Who Gives A Fish Forums

What's the best gravel for a betta tank? I've heard mixed things about sharp edges hurting their fins. Also, does color affect their stress levels? My tank's a 10 gallon with a sponge filter, 78°F, and I do weekly 25% water changes.

I've used smooth river pebbles for years with no issues. They're gentle on fins and come in natural colors. Avoid bright red or blue gravel, it can stress them out. My bettas seem way more chill with neutral tones.

oldRash wrote: ↑Mon Jun 23, 2025 9:08 am I've used smooth river pebbles for years with no issues. They're gentle on fins and come in natural colors. Avoid bright red or blue gravel, it can stress them out. My bettas seem way more chill with neutral tones.

I totally agree. Darker substrates also make their colors pop. I use black sand in my 5 gallon, and my boy flares less since I switched from white gravel.

Does grain size matter? I've got some fine gravel but worry about waste getting trapped. My tank's planted with java fern and anubias, no CO2, just liquid ferts.

Fine gravel's sketchy for bettas. Go for medium grain if you're worried about debris. I vacuum mine every water change, takes 5 minutes tops. My dude's in a 7.5 gallon with a hang-on-back filter, no fin tears yet.

Y'all overthink this. I use plain aquarium gravel from PetSmart, the cheap stuff. My betta's fins are fine, and he's been kickin' it for 2 years. Tank's got a heater set to 80°, some moss balls, and a nerite snail. No drama.

Thanks for the input, everyone. Gonna check out river pebbles and black sand options this weekend. Appreciate the real-world experiences over product hype.

One more thing, rinse any new substrate thoroughly. Cloudy water freaks them out. I learned that the hard way when my girl hid for days after a substrate change.

matto wrote: ↑Mon Jun 23, 2025 1:37 pm Y'all overthink this. I use plain aquarium gravel from PetSmart, the cheap stuff. My betta's fins are fine, and he's been kickin' it for 2 years. Tank's got a heater set to 80°, some moss balls, and a nerite snail. No drama.

Lucky you. My first betta got fin rot from jagged gravel cuts. Not worth the risk when smoother options cost the same.

Might try sand then. Heard it's better for plants too. My tank's got a LED light on 6 hours daily, no algae issues yet. You think that's enough light for root feeders?