Is a large tank suitable for a betta?

[squidman]

I'm making the big move soon and I'm stoked to finally have space for that "fish wall" I've been dreaming about. I've got two fin-tanks already - one's technically my partner's, but let's be real, I'm the one doing all the heavy lifting - and I'm itching to upgrade them to blackwater biotopes. My 20g long community tank is getting a bigger sibling, and I'm thinking of rehoming each of my betta buddies to their own 20g long tanks. But, I'm open to going bigger if I can get the thumbs up from the other half.

So, theoretically, can a betta tank be too massive? I know the whole "bettas thrive in small tanks" thing is a myth, and I feel kinda bad for our little guy stuck in a 3-gallon - but he's getting an upgrade soon, don't worry. What I'm really wondering is if a tank can be too deep for them? I mean, they need to pop up to the surface for air every now and then, which makes me think a 20g long might be the sweet spot - they're pretty shallow, after all. But what about a 40-gallon breeder tank?

[kingrise]

Honestly, I don't believe there's such a thing as a tank being too big for a betta. In the wild, they have plenty of space to swim, so a 20g long would be more than sufficient. The reason most people keep them in smaller tanks, like 5-10 gallons, is usually due to space or budget constraints. If you have the means, I'd say go for it - I know I would if I had the room and resources.

[FinFan]

I'd definitely give them as big of a tank as you can afford and have room for, honestly, the more space the better, it's only a good thing for the betta.

[squidman]

Honestly, I don't believe there's such a thing as a tank being too big for a betta. In the wild, they have plenty of space to swim, so a 20g long would be more than sufficient. The reason most people keep them in smaller tanks, like 5-10 gallons, is usually due to space or budget constraints. If you have the means, I'd say go for it - I know I would if I had the room and resources.

Another idea I just thought of - splitting a 75 gallon for them. It could be easier on the budget, you know, one tank, one stand, one filter, that kind of thing. I could even sell my 20g to help fund it, which is a nice bonus. I was worried about it being too deep, but it's definitely worth considering. Used tanks are always popping up around here, so I'm sure I could find what I need at a good price with a bit of patience.

[oldraider]

I've got some experience with different tank sizes and I think a 20 gallon long would be perfect for your betta setup. I personally prefer my 20 gallon long over my 29 gallon tanks, and I think it would be a great choice for you. I've also experimented with tank dividers, which could be a good option if you want to keep both bettas in the same tank. I've used a divider in my 55 gallon tank and it worked well, and I'm pretty sure they make ones that can fit a 20 gallon long too. This way, you could have one betta on each side of the divider.

[juicebox]

Large tanks are awesome for betta's, just keep in mind that dedicating a huge tank to a single betta will limit any other fish you can add in the future.

[roygun_1]

I agree with your concerns about tank height for bettas. As they age, they can struggle to reach the surface for air, and even feeding can become a challenge. It's not uncommon for them to peck at their fins to shed weight, making it easier to climb to the top. It's similar to why we often keep poorly bettas in "hospital tanks" with lower water levels - to make life easier for them.

A large tank with plenty of plants would be an amazing feature, and I think it's a great idea. Your suggestion to divide a larger tank to house both bettas is also worth considering. I wish you the best of luck with your setup.

[squidman]

I've got some experience with different tank sizes and I think a 20 gallon long would be perfect for your betta setup. I personally prefer my 20 gallon long over my 29 gallon tanks, and I think it would be a great choice for you. I've also experimented with tank dividers, which could be a good option if you want to keep both bettas in the same tank. I've used a divider in my 55 gallon tank and it worked well, and I'm pretty sure they make ones that can fit a 20 gallon long too. This way, you could have one betta on each side of the divider.

I used to have my current 20 long divided, so I actually have that divider lying around if I decide to keep them in the 20. I agree, I prefer the 20 long over the 29 - I think it's one of the easiest tanks to maintain due to its proportions, and it's still a decent size if you're not looking for something massive.

juicebox said:

Big tanks are great just be aware that having a large tank devoted to a betta will really limit any other stocking options, should you choose to go that route

Yeah, that's a good point. I do have a community tank as well, which is currently in my 20g long but will likely become a 55g corner tank I've been eyeing. I've never been able to choose between a community or a betta, so I just have both - but if my bettas are getting a large tank, I'll probably throw in some otto and shrimp to keep them company.

roygun_1 said:

You're right in what you've said, a tank can be too tall for a betta, especially as they grow old, they will indeed struggle to reach the surface for air as well as feeding. It's been known for bettas to even peck their own fins to shed some weight in order to climb to the top. It's the same preference as keeping a poorly betta in a "hospital tank" with a lower water level to make it easier for them. I would however advise a large tank and heavily plant it (it would look an absolutely fantastic feature)

Your idea of divided a larger tank to house the both of them sounds good also! Best of luck!

You've brought up a great point - the depth of the tank was definitely my biggest concern. I've always thought that bettas live in expansive but relatively shallow "marshes" in the wild, so I figured they might not be suited for deeper waters. Maybe being prepared to move them to a smaller tank, like a 5 gallon, if or when they need it as they age would be a good idea.

[kingrise]

A 75g split tank sounds like an amazing setup - it's definitely caught my attention as a viable option, and I'm seriously considering it now.

[squidman]

I agree with your concerns about tank height for bettas. As they age, they can struggle to reach the surface for air, and even feeding can become a challenge. It's not uncommon for them to peck at their fins to shed weight, making it easier to climb to the top. It's similar to why we often keep poorly bettas in "hospital tanks" with lower water levels - to make life easier for them.

A large tank with plenty of plants would be an amazing feature, and I think it's a great idea. Your suggestion to divide a larger tank to house both bettas is also worth considering. I wish you the best of luck with your setup.

That's a pretty cool idea and I'm definitely going to be researching it more. I've got some time to plan things out since I'm not moving until December, so I'll be looking into it and seeing what I can do. When I finally make the move and get the tank or tanks set up, I'll make sure to make a thread about it so everyone can see how it turns out.