but most importantly on the individual temperment of your betta.

Some people have success with keeping a betta in a community. Some people don't. Some people would rather not risk trying, which isn't a bad idea at all.

Bottom line, be sure to steer clear of certain barbs and other fin-nippers if you decide to try and house him with tankmates. Though, through the eyes of a betta, I imagine it would be more interesting to watch some white cloud mountain minnows or an ADF than watching a plant sway in the current.

 

[rdd1952]

Here is a very good beginner site:

http/www.bettatalk.com/

Also read all the pinned posts at the top of this forum.

I don't use anything smaller than 2.5 gallon but 1 gallon seems to be the concensus. They can survive in almost anything that will hold water and live quite a while with proper water changes but you won't ever see their beauty in anything small. You and I could live in a 4 x 4 closet but I don't think we'd enjoy it very much.