bettas, height or width?

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FastFly67

Aquarium Advice FINatic
Joined
Jul 20, 2008
Messages
552
Location
Greenville, SC
I've got 1 crowntail betta in a vase that's 8 inches tall 6-6 1/2 inches wide (it curves in at the center) and he seems quite content. Saw another betta at the store today that I'd like to bring home and I was wondering if he'd be just as happy in a short wide bowl to kind of offset the current one decoratively speaking. yes? no? opinions?
 
My opinion is that bettas need more than "decorative bowls" for living space. The smallest I have a female betta in right now is 2.5 gallons. One of my male bettas inhabits a 10 gallon with three peppered cories. I just think that bettas really deserve lots of swimming space and vases and bowls are just not appropriate for any fish. JMO, though.
 
IMO a 5 gal is a minimum for a betta. They will be more active and show more personality in 5 or more gallons. I have all of mine in 20 gal tanks. Some with tankmates and one without as he is a mean mean betta.
 
My female betta is in a 6.6 and my male is in a 14 community tank. They are both just so much fun to watch as they swim about exploring their territory. I thought I'd get a peek at my male betta sleeping last night at 2ish am when I snuck up to the tank. What was he doing? He was under my drift wood stealing the kuhlis food.

They have such personality that if put in a bowl with nothing for them to explore or nothing for them to do, you won't enjoy them nearly as much.
 
I agree with saffikeagan Zagz. I initially had my crowntail in a one gallon tank and I thought that everything was just fine. The fish was healthy and looked really pretty in the small tank. When I put him in the 20 gallon part of my vivarium, his personality came through. He swims all around now exploring the much larger area. I have a few other fish around him now and they do great together. You can see a world of difference between bettas in small tanks and bettas in larger tanks.
 
A 5-gallon tank will allow for a small filter (a sponge filter is fine) and a 25-watt heater. Bettas need a consistent water temperature of about 80 degrrees. Room temperature water in a bowl often fluctuates, which causes stress (finrot).

However, if at least a 5-gallon is not possible, the 3.5 gallon will still allow for a heater (a 25-watt heater will work) and a filter.
 
I agree with what everyone has said so far...5 gallons or up is great for a betta...they are much more active, happy and healthy when in a larger, heated and filtered tank. Saffikeagan is right about the maintenance, too...with one betta in a 5 gallon or bigger, the bioload is pretty small so the water and tank stay clean longer. Good luck with your bettas!
 
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