Recommended Tanks For A Betta?

[Curiosity101]

I'm off to Uni in September so have to leave my fish behind
Well we aren't allowed 'pets' persay. But I know lots and lots of people that have a fish.

So I'm now starting researching into the best small tank for a betta.
I'd obviously rather have him in a 10gallon, but it depends on dimensions.

If anyone could recommend reasonably priced tanks.
Dimensions: 35cm x 35cm x 35cm or anything similar.

I really do love some of the nano cubes n such like with moulded glass, ie. no joints
Plus they're the perfect dimensions for a uni desk!

So there we go...suggestions would be appreciated, especially with links. And comments of what everyone else is keeping their Betta's in.

 

[Netty]

This is a great little tank and just the right size. We have one and they are great little tanks.

http/www.tamaraquatics.co.uk/ShowDetails.asp?id=393

 

[stang1]

Agree with Netty, they are great little tanks and relatively inexpensive.

 

[Netty]

It's woth checking on ebay too as we got the next size up one for just £29.00

 

[Curiosity101]

I can't go buying anything till I've got myself a room
I may be slightly forward with my planning...
Which also means I've been looking at what type to get, I've had your bog standard red Siamese fighter. And he was great, but my eyes have now been opened to all the amazing varieties.
Do you know if Maiden head Aquatics stores stock more than just the common red and blue fighters?

And yep that tank does look nice, never dealt with undergravel filtration though... I had been planning on getting a simple sponge filter or something similar.
Any suggestions?

 

[Netty]

Always best to plan ahead and see what your options are

The undergravel filter you can remove and replace with a sponge filter, which is what we did.

Not sure about Maidenhead as the one near us doesn't stock Bettas at all. Most of these places tend to just stock VTs but that obviously depends where you are as sometimes places get in superdeltas.

You can generally find the other tail types from private breeders. We don't have any at the moment but will have in a few months time. Also Modaz from the forum sells on ebay under the name dpfishways. Wilson from here has babies at the moment and think they'll be ready in another month or two.

 

[Honeythorn]

Don't forget to check car boot sales and classified ads. My 12 gallon female betta tank ( on the left, in the bottom left picture in my sig ) was £6 from a car boot. 18 (L) x15(H) x12(D) inches. It's on a long worktop in the spare room , but a tank of those dimesnsions or similar would easily fit on a strong desk, or a chest of drawers.

The 5 Gal hex tank in my signature ( a FishRfun brand tank with the filter in the lid ) was £5 from a car boot. That's on a small table in the corner of the dining room, and would easily fit on a desk.

The 30 gallon ( not what you're after I know but purely as an example ) in my signature was £22 , again from a car boot and that came with an external Eheim filter thrown in for for nothing ( worth about 70 quid new and it's in pefect condition ) . All I had to buy in terms of structural hardware was a hood/lid for 15 quid ( that was new from a shop ) .

Seriously, the car boot season starts soon. I'd highly reccomend scouring as many as you are able for a smallish tank, before trying to get one brand new even on Ebay. Many even come with a few bits and bobs , and I find they are often being sold by people who have kept goldfish in them and failed ( which is inevitable in such small tanks ) and thus given up and want to get rid of the tank quickly.

Their loss, our gain

 

[hollanda88]

Arcadia arc 35L tank, i have abetta in one just next to me, he loves it

andrew

 

[Curiosity101]

I was going to have a look through classifieds....but I hadn't even thought about carboots! That's a great idea.
I've got the insides all planned...
Some teeny shrimp sized tubes in a stack of three, with some riccia tightly tied onto them to camouflage them a bit.
I'm thinking a piece of wood that doesn't take up too much room and looks like roots.
Plus a couple of silk plants.

What's the best substrate for a Betta? As in what do they feel most secure swimming over?
I was thinking just some normal darkish gravel.

 

[Honeythorn]

Normal gravel is fine. I have sand in Bronsons 5 gal which also works vey well. It's mostly a matter of aesthetic preference really. Bettas don't seem to care too much. It only really matters if you have tankmates like cories and loaches . They do prefer sand as it is kinder to their delicate barbels round the mouth.

 

[Curiosity101]

You know if car boot people around me are as silly as people around you I might scour them just for profits sake!

Any external that is working and in good condition, particularly Eheim, that is 'thrown in for nothing' :wow:

 

[Honeythorn]

The guy said he was part of a catfish club ( the tank still has a big catfish sticker on the side ) but was getting out of the hobby. I was flabbergasted when he said the filter came with it for that price! Even my mother said GET IT NOW! . I wasn't going to argue with that I think I just got lucky with that one.

Seriously though, she now has to physically restrain me from buying any more tanks. I'm determined to get at least one more 5 gallon to keep under the bed for when I move out *shifty face * I see at least...2-3 tanks of around 5 gals at most car boots. Some are really crappy but the majority are in fine condition. But I saw one exactly like my hex tank for a fiver, but mother was on the verge of a tizz and a spaz so I had to leave it

I can't reccomend the car boot sales enough.

 

[Netty]

You could also try Yahoo Freecycle too. You can sometimes find tanks on there for free too in your local area

 

[newfishy]

the way Ive got all my tanks for free is post a "wanted free aquariums" on my local craigs list and I have peopel begging me to take their used stuff I no longer have any more shelf space for tanks, they are sitting on the floor.