Is sand bad for bettas?

Is it ok to have sand in a betta tank? I want to use CaribSea sand for my ten gallon which will house a betta in it, but I hear they can mistake the sand for food and choke. So would it be safer to just use plain gravel or is it no big deal? Thanks in advance.

 

I've used sand with all of my bettas with no issues.

 

ok thanks, I heard they I heard they could choke on the grains of sand.

 

I have sand in one of my betta tanks, it works out great. Not the best for planting in but I've had no problems with health.

 

They can choke much easier on gravel I would think.

 

I read a warning on the sight about fine sand and bettas. Here it is, .

 

I'm not sure I believe it's as big of a problem as they make it out to be. I wonder how they knew it was sand that killed him. Unless they cut him open to see the sand?

 

ok I'm glad it is ok to use, sand is so much more natural looking than gravel IMO.

 

Well just going to say that article was 8 years ago perhaps bettas have changed, LOL just kidding. Sand is usually fine with all fish. Many people use sand with bettas and never had a problem! So don't worry about it and good fish keeping to you!!!

 

thanks Al913!

 

I have my betta with sand, he is fine.

 

I made a very similar thread after reading that but I've since had ally Bettas on sand with no issues!

 

Pellets have fallen onto the sand and one of mine just eats the food. I've had no problems with it at all.

 

ok so I might just switch to sand, which is better for planting? sand or gravel?

 

Sand is better for planting. Gravel can be harsh on stems, roots and leaves!

 

ok so I might just switch to sand, which is better for planting? sand or gravel?

Neither are better for plants in my opinion. Both can grow plants fine with the right balance of light, and fertilizers.

 

Neither are better for plants in my opinion. Both can grow plants fine with the right balance of light, and fertilizers.

That is true! Technically none of them will help growing the plants since they don't provide any nutrients unlike a dirt substrate, eco-complete or fluorite. However I like sand since they usually are able to anchor plants better and it looks better too. I would go with sand also it is easier to vacuum since most of the debris and poop stay on the surface of the sand so you just have to skI'm the surface with the vacuum. With gravel any debris or such will hang on the surface and underneath the gravel thus you actually have to fully dig in with the gravel vacuum. Both though should be stirred from time around that way no aerobic air pocket will form. I have Malaysian trumpet snails which digs in the sand so it aerates it.

 

I don't gravel-vac I just stir up the gravel and net the debris, so I guess this would be easier with gravel rather than sand. I may switch to sand eventually but for now I'll stick with gravel and see how I like it. Thanks for your help everyone!

 

I have 2 betta tanks with a combination of sand and gravel (about 80% sand because I wanted live plants my second go-round with tanks and had no luck previously with gravel only). I've had no problems at all. I also have shrimp and snails in the tanks. I do suction into the substrate during water changes, but lightly. I've found over time it brings more of the sand to the top, but I think makes it look more natural now. If you think about it evolutionary-wise, if a betta couldn't figure out the difference between food and sand they would most likely be extinct now.