Betta tank size?

What exactly is it? Everyone just has there own opinion now. I used to think it was 2.5, but then people said 1, then some people said 5, or 10. What?

 

I beleieve 5 or less.... but does it truly matter? If the fish can live happy and healthy in 2.5 then great. Me personally I won't keep anything in less than 5g

 

I feel like if there is enough space to be happy, it is fine.

 

Mine is in a 3. It's healthy and the tank has a good running cycle with stable water conditions. However, I believe you should have the biggest tank you have room for. The bigger the tank the slower water conditions change.

 

The larger the tank, the happier your betta will be. So if you can give him a 10 gallon then great! However I think 3 gallon is the smallest I would go, but that's just my opinion

 

I don't think bettas should be kept in anything less than 2.5 gallons, I would call that the "minimum" and I have kept bettas in 2.5 gallons before, right now the smallest tank I have for bettas is a divided tank, one that houses 3, and it gives each betta roughly 3.5 gallons, I will likely upgrade at some point though. Ideally, I like all my bettas to have 5+ gallons, I have one that's kept in 5 gallons, one in a 10 gallon, and one in a 13 gallon, they're extremely active fish, and will use the room if it's given to them. When it comes to bettas, I find that "minimum" tank size is really dependent, I've had bettas be perfectly content with 2.5, while others I just had to upgrade because I felt 2.5 gallons wasn't enough for their level of activity, if you have an active fish, give them 5+ gallons, if not, you should do okay with 2.5+, but also remember that 2.5 gallons is going to be more difficult to filter and heat than 5 gallons, that is definitely one thing that makes me lean more towards giving 5 as the minimum.

 

I agree with Reefer, I think the minimum is 2.5 but I personally wouldn’t keep them in anything less than a 5. Although, if you get a giant then the minimum is 10g.

 

I would say that the minimum is 2.5 gallons, however I do prefer five gallons and up. They make 2.5-gallon tanks look very small when they're full-grown.

 

I would say that the minimum is 2.5 gallons, however I do prefer five gallons and up. They make 2.5-gallon tanks look very small when they're full-grown.

Yes it really makes them look cramp, especially if they’re active, I’m even itching to get my boy out of a the 5 gallon because he’s an active little thing! To bad I don’t have the space, and it’s a walstad so...

 

Yes it really makes them look cramp, especially if they’re active, I’m even itching to get my boy out of a the 5 gallon because he’s an active little thing! To bad I don’t have the space, and it’s a walstad so...

I have mine in a 2.5-gallon tank. He's young, but I'm hoping to upgrade to a five-gallon as soon as possible. Good luck with yours

 

My bettas are in a 10 gallon, but it's divided so they have only 5 gallons now.
I'm moving my primary betta up to a 20 long for my birthday, and the other guy gets his own 10 gallon.

 

If your thinking of getting one for your new tank the 7.5 or 13 would both be more than sufficient.

 

I've kept bettas in all sorts of tank sizes, and personally I think they're pretty cramped in anything under 5 gallons, especially if they have short fins and are very active.

 

5 - 10 gallons

 

A happy betta is an active betta.

 

An adult betta would barely have room to breathe in anything smaller than a 5 gallon, in my opinion. You could survive in a 100 square foot house, unable to leave, forever, but would you have any quality of life at all? Same concept.

 

I think the bare minimum is a 2.5 gal, but as everyone has said I would always have at least a 5 gal if I could get it. My boy started out in a 1 gal, then had a 3 gal eclipse, then a 3 gal critter keeper, then a 6.6 gal bookshelf tank, and now I have finally settled on a 20 gal long lol. It's just him and a nerite snail.

 

Personally, I’d opt for nothing under ten gallons. My mom’s betta is in a 7.5 gallon and it looks so depressed all the time. If you have the space and can afford it, go with a bigger tank. Bettas can do more than just sit on plants and look bored, LOL.

 

75 gallon minimum. Lol. Hey if your going to go big go all the way.

 

I think shape has an impact as well. Less than 5 and water conditions change too rapidly. My 5 gal global spec V is a short, narrow but long tank so my betta does well. A portrait style tank would not be as good. Regardless, cycled (with a filter!) And heated are requirements.

 

I think the bare minimum is a 2.5 gal, but as everyone has said I would always have at least a 5 gal if I could get it. My boy started out in a 1 gal, then had a 3 gal eclipse, then a 3 gal critter keeper, then a 6.6 gal bookshelf tank, and now I have finally settled on a 20 gal long lol. It's just him and a nerite snail.

Your betta must be livin' the life!!
And I personally wouldn't keep mine in anything less than a 5 gallon.

 

75 gallon minimum. Lol. Hey if your going to go big go all the way.

I comepletely agree with this, I have my two bettas each in their own 500g without any other fish. Although I barely see them, I know they enjoy this much space.

 

Mr Fluffie my betta is in a 40 gallon and he’s very happy. VERY HAPPY.

 

I comepletely agree with this, I have my two bettas each in their own 500g without any other fish. Although I barely see them, I know they enjoy this much space.

I'm curious, are they, like, two male bettas together? Because I've heard that can work well with that much space - and that'd be cool if that's what you have going on.

 

I'm curious, are they, like, two male bettas together? Because I've heard that can work well with that much space - and that'd be cool if that's what you have going on.

Lol, it was a joke because sometimes you get people who say something like 20 gallon is to much so I was making a little joke. Haha. I’d love to try something like that though, shoudl defiantly have enough room for two males in that scenario

 

Lol, it was a joke because sometimes you get people who say something like 20 gallon is to much so I was making a little joke. Haha. I’d love to try something like that though, shoudl defiantly have enough room for two males in that scenario

Aw, I thought it was for real! That would be so cool. Do they even make 500 gal. tanks???

 

Aw, I thought it was for real! That would be so cool. Do they even make 500 gal. tanks???

I’m pretty sure they do, although you may have to special order them.

 

Ive thought pretty hard about the two male thing.

 

I’m a newbie but I would say 5-10. . . . My opinion for what it’s worth. My opinion might be an outlier.

I don't think you're an outlier. I, too, am a noob. I got Fishy Boris a five-gallon tank, and for the first couple of days, after living his whole life in a frickin' cup, he began to swim around. After a few more days, he was zooming side to side, up and down. So much fun.

I may yet get him a 10-gallon tank. He'd really dig that. I think you're right: 5-10 gallons are great for bettas.

I’m up for the challenge of maintaining a small tank, but agree enrichment would be tricky. I’m definitely leaning toward a ~5 gallon at this point, although I do have a spare 10 gallon I could put to use. Choices, choices!

Lots of choices! But if you were to ask this neophyte's opinion, I'd say go with the 10 gallon. Imagine such a playground for a happy fish!

 

Mine is doing very well in his 3.5 gallon tank. I change a gallon of water every Sunday and he has a moss ball and 2 other live plants. Nitrates never go over 10. the tank holds exactly 3 gallons of water with gravel, plants, and 2 rocks in it. Benny is very active and eats like a pig.

 

In my opinion 5 gallon is the minimum for a betta to thrive and 10 gallon + is really the best.

 

In my opinion 5 gallon is the minimum for a betta to thrive and 10 gallon + is really the best.

I would disagree. A 10 gallon with only a Betta is more than a little bare. I would say if the Betta is going to be the only fish, 2.5 is minimum and 5 is maximum.

 

I would disagree. A 10 gallon with only a Betta is more than a little bare. I would say if the Betta is going to be the only fish, 2.5 is minimum and 5 is maximum.

Why would there be a maximum..... a betta alone doesn't deserve a 10g? It's really not that big and I'm glad my bettas have room to swim as much as they want.

 

Meh I use a 10 gallon and betta loves to swim around. Who cares if its bare anyways (I hope it doesn't sound rude) I think that I would have a bare tank for my bettas happiness

 

Smaller tanks are a bit more difficult to keep stable so a tiny tank is a fluctuating tank.

I keep bettas in anywhere from 2.5gal right up to a 29gal but by far the happiest betta (IMO) is Otabek who resides in a heavily planted 10gal with a trio of kuhlI loaches and cherry shrimp.

 

Why would there be a maximum..... a betta alone doesn't deserve a 10g? It's really not that big and I'm glad my bettas have room to swim as much as they want.

Of course there is no maximum. I meant the maximum needed. Anything over that is fine but in my opinion, overkill.

I have seen Bettas in larger tanks that don't use the whole tank but section off part of it as their territory

 

Personally, I think it's actually better to keep extremely long finned bettas in smaller tanks, I'd still say at least 3 gallons, just from what I've seen with the one I was taking care of. His fins would drag him down and he would have an issue swimming, and didn't swim that much (he was in a 5 though). The plakat I have is in a 5.5 and he swims much more, so personally I think it depends on the tail type and mobility of the fish.

 

2.5g is a great size for a single betta but a lot of prefer 5 gallon or bigger because it is easier to maintain, can hold more decor/plants and is generally easier to get filters and heaters for

 

It's definitely easier to find heaters, but most any tank will fit a small sponge filter. I don't know I'd feel bad keeping my plakat in a 2.5, he moves a bit too much for that. I wouldn't feel bad keeping the longer finned variety in a 2.5, I think that's a fine fit.

 

Of course there is no maximum. I meant the maximum needed. Anything over that is fine but in my opinion, overkill.

2.5g is a great size for a single betta but a lot of prefer 5 gallon or bigger because it is easier to maintain, can hold more decor/plants and is generally easier to get filters and heaters for

I can see that. My tank came with a filter and light and I'm not sure how I would replace them if needed since they are not sold separately.