betta in a 29

[wrs]

i was looking at other forums at a magazine site, and there is a person that is setting up a 29 gallon tank, just for one betta.

what do all of you think of that? BTW, this person didnt really seem to know much about bettas, one of those people that thinks that they need to be kept in at least a 5 gallon because its cruel to keep them in other sizes tanks.

Personally I think that that tank is way to big for a betta. Especially if it is a slow and lazy one, it will use so much energy just to swim around the tank, and that will shorten the bettas life. ( I think i read that someone else that that oppinion on here a while ago, like 4 moths or so.) i do believe that a 10 gallon is the biggest tank they should go in. And a 1 gallon is the minimum size, yet perfectly fine for smaller bettas, like my female Ct who has yet to grow past the 4 month, I think it was, size that I sawe on a site with a growth chart.

 

[Sorrell]

My main concern would be the height. 29's are tall and seeing as bettas need surface air...

You probably heard me saying that I'm a vocal believer in 1-10 gallons for bettas

 

[cation]

For the most part, I agree with Sorrell, ESPECIALLY if it's a long-tail betta. The depth is a big issue - I'm sure bettas would love spaces bigger then 10 gallons if the water level was low enough, but that's an akward tank.

Anyway, I've had a male plakat in a 20g, and he was fine, but I wouldn't have put him into anything bigger. Now I've got females in my 20g - once again, short-finned fish.

 

[kgrehm]

Ahh, think about it. Bettas dont like in a 5 gallon pool of water do they? There is no problem with that. The depth doesnt matter either because the fish knows how far down that it can go and get the air it needs. Main concern that I have is the guy should have more on his mind than to get a big tank for 1 fish.

 

[cation]

Bettas dont like in a 5 gallon pool of water do they?

In many areas where bettas live naturally, there are seasonal fluxuations in the water level of the paddies, ponds, and streams that are a bettas natural habitat. So yes, at times many of them live in natural "tanks" of less then 5 gallon.

 

[Sorrell]

Ahh, think about it. Bettas dont like in a 5 gallon pool of water do they? There is no problem with that. The depth doesnt matter either because the fish knows how far down that it can go and get the air it needs. Main concern that I have is the guy should have more on his mind than to get a big tank for 1 fish.

My concern with the depth is that the fish is most likely going to need to go low to escape the filter flow, then back up to breathe, then back down.....

 

[ral]

I have not seen a betta in anything bigger than a 15G tank. But I have noticed that they do try to Patrol whatever tank you give them. So they actually make use of larger tanks. But only for awhile. After that he tended to hover and protect the a smaller area in the 15G tank.

I use mainly 2.5G tanks and now use a few 1G's. If space were not an issue I think 5G's is about perfect for a Betta.

But even the 1G's are a lot better than the 250ml cups they used to be in.