But I dont want it to be an expensive procedure like setting up a whole new tank. All I require is a ~3 gallon bowl right? I dont need to purchase a filter, air pump or light? Because I want to keep the bowl on my work desk, I really dont want to have to purchase a lot of things for it. Thanks!
So im looking into getting a Betta for my desk.....
- Thread starter Dekk
- Start date
Nope. You need at least a 3 gallon WITH filter and possibly live plants of some description. A 5 gallon kit from walmart (I think. I'm an Aussie) is only cheap and perfect size for a betta.
Keeping bettas in bowls is generally frowned upon. Keeping bettas in bowls without filters will get you flamed. Like Aussie Pride said, check out walmart for cheep setups.. I think the 5.5 gallon kits are something like $35 with filter, heater and light. Meijer has a new line of 3.4-5.5 gallon rimless tanks out that run $30-$40. They come with a filter but no heater or light...
BettaFishMommy
finkids make me happy :-)
are you talking work desk as in at work? then you'll definitely want a heater. quite often the heat gets turned down in offices at night during the winter, and the air conditioning gets run during the day during the summer. both situations make for a very uncomfortable and too cold betta.
IMO you can't do a betta setup without actually doing a full tank setup.
IMO you can't do a betta setup without actually doing a full tank setup.
Keeping a betta in a bowl is "possible" but IMHO, cruel... and it will (as previously stated) get you 'flamed'..
I'll go against the flow here and say 3g is perfectly fine. Bigger is usually better, but IMO a 2.5g rectangle tank from petsmart would be better due to overall shape and surface area. Whether or not you need a filter will depend on how willing you are to do frequent water changes. At that size, daily to every other day would be ideal. As for heater, if your office stays between 70 - 80 throughout the day and night, you'll be fine.
Personally, however, I do like to keep my bettas in 2.5g filtered/heated tanks but have kept them in unfiltered/unheated 2.5g just fine. I raised my last spawn in 1/2 gallon jars and they grew up big and healthy with beautiful halfmoon tails.
Personally, however, I do like to keep my bettas in 2.5g filtered/heated tanks but have kept them in unfiltered/unheated 2.5g just fine. I raised my last spawn in 1/2 gallon jars and they grew up big and healthy with beautiful halfmoon tails.
I have a minibow 2.5 for one of my boys, and I actually really like it. I did replace the filter with a tetra 3i (not the best filter; a small sponge filter or an azoo palm would probably be better) and replace the bulb with a screw-in compact florescent so I could grow some plants in there. the filter that comes with it isnt so bad though, I have it running on another tank actually (critter keeper) and it does an okay job in there.
personally, I'd get a minibow 2.5, azoo palm filter, and hydor mini heater. replace the light with a screw-in florescent and grow some easy, low light pltants. 50% water change weekly. I have a pretty similar setup (different filter and I odnt use a heater because it stays at about 80* because my room in warm) and out of my three other boys, the one in there is by far the happiest.
ETA: the above suggestion would work equally as well, I just like the contained look of the minibow, and it comes with a light.
personally, I'd get a minibow 2.5, azoo palm filter, and hydor mini heater. replace the light with a screw-in florescent and grow some easy, low light pltants. 50% water change weekly. I have a pretty similar setup (different filter and I odnt use a heater because it stays at about 80* because my room in warm) and out of my three other boys, the one in there is by far the happiest.
ETA: the above suggestion would work equally as well, I just like the contained look of the minibow, and it comes with a light.
BettaFishMommy
finkids make me happy :-)
that is a large temperature fluctuation for a betta, and anything lower than 74/75 ish IMO is too cold for them.
I agree the 2.5 is a good setup. I have 2.5 and 5g minobow. The 2.5 houses a Betta who can't behave with others and he seems happy in there, I'm still using the original incandescent bulb which keeps the temp's up in fact in the summer if I don't have the A/C on I turn it off cause it starts to push over 80*. Java Fern will also grow under the stock light. I did replace the included filters with red sea nano HOB's, so I don't have to buy the crappy little aqueon cart's. I scored the 2.5 for 19.99 at either petco or petsmart.
