Betta Tank?

Question

I plan on going to pet store tomorrow to buy a beta, is a 5 gallon tank big, enough, and should I get a filter? Any other things I should know.

Answer 1

Wow, some of these answers are very interesting to say the least. Everyone has their own opinion on right and wrong, but here are my opinions: First off, you should be fine with a 5 gallon tank. If you choose not to get a filter, you'll have to do more frequent water changes, that's fine. Also, a heater would be good, but there again, not completely necessary (in my opinion, everyone has their own opinions.) I have never had a heater with my bettas. Second, I would suggest NOT using distilled water (you can check out: http://faq.thekrib.com/begin-chem.html for why), and they are important. Use regular tap water with a conditioner that they sell at the pet stores to take out the impurities (chlorine, etc.). Stress coat usually has it in it, just check the bottle. They are not picky eaters, and they sell food specifically for betta's, which is fine, but they do enjoy an occassional treat such as blood worms. I would suggest that you do research on betta's prior to buying one so you will know not only how to pick a healthy fish, but also how to care for the fish AND the fish tank. Without knowledge in all of these areas, it will be hard for you to keep a healthy happy fish. Learn about them before you jump in and potentially find yourself with a dead fish because you did not know how to properly care for it. Knowledge is power. Here's an informative website about bettas that you can start on: http://www.bbayaquariums.com/betta-fish.html. I hope this helps in some way. GOOD LUCK!! ;o)

Answer 2

Yes, you need a filter. No matter how many people say you don't, you DO need a filter. A 5 gallon tank is good for a single betta, but you won't be able to add anything else to the tank as far as fish go. If you want other fish with your betta, consider a 10 gallon tank, or if you want all female bettas, you can have several in a 20 gallon or so tank, just make sure there are no males, and that there are at least 3 or 4, because if there are only 2, the dominate female may bully the other one to death. You will need to do partial water changes, 20-30% frequently until the tank cycles, then less frequently after that, though you still need to do them. Good luck, but don't give into the temptation to either get more fish for the 5 gallon tank once your betta is established, or to get a smaller tank, as 5 gallons is probably the smallest size they really should be kept in.

Answer 3

First of, great size of choice for a betta

If you buy a gallon hex or similar they have already the lights and filters included, since you definately want to have a filter with any kinda fish, doesn't matter what it is, even a betta needs one

What is never included in a tank kit of this small size, is a heater, which you also need, in order to keep the temperature around 76-82 degrees, this is where your betta will really thrive and show his true colors


As far as buying your tank, buy it and cycle it before adding any fish into your tank
http://fishlesscycling.com/articles.html


As far as caring for a betta, read the following
http://fishlesscycling.com/articles/caring_for_bettas.html


And it might surprise you that you can even keep other fish in this size of a setup, which i have myself

1 cory cat (bottom dweller up to 2 inch in lenght)
or
1-3 applesnails

and

4 neon tetras
or
4 zebra danios


and also a live plant, because betta's love to rest on them




hope that helps
Good luck

Answer 4

A 5 gallon for a betta is great. You don't need a filter for a betta, they actually prefer still water, a filter will agitate it too much. You do need to be careful about overfeeding your fish. A couple betta pellets once or twice a week is perfect.

More important than a filter is a heater. Bettas like warm water, even though they survive in cups and room temp. If you keep your fish at about 80 degrees he'll be pretty happy.

Last, make sure you change about a half gallon of the water every week, add a good conditioner to the new water to eliminate tap water chemicals which are harmfull to your fish.

Good luck.

Answer 5

Betas are low maintenance and they don’t really need much. If you want, you could get a small (smallest you could find) tank with a filter, but its not really necessary.... You could even get a little fish bowl and put in some of those little rocks that fall to the bottom and place your beta there (remember, they are fighting fish and if you put more than one at a time they will tear each other up, unless its the opposite sex and the female is in heat (which is VERY rare and VERY hard to tell)

You could ask the associate in the pet store (I forgot what you call it) There is a little bottle with something to treat the water before you place the beta in...

Also, buy food pellets (they eat about 2-3 every other day) and if you don’t have a filter, you could change the water once a week.

I had a beautiful blue beta for 2 yrs until my sister over fed it and it puffed up and died =/

Oh and fun fact: If you take a mirror and place it in front of the beta, it will sprout its gills as if it were going to fight. Once the fish sees itself, it thinks that it’s another beta challenging it.

Have fun with it! Lol

Answer 6

a 5 gallon tank is more than sufficient for a Betta. Think of those lil cups they keep them in and how they live in there. Your new Betta will be very pleased with 5 gallons. Also you do not need a filter for the betta, but you cna get one anyway to help keep the tank clean. The only other thing i can tell you is that Betta's are lone fish, if you put anything else with it they will more than likely kill them. The only thing i have seen put with a betta are tetra's and they are very small fish. Oh and also, im not sure if you know this or not, but you have to use distilled water in the tank. If not that then use drops you can add to the water. The water we get from the tap has too many clohrines and other chemicals that will kill the fish. The easiest way to get distilled water is find a 5 gallon jug,since thats the size of your tank(we used to use an old 5 gal cinagar bottle), fill it with tap water and keep it in a cupboard until you need it, atleast 3 days i think. I hope i helped! Good LuCk!!!

Answer 7

For a single male betta, I think a 5 gallon would be perfect. Thank you for providing your betta the best place for it to live in!

Answer 8

A five gallon tank is great! Your Betta will have a lot of room to swim around and have fun. No, you do not need a filter for you tank because Betta fish don't need filters. You can have a filter if you want to keep your tank clean for longer, and not change the water as much. But if you don't, all you need to do is do simple water changes every week.
Also, have some ornaments with a cave underneath and some fake or live plants for your Betta. I suggest getting the fabric or silk fake plants, because they are better, and do not cut your Betta Fish. The cave will be your Betta's little 'hiding' place for him, or his little getaway.



I hope you have fun with your Betta!


-Capp

Answer 9

A five gallon aquarium is great. I would suggest that you buy a filter so you do not have to change the water. Make sure you get the chemical that takes the chlorine out of the water because if you don't the fish will die. And, don't over feed it because if you do it won't eat it and it will go to the bottom of the aquarium and it will make the ammonia levels high.
DO NOT PUT MORE THAN ONE BETTA FISH IN ONE TANK BECAUSE THEY WILL KILL EACH OTHER!!!!

Answer 10

A Beta can live in a Small bowl and do frequently. for a nice set up a 5 gallon would be nice and I agree with Bryan never PUT MORE THAN ONE IN A TANK THE ARE SIAMESE FIGHTING FISH AND WILL KILL EACH OTHER. They can be reprogrammed by adding a small mirror or shiny disk like a trial AOL or something in the bottom so it sees its reflection but it is very hard to do and you stand a chance of losing your fish,