View Full Version : Smallest Acceptable Betta Home?
knashash
10-05-2005, 10:58 AM
Would like to hear thoughts....i mean I know they are stored in a cup but how small can you go without being cruel?
VTwinFanatic
10-05-2005, 11:00 AM
IMO its one gallon....ive kept bettas in smaller, but once i was educated i discovered that about one gallon+ is better.
wataugachicken
10-05-2005, 11:04 AM
with filtration, and a heater.
Holly9937
10-05-2005, 11:20 AM
My vote is 1g too. Although, I had mine in a 2.5g for a while, felt guilty and upgraded him to a 10g all to himself. He is like a totally different fish now :clap:
mvigor
10-05-2005, 11:53 AM
If you read the printed sign hanging by the Betta cups at my local Wal-Mart you will see that it says "blah blah blah muddy water blah blah rice paddies...breath atmostphere oxygen..."
and I quote "...so they not only survive, but they thrive in these cups!"
Yeah, they are THRIVING!
Personally, I see no problem with a 1 gallon tank, but if you use the light you'll get brown algea enough to completely cover the inside of the tank almost every day. It's a pain to clean and will be a complete headache. I guess if you don't want a light you'd be alright.
Due to their swimming habits 1 gallon is probably fine but I have personally found that mine survive much longer in a filtered, heated 5 gallon tank. My old ones always seemed to die after a year.
tmpadmin
10-05-2005, 12:27 PM
I'm sure everyone saw these by now...
Cool but cruel? (http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=33441&category_id=2253&pcid1=)
They can't be more than 1/4 gal!
kveeti
10-05-2005, 12:47 PM
I'm sure everyone saw these by now...
They can't be more than 1/4 gal!
But at least it won't cost a fortune to refill with this "Betta Water"
http://www.bettawater.com/bettawater.htm
I saw it at the pet store in a mall - and couldn't believe it!!! Something like $6 (Canadian) for 1 Litre of water!!! Yikes, nothing like that to make people do LESS water changes.
On size, I guess my thought is 2-1/2 gallons (a divided 5). Though a 5 would for one on its own would probably be better still.
PumaWard
10-05-2005, 12:50 PM
IMO, anything less than a 2g is cruel. You need a filter and heater as well.
Bettas enjoy swimming and activity as much as many other fish that would be considered insuitable for 1g tanks... I don't think just because they have a labyrinth should mean that they diserve less.
mvigor
10-05-2005, 12:52 PM
That Betta water web site includes these directions:
Directions
Remove fish from bowl and place it into a small container of Betta Water at room temperature. Rinse out the bowl with running water. Apply a final rinse with a small amount of Betta Water, swirl it around to remove any chlorine residue, and discard. Then fill the bowl with fresh Betta Water and add back in your happy pet!
Your betta bowl would have to start the cycle over completely every time if you did that!
tricksterpup
10-05-2005, 1:04 PM
Actually, I prefer keeping mine in larger tanks, such as my 20 and 30 gallon tanks. I don't understand the feeling that these guys like to be kept in a small container. I do have a female and a male both in seperate 2.5 planted tanks and they are both doing fantastic but I do regular water changes. But I prefer seeing them in the larger tanks.
I plan to work on my 55 plant tank and turn it into an asian tank, and plan to keep a betta in there as well.
wataugachicken
10-05-2005, 1:39 PM
i've heard that the best indicator of a healthy fish is having one that will breed under the conditions it is kept in. tiny bowls are NOT breeding conditions.
and yes, i know that certain fish are almost impossible or completely impossible to breed, and that some of them need changes with their water to mimic natural conditions such as a flood season. however, if you met those conditions and the fish could breed, then you know you're doing it right and that you have healthy, well-cared-for fish.
and while they do naturally live in "muddy" rice paddies, there is also good irrigation in those systems, warm temps, plant and bacterial filtration, and plenty of fresh live food. is the water less than clear because of dirt particles making it cloudy? yes. it is full of ammonia and other wastes that the fish are forced to stay in? no.
tricksterpup
10-05-2005, 1:45 PM
Yep and to help the argument of a rice pattie field, here is a picture of one.
http://xinsheng.net/xs/images/2004-2-24-rice-field-big.jpg
wataugachicken
10-05-2005, 1:56 PM
it would really be funny and sad if a new rap/gangsta/bling style involved putting bettas in tiny glass spheres and wearing them as necklaces. maybe with loose diamonds as a substrate. . .
i have no idea where that came from, but i hope you enjoy the mental image.
Hannys_Papa
10-05-2005, 2:02 PM
it would really be funny and sad if a new rap/gangsta/bling style involved putting bettas in tiny glass spheres and wearing them as necklaces. maybe with loose diamonds as a substrate. . .
i have no idea where that came from, but i hope you enjoy the mental image.
Not really...
anyone see that episode of "Pimp my ride" where they put a 1 quart goldfish bowl in the backseat (including 2-3 goldfish) ? Back then i wasnt into fish yet but when i got into the hobby i remembered that and cringed.
I think those cars usually come from the west coast.... how hot do you think the little bowl might get when the car is parked in the sun ? 120-130 ? Thats about twice the temp goldfish like....
[/RANT] :duh:
reignman40
10-05-2005, 2:10 PM
My opinion 2 gallons is the least I'd probably put one in. Allows decent swimming room that way. Of course with a filter and heater.
mvigor
10-05-2005, 3:00 PM
Not really...
anyone see that episode of "Pimp my ride" where they put a 1 quart goldfish bowl in the backseat (including 2-3 goldfish) ? Back then i wasnt into fish yet but when i got into the hobby i remembered that and cringed.
I think those cars usually come from the west coast.... how hot do you think the little bowl might get when the car is parked in the sun ? 120-130 ? Thats about twice the temp goldfish like....
[/RANT] :duh:
Yes, I saw that episode. That was just plain stupid. Actually I think they sealed the tank shut completely so the water wouldn't slosh around and spill. They even put on an automatic feeder. Because it's important to throw food in with your boiled goldfish.
Personally, I see no problem with a 1 gallon tank, but if you use the light you'll get brown algea enough to completely cover the inside of the tank almost every day. It's a pain to clean and will be a complete headache. I guess if you don't want a light you'd be alright.
Hmmm..I have a few betta in one gallons with lights on all the time in the winter...turn them off at night during the summer. I do 2-50% water changes a week and once a month a 100% WC and gravel rinse/wipe down....my tanks are fine... :huh:
mvigor
10-05-2005, 9:42 PM
Must be a difference in tap water then I guess?
randalizm
10-07-2005, 8:36 PM
it would really be funny and sad if a new rap/gangsta/bling style involved putting bettas in tiny glass spheres and wearing them as necklaces. maybe with loose diamonds as a substrate. . .
i have no idea where that came from, but i hope you enjoy the mental image.BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA thats great. im gonna do it.
sardesign
10-07-2005, 9:10 PM
I'm no expert because I just started this hobby, but I would have to say... the bigger the better. After reading about all the different types of fish and their habits, put the largest tank that is possible in your home to house your fish. I have my girlfriend's betta in a 20 gallon long tank right now. It was in a 5 gallon square tank before. It survived about 2.5 years in that 5 gallon tank but once he got into the 20 gallon... he was a different fish. He is so alive and active it's really quite amazing.
On a side note, unless your home is so small you cannot place a 10 gallon tank anywhere, they are fairly cheap, small enough to fit in most places, and do not cost much to run. I was able to set up both of my 20 gallon tanks for about 200 dollars.