(Poll) The Best Betta Tank Size!!

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. -.-

I always got the same response from my family. I always said that I prefer to see fish in closer to their natural setting than see a big fish have to carefully avoid contact while turning around.

 

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.

I get where you are coming from, but think about captive-bred wild animals (like foxes) in the pet trade. They don't know what it is like to live in the wild, but they are clearly happier when surrendered to sanctuaries where they can live in enclosures that are large and closely resemble their natural habitat vs in someone's house. In my personal opinion, the nicest thing we can do for our fish is to give them the best and most natural homes we can. They didn't ask for us to purchase them for $10+ to have their lives in our hands.

 

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.

I think about it like this. Could you survive in your room without ever leaving except for bathroom breaks? Sure but its a pretty substandard existence. Fish grow stronger if they use their swim muscles to get around. Bigger means less chance of a diaster [sudden ammo spike, temp rise/drop] and you get to see your fish swimming not hanging in one spot. I put a betta from a jar in my 150 gal community tank and he did fine.

 

I always got the same response from my family. I always said that I prefer to see fish in closer to their natural setting than see a big fish have to carefully avoid contact while turning around.

But do they still say 10 is too big even after you tell them that? I usually tell them to go try and live in the bathroom if they think the fish needs to live in a small container because they'll tell me they're too small for the 10 gallon. They're my fish shhh! I'm not a very nice person lol I can be but please don't offend my animal children

 

I get where you are coming from, but think about captive-bred wild animals (like foxes) in the pet trade. They don't know what it is like to live in the wild, but they are clearly happier when surrendered to sanctuaries where they can live in enclosures that are large and closely resemble their natural habitat vs in someone's house. In my personal opinion, the nicest thing we can do for our fish is to give them the best and most natural homes we can. They didn't ask for us to purchase them for $10+ to have their lives in our hands.

Yeah true, but it's not like it is required or we have to be as concerned about where they came from in the wild. I'm not going to worry about a MASSIVE shallow tank, like a frag tank, for my bettas. I'm going to do what is easiest but also healthier for my guy. I don't do live plants or add tannins or anything like that, I just know people use the argument about the whole "well they have this and that in the wild" but like...they don't know the wild! Just things like that are annoying lol.

I think about it like this. Could you survive in your room without ever leaving except for bathroom breaks? Sure but its a pretty substandard existence. Fish grow stronger if they use their swim muscles to get around. Bigger means less chance of a diaster [sudden ammo spike, temp rise/drop] and you get to see your fish swimming not hanging in one spot. I put a betta from a jar in my 150 gal community tank and he did fine.

I get that. What I am trying to say is that these guys are captive raised in small containers, compared them to their wild counterparts doesn't make sense to me. If you had wild caught bettas, yeah then figure out how they lived. But if my guy was born and raised in a tank, then I'm not really going to sweat the pH or size or tannins of the natural habitat.
As for tank size, it also depends on the tail type, that's why I said rosetails. Those guys have like the biggest of all the tail types, I know they struggle to swim, even my halfmoon had issues. If I ever put them in something bigger than a 10 gallon I would have a ton of spaces at the surface for them to rest. Now a plakat I wouldn't worry about so much, their fins are closer to the wild types so they don't need as many resting spots. A perfect example would be my last guy, he was a plakat and I hardly EVER saw him rest lol. He was insane and only ever chilled out to sleep.

 

Rosetail bettas are man made.

But isn't the great part about having fish seeing it interact and act as closely as it would to if it would be in the wild?

 

Personally I won’t go lower than 5g, but if you go 2.5 I won’t throw hate. In fact my friend who isn’t really in the hobby got her betta a 3 gallon with a filter and heater because she new how bad bowls are. Very proud :,)

 

Rosetail bettas are man made.

But isn't the great part about having fish seeing it interact and act as closely as it would to if it would be in the wild?

Yes...I know they are man made. That's the point. You wouldn't throw a manmade fish into the wild, so I don't worry about the wild habitats.

I guess to some people it is, I'm more concerned about diet, swimming space, resting spots, water changes, etc. I'm not trying to imitate their natural habitat, I'm looking for something I can handle that I also enjoy.

Honestly though, this has just become a back and fourth thing so I'll probably stop checking on this thread from here on out. Peace ya'll.

 

I have an empty three gallon that in the near future I might put a betta in

The near future was nearer than I thought! I got the betta tank, and found a really awesome betta

 

who would stuff their betta into 1/4 of a gallon?

 

who would stuff their betta into 1/4 of a gallon?

Well apparently at least a few people. They do still sell betta falls unfortunately.

 

Well apparently at least a few people. They do still sell betta falls unfortunately.

sad

 

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

Depends on the species.

 

Well apparently at least a few people. They do still sell betta falls unfortunately.

At least those have some semblance of filtration. I still see unheated plastic 1/4 gal cubes advertised as a "perfect home for your pet". At that point, why even bother taking them out of the store cup?!

 

This thread has gone round in circles enough, there are plenty of opinions for the op.
Thread closed