A suitable tank size for a betta fish

[coralbloom]

Hi everyone,
I'm thinking of getting a fin tank and I had a few questions. What's the smallest tank size I can get away with?

Also, any advice or things I should be aware of before taking the plunge would be really helpful, thanks.

[goldminer]

Tank size is key. 5 gallon is the bare minimum, but if you're planning on a Betta, 10 gallon is the way to go. Don't even think about getting a tank without cycling it first, trust me.

If you're not sure what I'm talking about, do some reading on it. There's a lot to learn, but it's worth it. Check out some info on the nitrogen cycle, fishless cycling, and fish-in cycling. And for goodness' sake, know where to find ammonia in your area, whether you're in the UK or the US.

Also, look into avoiding and treating new tank syndrome. And if you're planning on a Betta, here's a caresheet for them.

Don't be afraid to ask questions if you're not sure about something.

[fineman]

My nephew's 1-gallon tank with a single beta has been doing surprisingly well for over 6 months. I initially advised him to go bigger, but the beta seems fine. I added an anubias nana, which has been thriving, constantly growing new leaves. When he introduced the beta without cycling, I used some residue from my established filter to help kick-start the process. Thankfully, it cycled quickly. His 10-year-old son is in charge of feeding, and he's been doing a great job, not overfeeding the beta, which looks healthy. They change half the water weekly using chlorine-free water. Still, I firmly believe a bigger tank is always the better choice.

[coralbloom]

Hi,
Thanks for the info, really helpful in deciding on the tank size.
Just one more thing, what's the ideal temperature for the tank?
Thanks Again!

[coralbloom]

My nephew's 1-gallon tank with a single beta has been doing surprisingly well for over 6 months. I initially advised him to go bigger, but the beta seems fine. I added an anubias nana, which has been thriving, constantly growing new leaves. When he introduced the beta without cycling, I used some residue from my established filter to help kick-start the process. Thankfully, it cycled quickly. His 10-year-old son is in charge of feeding, and he's been doing a great job, not overfeeding the beta, which looks healthy. They change half the water weekly using chlorine-free water. Still, I firmly believe a bigger tank is always the better choice.

Thanks for sharing your nephew's experience with a 1 gallon tank. I'm curious, is the water for the tank just from the tap, or does your nephew use a water conditioner? I currently use tap water with tap safe and filter boost for my platys, and I was wondering if I'd need to do anything different for a betta, or if I'd need a heater to maintain a certain temperature.

[sSjey]

For a cycled tank, I recommend doing a 50% water change once a week. If the tank isn't cycled, you'll need to do daily changes. To make tap water safe, all you need is a dechlorinator - it'll remove chlorine and bind metals. No need for bottled bacteria products if the tank is cycled.

I have to disagree with fineman's nephew's 1-gallon tank - that's way too small. My betta's in a 7-gallon tank, and I'm actually thinking of upgrading to an even bigger one.

As for temperature, bettas are tropical fish, so they need a heater. You can find all the info you need in the Betta Care Sheet link goldminer posted. It says bettas need a temperature between 76 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit, or 24.4 to 27.8 degrees Celsius.

When it comes to filters, bettas don't need powerful water flow. Air-powered sponge filters are perfect for their tanks. However, with this type of filter, you can't just take media from your platies' tank to seed the cycle, so you'll need to do a complete fishless cycle. If you use a filter that can take media from the platies' tank, the cycle will be much shorter.

Bettas love plants and decor in their tanks. Live plants, especially floating ones, are better than fake ones. If you do use fake plants, go for silk ones - they're smoother than plastic ones, which can cut a betta's fins. Your decor should be smooth too - try running an old pair of pantyhose over it to make sure it won't snag on a betta's fins.

And don't forget, bettas need their own food - pellets made specifically for them. You can't use the same food you're feeding your platies.

Give the Betta Care Sheet a read - it'll help you understand what your betta needs, so you can make sure you're getting everything right.