Does a betta's tank need to be cycled?

I had two bettas as a kid, and now I have three. I'm currently fishless-cycling one 2.5 g tank and I'm wondering if I should get two more to transfer each betta.

 

I believe that every fish you will keep has to have a cycled tank to be considered a healthy, thriving fish. If not, you'll be constantly battling the ammonia and stressing your fish out, which can end up leading to a multitude of health problems. I know I have heard of a lot of people keeping fish in bowls or tanks that were not properly cycled and the fish last a long time, but I believe ultimately that the fish will die of--whether directly or indirectly--bad water parameters due to a tank not being cycled.

I only feel confident putting this out there because I had lots of fish in the previous two years that died (even though some of them lived for quite some time) because I wasn't aware of how to properly establish a tank. Knowing what I do now, I will never put other fish through that long-term ever again.

It sounds like you really enjoy fish, especially bettas, and you probably want them to live healthy lives. So why not just start cycling two other tanks while you are cycling this one so you can enjoy watching all three bettas live in healthy water parameters?

 

Not all fish require cycled tank. Those of the very low PH will have no cycle

 

Since we now know how to cycle tanks without fish, it is my belief - and many other aquarists feel the same - that fish should not be added to a tank until it's cycled. If you have had the Bettas for a while now there is probably beneficial bacteria in whatever you are currently keeping them. You could use decor, substrate and/or filter media to help speed up the cycling on tanks for all of your fish!

 

I had two bettas as a kid, and now I have three. I'm currently fishless-cycling one 2.5 g tank and I'm wondering if I should get two more to transfer each betta.

Are you saying you have 3 bettas in a 2.5g?
If so, please put them in their own separate tanks and start cycling them asap.

Yes, all fish need cycled tanks. Meaning they all need filters

 

Not all fish require cycled tank. Those of the very low PH will have no cycle

ALL fish need a cycled tank, which basically translates to ALL fish need a filter.

I had two bettas as a kid, and now I have three. I'm currently fishless-cycling one 2.5 g tank and I'm wondering if I should get two more to transfer each betta.

You have three Bettas? Or you have one Betta?

2.5 Gallons is the absolute minimum for ONE Betta. Also where you keeping these three/one Betta/s while you're doing this fishless cycle?

Yes all fish need a cycled tank.

 

oldbean Peacefantasy I have three bettas, in three separate 2 g's. I was cycling the 2.5 considering raising frogs or snails, or a scarlet badis. The two bettas I had as a kid were never in "properly" cycled tanks, just 2 g's with conditioned/heated water and vacuumed gravel. Today, I have been doing the same but with undergravel filters that I'm not happy with, so I'm going to try out sponge filters. This got me to thinking about if I needed parameters for bettas, since they seem to be in a category of their own. (Their own food, conditioners, etc.)

 

Anyway, I will get two more 2.5 g's and cycle them, then transfer my bettas over. Thanks everyone.

 

I personally cycled my 2.5 gallon Betta tank. It took a little less than a month to do it fishless and using fishfood (for the ammonia source) and Tetra Safe Start. I had an employee at a large chain pet store tell me I didn't have to cycle a Betta tank, but I stuck with the fishless cycling anyway.
I'm really glad I did because now all I do is a small, partial water change once a week and that's it. Every time I test the tank it comes out 0 ammonia... So far so good. I feel like it saves a lot of trouble in the long run to have it cycled.