When you hear someone saying that Betta fish should be kept in a small bowl, don’t listen to that person anymore, at least when owning fish is in question. If you consider buying a Betta fish or you already have one, you might be interested in learning about the kind and the size of tank your new pet needs to live happily and healthy. To help you with this issue, I’ve asked experts from AboutBettaFishTanks.com about their opinion on this subject, and here’s what I’ve found out.
Although the smallest acceptable tank size for Betta fish is 1 gallon, this minimum volume is generally not recommended. About 2.5 gallons and up is much better choice, though. With a tiny tank, your Betta fish will barely be able to turn around, play with toys and duck into and out of plants. While some stores offer tanks that are specifically designed for Betta fish, if they have less than 2 gallons in capacity, don’t even take them into consideration. In a tank of that size, your Betta will be unhappy, unable to swim and it’s likely to have a lower life expectancy.
A larger tank means better quality of water, too. As an owner, you have to keep your pet’s water free from toxins, such as ammonia, and this can be done by frequent water changes, water conditioners and tank cycling. Nevertheless, a 1 gal tank requires more frequent water changes compared to, for instance, 5 gallon tank, since toxins concentrate more quickly. For this reason, if you keep a slightly larger tank, that will allow you to do less frequent water changes which is surely a plus. When it comes to the shape of tank, as many other fish species, Betta prefers horizontal, long spaces rather than vertical ones.
Finally, if you plan to have some tank mates for your Betta, opt for even larger tank. Even for less territorial fish it is important to have adequate space to swim without encountering other fish and Betta is no exception.