A question about Beta fish tanks?

Question

I'm getting a Beta soon and I wanted to put it in a 5 gallon tank. But I also want to decorate it a little bit which would take up some space. Should I consider a bigger tank? I want it as small as possible while also being comfortable for the fish.

Also, I got some Lucky Bamboo the other day and I thought it would look good in the tank. Could I put it in if I keep the lid off, or would my fish not like it or jump out?

Answer 1

A 5 gallon tank is good for your beta. My beta lives in a 1.5 gallon tank and he is sooo happy with it!

Keep the lid on! they're not likely to jump, but you wouldn't want any accidents!

Answer 2

Finally a sensible person who is providing well for their Betta buddy...a 5 gallon tank is perfect for 1 Betta, decorate until his heart is content..but do be careful about leaving the hood off..they may jump out and then you would have a problem. Otherwise..have fun.

Answer 3

5 gallons is perfect for a betta. Your betta will appreciate the decorations as well - just not the bamboo. Keep the bamboo separate, and maybe get a nice bamboo decoration for the tank. I'd be unsure about putting something in the water that wasn't designed to be fish-safe...but that's just paranoid me. You should get at least one big, silk plant (plastic can tear their delicate fins!) and a hidey-hole decoration where your betta can hide. Just make sure it doesn't have any sharp edges or anywhere where your betta's fins can catch - again, it can tear their fins and turn them into shredded sushi.

You NEED a lid - bettas are notorious jumpers. I myself lost one of my favorite boys when he lept through a 1/2 inch gap between his tank edge and lid. He was gone by the time I found him...not a very pleasant experience.

If your room temperature isn't above 76 degrees, you should get your little guy a small heater. Bettas do best in temperatures of 76-80 degrees. Below that, they can be sluggish, inactive, dull-colored, and they're at a much higher risk for diseases and infection.

Are you planning on using a filter, or were you going to do 100 percent water changes? It's a personal choice - I keep my boys in 2.5 gallon unfiltered tanks, and they get 100 percent water changes weekly. With a 5 gallon, you could go a week and a half without changing the water. If the tank was filtered and cycled, you'd change half the water every 2 weeks. Personally, I'm too impatient to wait for a tank to cycle properly, so I just do the full changes :P

If you have any other questions, feel free to e-mail me. Bettas are wonderful, curious, active little guys when given proper care and conditions, and make wonderful little pets. All of mine swim right to the front of their tanks when I approach...although I think they're just begging for food!

Answer 4

Bettas are notorious for jumping out of open containers, so even though the bamboo sounds like a cool idea, I'd skip it. You might be able to find a small fake bamboo ornament at a pet store...

Five gallons is a pretty good size for a betta ~ I wouldn't go any smaller. In my 5 gal. I only put 1-2 small plants. You want some open space on the ground so that he can get at any food that falls down from the surface. Also, remember not to over-feed ~ a few pellets 2-3 times a week is sufficient. If you want to feed more often, just offer as many pellets as he'll eat within a few minutes. It'll help keep the water cleaner longer...

Answer 5

A 5 gallon tank will be great for your betta, and they actually like lots of plants in their tank to hide in.  However, bigger tanks are great too.  Just make sure you have a heater and filter, and read up on fish tank cycling if you haven't already.

As for the lucky bamboo, some people have had success keeping it in their tanks if it's only partially submerged, but you should never totally submerge it.  However, betta fish are notorious jumpers and you'd be taking a risk by not have a cover for your tank.