5 Gallons Or 10 Gallons

[Jeepers]

Which gallon size is better for a single male Betta? Right now I have Morse Code in a gallon bowl but want to upgrade it. I planned on doing so earlier but haven't had a chance.

I don't plan on adding more fish with him but would possibly like some live plant options.

I've been reading about tanks some people have, with multiple females. That may be a consideration for me in the future, but not right now.

Also, could I split a 5 gallon tank in half and house two male bettas that way? When I bought Morse Code it was a toss up between him and another. When I go to buy his tank, if the other male is still available I may buy him as well, but I'm not sure right now.

Any input is appreciated!

 

[Katty]

IMO you should always get the biggest size tank you can manage. It's easier to manage the water parameters that way since changes would happen slower in a bigger water volume and the fish just has more free space to move around. Most medicine dosages (which hopefully you won't have to use) are given per ten gallons, or even in pre-measured ten gallon packets, so it's easier to dose medicine in a ten gallon than it would be a five.

A 5 gallon tank setup is about the same price as a 10 gallon tank setup and takes up about the same amount of space, so to me it just makes more sense to get a 10 gallon. And if you want to divide it for two bettas later or turn it into a community tank with Morse Code, you'll have a lot more options for the tank in the future than you would with just a 5 gallon.

You could split a 5 or 10 gallon tank for two bettas. If you know you're going to split though I think it would be a good idea to go with the 10 gallon, so that they'll have more space.

 

[KittyKat]

Personally, I would keep a single male Betta in a 10 gallon tank and get him some nice tank mates. My normal advice is anything between 5 and 10 gallons for a male, just get a tank in that range which best suits your available space and you like the look of.

 

[BethK]

I would never split a 5 US Gal for 2 bettas, just not big enough and water quality would be hard to keep.

5 US gal will be OK for 1 betta but these days a 5 gal, costs the same as a 10 gal, so I would go with a 10.

 

[Jeepers]

Thanks, yes, the cost is about the same for either a 5 or 10 gallon so either way doesn't really matter overall. I will most likely go with the 10 gallon after all.

 

[Syphoniera]

Good choice on going with the 10g!

Happy to hear that you're planning on planting the tank, as bettas love swimming through and around a good thick growth of plants, which also help maintain water quality, as you probably know.

Don't know if you're aware of this or not, but if you get a canopy that uses incandescent lights, you can use CF bulbs and have enough light to grow a wide variety of plants well, since the fluorescent lights sold with tanks are so useless...

And you can always get another little 10g and have that second betta too.

Sorta like peanuts, aren't they?

Really can't stop at one...

(Boy, haven't been here in quite a while, find this (to me) new lay-out rather confusing, lol.)

 

[Jeepers]

I have my 10 gallon just about ready for him to move into. I need to find a place to buy live plants though.

Are silk plants an ok alternative, or will they be a risk to his fins? I know hard plastic isn't good for a betta.

 

[Biulu]

I have my 10 gallon just about ready for him to move into. I need to find a place to buy live plants though.

Are silk plants an ok alternative, or will they be a risk to his fins? I know hard plastic isn't good for a betta.

Silk plants are fine and dividing your 10 gallon in 2 for getting 2 bettas as well. I would only make sure that the division is not a clear one, otherwishe they will be flaring all the time at each other and that is very tiring for the fish. So look for something that you cannot see through. Maybe you buy yourself an acrylic sheet, cut it at the right size and then use the sticky plastic that they use for car windows that don't allow you to see through.

 

[xBETTA-BOYx]

What a lucky betta 10 gals. all to himself lol Hes gonna be quite happy there

 

[snowflake311]

I have kept bettas in everything from 2gal jars to 5 gal tank ever 80 gal tanks. I know have my boy in a 10gal and it is perfect for her.