(Poll) The Best Betta Tank Size!!

What's the best tank size for a Betta in your opinion? Vote now!!

 

I think 5 gallons minimum. I'm usually not "the tank police", but I'm straight judging you if you keep a betta in a 1 gallon tank AFTER being taught better.

 

10 and over for me. This is my 10 with my happy betta boy Reggie and his ADF and amano shrimp pals

 

10 and over for me. This is my 10 with my happy betta boy Reggie and his ADF and amano shrimp pals

Your tank is gorgeous!

 

Your tank is gorgeous!

Thank you!

 

Mine got downgraded from a 75 gallon to a 55.

 

I keep both of my bettas in 10 gallons. :3 I haven't been able to buy and decorate them yet
Though

 

10 and over for me. This is my 10 with my happy betta boy Reggie and his ADF and amano shrimp pals

Your tanks is so beautiful!

 

I used to see 5 gallons as the minimum...now after keeping a betta in a 10 and seeing others in a 20 long, I think you can’t have too big a tank.

 

The best for anything is the biggest possible.

Smallest for a betta 2.5 is ok but not good 5 gallon is better

 

I used to see 5 gallons as the minimum...now after keeping a betta in a 10 and seeing others in a 20 long, I think you can’t have too big a tank.

My family always asks me why I have a big tank for a small fish. It's so annoying. More room for them and I can decorate it really pretty for them. -.-

 

3g absolute minimum ONLY IF you are dedicated to daily total water changes and careful diligent monitoring... its more work than its really worth, tbh. Plus so very limited to scaping options.

This was my little 3 gallon bachelor pad after he needed to be removed from a community.



Ideally 5 gallon is a better minimum... can scape better without taking up much swim space.

But I think 10 gallon is perfect for a single betta with no one else. Bigger is better but a 10 is just nice and cozy if you aren't wanting to go huge.

My boy got upgraded to a 10 and its perfect for him.

 

What do you guys think of a divided 5 gallon? That's what I personally have...try not to judge me! I know a 5 gallon will be more stable (water wise) than something smaller, and easier to maintain. However, I know my bettas don't have as much room to swim if they had the whole 5 gallon to themselves. What do other betta lovers think?

 

What do you guys think of a divided 5 gallon? That's what I personally have...try not to judge me! I know a 5 gallon will be more stable (water wise) than something smaller, and easier to maintain. However, I know my bettas don't have as much room to swim if they had the whole 5 gallon to themselves. What do other betta lovers think?

Well its better then the betta falls.

 

Well its better then the betta falls.

Don't even speak of that monstrosity...

 

I have a female in my 40-gallon community tank, but I didn't see that size on the poll.

 

I lean towards 5 gallons min but saying that my Betta is in a 33.

 

I like to keep them in 10 gallons but depending on the individual fish and if there's anything else in it I like to say bigger is better. I currently keep my betta in a 20 long with 2 nerites, 3 black devil spikes, and a bunch of ramshorns. He started out in a 5, then upgraded to 10, then upgraded to current one.

Keeping them in 2.5 I think can be ok if done correctly but I personally consider a 5 to be minimum. In my own experience and research I find them to be happiest in tanks that are on the longer side. It mimics their natural habitat more closely.
In the distant future I plan on either setting up the empty 100 gallon in my basement or making an indoor pond in the style of a blackwater-esque tank. I want to stock it with a giant or wild betta and some snails. Possibly some shrimp if I could decide which to pick.

Some bettas seem to get stressed out in tanks bigger than 10 gallons for some reason though. I think it's usually due to lack of decor/plants but I've read of bettas that even in well planted 20s just don't seem to enjoy it as much.

 

Big enough for a filter and heater, as well as some decor to keep the fish entertained. Min I would go would be around 2g, but bigger is always better.


IMO, a betta in a small tank with an experienced owner that's able to provide for it is better rather than someone that has a large aquarium and has no idea what they are doing/refuse to care.

 

Big enough for a filter and heater, as well as some decor to keep the fish entertained. Min I would go would be around 2g, but bigger is always better.


IMO, a betta in a small tank with an experienced owner that's able to provide for it is better rather than someone that has a large aquarium and has no idea what they are doing/refuse to care.

This was an interesting thought and way to explain it. I feel the same way...but I would like to eventually get my guys something a little bigger.

 

I personally wouldn't buy a tank any smaller than 5 gallons for a betta, but I think a 10 is so much better. I had a betta in a 10 and until he got sick he was a lot more active than my other betta.
The only reason I have a 2.5 gallon is because the lady who was getting rid of her fish gave that tank to me and I can't afford to upgrade yet.

 

10's best. 5 is perfectly fine, but 10 leaves you room to stuff in tons of plants and indulge on decor while leaving plenty of space for the fish to patrol.

 

Any advice on tank size?
I have mine in a 3.5, and it seems to be great for him. He swims and explores all day, he is healthy, and seems to be happy.
Even when I just started keeping bettas, and I had one in a dirty fish bowl, he was still super active.

So, is it really worth it to have a 10 gallon for your single male betta? What makes a tank a good size?

 

Well for me I like having them in larger tanks because then you can consider adding other fish or invertebrates for tank mates but if it is a single betta then usually I have them in 3 or 5 gallon tanks

 

Well for me I like having them in larger tanks because then you can consider adding other fish or invertebrates for tank mates but if it is a single betta then usually I have them in 3 or 5 gallon tanks

That makes sense. Do you plant your tanks?

 

I've had bettas all my life in everything from a cup to a 10 gallon. Their behavior changes the bigger the tank gets. My preference is 5 gallons and up, but I don't think a 3 is cruel or anything. A 1 gallon is though. I would like to do a blackwater 20 long and I'm going to do a small community with betta in it one day.

 

yeah, I have wanted to a 20 or something, but I was wondering if anyone would be willing to put one betta in a 1gal and another in a 5gal to compare?
Only if anyone has a smaller and bigger tank, that would be really intersection to see.

 

That makes sense. Do you plant your tanks?

I don't Plant my betta Tanks due to the cost of live plants, In my six gallon guppy fry tank I have a few live plants to help With the bio load of all the baby guppies (sadly I ran out of room for another ten gallon)....I have an empty three gallon that in the near future I might put a betta in and I will probably plant that tank I just have fake plants in all my tanks for now, I could show pics if you wanted
EDIT: I also just can’t get any live plants to survive.....

 

yeah.
I use pothos, which is basically impossible to kill. You can keep it in a pot or in an aquarium with literally no light or sunlight 24 hours a day, and it is really good for cleaning ammonia. The only reason I would buy a larger tank is to have more plants.
Anyone with a 5+ gallon tank have no plants? Is the tank clean? Why don't you keep plants?

 

I don’t know if this counts but I have a ten gallon betta sorority with no live plants except some dying Marimo moss (yes, I know they are basically impossible to kill) here are some pics




Also heres a pic of my guppy fry tank (it’s a work in progress)

 

I've had males in 5, 10 & 20 g. My current male has been in a 20 long with community fish (& ADFs), as well as the five, by himself. He's much more active in the 20 gallon, in that he has more space, obviously, and therefore there's more for him to investigate. He couldn't care less about his roommates, and always looked a bit bored in the 5 gallon.

However, I think he would actually be quite happy in the five gallon, if he could see me, or watch tv or the cat or interact somehow. I think they're easily bored, much like myself! If I can find a way to keep him in the 5 gallon, close to external visual activity, I might put him back in it, along with a couple of ADFs.

 

I have a 10 gallon with no live plants but a whole lot of bladder pest snails that keep the tank spotless. I used to keep my betta in a 20 gallon long but had to downsize because I had to move. I don't keep live plants because nothing grew fast enough for me, I got better lights, started testing out CO2, and used fertilizers. Anacharis did well for a little while but then died off due to me getting Hydra and having to crank up the temp.
As for a 1 gal vs bigger. My first betta was kept in a 1 gallon but was very slow and lethargic. I upgraded because he started getting fin rot and did some research. I got him in a 3 gallon halfmoon, then a 3 gallon rectangle, he stayed in a 6.6 gallon for a long time, and finally upgraded him to a 20 gallon long. He was an old guy by that time so he was kinda lethargic. But my next betta after him was SUPER active in thr tank being a plakat type, he explored everything. Honestly couldn't see him in anything less than a 10 gallon.

 

I've been reading up online on bettas (male and female) in their natural habitat. Strangely, the research has been difficult. Lots of sites with personal opinions and personal experiences, but I wanted something closer to scientific research information. What I have learned is that the males rarely live in tiny puddles. Also, they don't fight to the death unless they're fighting over a tiny, tiny amount of territory. Living in puddles only happens for a short period of time, during dry spells. The rest of the time, they have a huge amount of territory. One site used the word 'vast'. I'm not sure what that person considers 'vast' though. Another site said about the total of three square feet of water. One thing is though, is that the water is shallow in their habitat, but not 'puddle' shallow. I think. But, the natural area is quite large, so that they can roam. Dunno!!!

 

Why is this discussion a thing again... I feel like this may erupt into constant arguing.....

 

Why is this discussion a thing again... I feel like this may erupt into constant arguing.....

Good point! I propose that it's because there is little information out there about this fish in its' natural habitat, that can be verified. Maybe someone out there has a definitive source that will resolve this discussion. Dunno. I'm just a newbie.

 

I’ve merged these two betta tank size poll threads, no need to have two polls on the same topic running at the same time.

 

I mean wild bettas live in rice patty fields in Asia, so they have the option to have a vast territory but I'm sure swimming to patrol the whole thing would be difficult. The issue is though, that most if not all of store bought bettas are captive bred. They have no idea what the wild is like. Being in a 3 gallon vs a cup is a huge jump and they could be happy with that.

 

Big enough for a filter and heater, as well as some decor to keep the fish entertained. Min I would go would be around 2g, but bigger is always better.


IMO, a betta in a small tank with an experienced owner that's able to provide for it is better rather than someone that has a large aquarium and has no idea what they are doing/refuse to care.

I completely agree

 

In the wild a typical territory can measure a square foot and depending on season tI can range rom 40 gallon to 100g~ of territory. Also wild bettas have short fins so it makes the patrol easier.

 

Well yeah, short fins do make it easier but I think the issue is that most people assume that the bettas in stores know what the wild is like, so they look into what they have in the wild. You can't throw a rosetail betta in a massive field of water and expect it to survive lol.