Ideally The Height Of A Betta Tank Should Not Exceed 9"

[novice_learner]

Hi, I had read that ideally the height of a Betta tank should not exceed 9" (nine inches) as Bettas need to keep going to the top for breathing. As such more the height, more the strain. Is this true?

 

[Honeythorn]

If you have plenty of tall plants like vallis, Cabomba, Elodia, Aponogentons ect ( or the equivalent in soft fake plants ) and also any tall smooth bogwood or ornaments, there should be absolutely no trouble keeping a betta in a tank taller than that. They can simply rest on the plants and other objects on the way up.

 

[Neon.Tetra]

Do betta's make trips to the surface often? I thought that was only if they really-sort-of-needed it.

I mean I knew they could breath from the surface because of the Lab Organ, but I thought that they did it when oxygen was low in the water(?)...

Learn something new everyday.

 

[newfishy]

a healthy betta, in a tank with some tall plants/driftwood/ornaments can live in just about any size tank.

 

[ReMz]

a healthy betta, in a tank with some tall plants/driftwood/ornaments can live in just about any size tank.

exactly. shallow water is not required. Just provide a few plants that reach to the surface. As with any fish, the larger the tank, the better (just as long as there is not too much current for a betta).

Studies have shown that bettas cannot survive without their labyrinth organ. They rely on it very heavily for O2 intake. As long as bettas have easy access to the surface of the water, they are fine . A betta can inflate their swim bladder just like any other fish and float to the top of the tank. It's more of providing an "ideal" home to give them things to rest on. One of my guys preferred to chill on the bottom of his tank when he was sleeping/resting. I rarely ever caught him hanging out at the surface of the water on his plants . All bettas are different.

 

[newfishy]

I want to know the biggest tank some one here has ever kept a betta in. I think I shall do a spin off thread.