Tank Sizes

[redbetta]

Alright, so I've been told that 1/2 gallon is too small for a betta. Now I feel kind of insecure cause I thought I bought him a good home. He's got bubbles and he's swimming around lots so far. He's been in there for about 4 days now.
Ok, so I'm curious what do you all think? I know that most of you will say that a 2 gall. is a good size but I can't take such a big thing to my university.
And what about all those condos that hold like 4 bettas, and each has like 3 by 4 by 2 spot? (inches) That is PUNY... and all the breeders that keep them in cups? I don't want to start a discussion, just looking for some opinions.

 

[Naughtygirlrlw]

You can get a 1 gallon with a filter, (up to you if you want to use it or not) hood w/ light, and plant for around 10-11 bucks at most Walmarts. (even though I hate WM!!) They are pretty compact but still give the fish room to swim around.

 

[BrookeLea]

half gallon is pretty small. if you change his water a couple times a week it wouldn't be so bad, but he might like a little more room.

and just because all those other tanks exist, it doesn't mean that they're good for the fish. breeders only keep the juvies in cups until they go to new homes. they're not permenantly kept there.

you can get a 1 gallon bowl from wal mart for..about $5 i think and that should do just fine. i got a 2.5 gallon brandy glass from wal art for $10 and i love it

 

[OohFeeshy]

Alright, so I've been told that 1/2 gallon is too small for a betta. Now I feel kind of insecure cause I thought I bought him a good home. He's got bubbles and he's swimming around lots so far. He's been in there for about 4 days now.
Ok, so I'm curious what do you all think? I know that most of you will say that a 2 gall. is a good size but I can't take such a big thing to my university.
And what about all those condos that hold like 4 bettas, and each has like 3 by 4 by 2 spot? (inches) That is PUNY... and all the breeders that keep them in cups? I don't want to start a discussion, just looking for some opinions.

[snapback]878639[/snapback]​

Half gallon is too small really due to heating it (rapid temperature fluncs in such a small volume), waste (no filter, you have to do 100% water changes a few times a week) and space. The condos really are awful, although they don't sell to well luckily. Breeders keep bettas in smaller containers, yes, but they are generally at least half a gallon (I know some people are using 5g tupperware containers now), are cleaned every day, are only for a few months at most and the bettas are at least half the age of shop bought ones.

 

[Andie]

First of all, don't worry that you're doing something truly horrible to your fish by having him in there; I had my male in a 1/2 gallon for my first semester of university, and from the looks of his many little bubble nests and his brilliant colours, he was quite at home.

That said, the reason I upgraded him to a 2.5 in the second semester was that the frequent water changes were wearing both of us out! I used to change him at least twice a week, and it just got to be too much to keep track of on top of all of my school work too. I much preferred being able to change him once a week/every two weeks (depending on if I had the filter running or not) and just being able to enjoy him more.

A one gallon should be fine for your guy (though I recommend transporting him in the 1/2 gallon, since if it spills in the car it's not quite as catastrophic). You could also keep it on hand as an emergency tank in case something happens to the other one; I still use my 1/2 gal as a hospital tank for all of my fish.

You can find very pretty 1g bowls quite cheap at, as people have said, WalMart, or possibly even cheaper if you have a local bargain/discount store competing with WalMart; those usually have a pet section of some kind. You might also want to check out your local pet store franchise, since most places will sell 1-2g 'Kritter Keepers' and these can sometimes be reasonably priced.

Best of luck in your search!

 

[redbetta]

Thanks so much guys, that makes me feel better Andie. He seems really content in this and tomorrow I will be heading for Walmart to find something new, but I'm just kind of down because where it said betta tank or whatever, I figured I could stick with that, now I have to take more money We'll see what I can find, but I definetely want the best home for him. I'll keep the half gall for when I come home and have to take him with.
Anyone else?

 

[redbetta]

Oh, another thing. I thought that the half gal would be good size to put on the desk. I'll be living in a rez room and I had actually planned to get another betta, but like I said, I don't want them to be in a half gal, if that's not good for them. But where would I put a bigger tank in a rez room? I can't think of any places other than the desk, because we only have a closet, desk, chair and table. Maybe a night stand? That might work eh..

 

[BrookeLea]

you can always make room for a betta bowl. it's not that big and there are lots of places you can stick it. my freshman year of college i had a 10 gallon tank on the floor of my dorm room. thank god i have a house now and my fiance will let me stick tanks wherever i want to!

 

[splashluff]

yep.. Critterkeepers are SUPER cheap and dont take up much space at all. They're also much longer/wider than they are tall, so they're perfect for Bettas. I have a 4-5gal CritterKeeper-type aquarium ($12) on top of my dresser, along with a 1gal on each side of it. If you rearrange your desk, you can probably fit at least a 1g on there!

 

[lljdma06]

yep.. Critterkeepers are SUPER cheap and dont take up much space at all. They're also much longer/wider than they are tall, so they're perfect for Bettas. I have a 4-5gal CritterKeeper-type aquarium ($12) on top of my dresser, along with a 1gal on each side of it. If you rearrange your desk, you can probably fit at least a 1g on there!

[snapback]879227[/snapback]​

I agree with the idea Critter keepers don't take up much space and you can add a filter to it as well to keep the water clean. I had a friend who had a 20-gallon in her dorm room. So a larger tank can be done, you just have to get a feel for how your (Oh what's the name I'm looking for? R something or other) feels about something like that. If you're a good resident, then you can get away with more. Can you tell I never stayed in a dorm, though I was offered that position once, quite lucrative, but I finished my bachelor's before. I'm glad that you at least want to put your betta in a tank. So many students opt to put their bettas in tiny bowls from craft stores, never change the water, and then wonder why the fish died? I live in a college town, and right about now is the time of year for the great yearly betta massacre , so I'm pleased that you're thinking so much about the well being of your fish. Welcome to the wonderful world of bettas, you will become addicted!


Fassolt and Fafner also say hi and welcome.

 

[Andie]

So a larger tank can be done, you just have to get a feel for how your (Oh what's the name I'm looking for? R something or other) feels about something like that.

[snapback]879252[/snapback]​

Residence Life Advisor/Residence Advisor; RLA or RA, depending.

Just be sure to balance room for your betta with room for your school stuff! I drove over to my dorms last Monday and measured for my 20gal, and ended up concluding that I would leave it at home until I moved into my own (bigger) room second semester. Instead, for now I'm just taking my 10 and 2.5 gal tanks (my cichlids are moving in with my aunt for the year!).

As to space, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how little of it the KritterKeepers take up. They really are longer than they are tall, and your betta will be, if anything, twice as thrilled by the extra room! Most RAs are very good about fish in general, since they don't make much noise; mine just said "Twenty gallons, Andrea, is a LOT of water if anything goes wrong."

I can take a hint

 

[flautist]

Oh, another thing. I thought that the half gal would be good size to put on the desk. I'll be living in a rez room and I had actually planned to get another betta, but like I said, I don't want them to be in a half gal, if that's not good for them. But where would I put a bigger tank in a rez room? I can't think of any places other than the desk, because we only have a closet, desk, chair and table. Maybe a night stand? That might work eh..

[snapback]878967[/snapback]​

I am typing to you from a dorm room right now. Angel is in a 2.5 Gal. In front of me, and Sakana, Diamond, and Koenig are in a 10 Gal. beside me. We are slightly crowded, but not so much as to be uncomfortable. You'd be surprised how much room you have in a dorm.

 

[Synirr]

Yeah, you can easily fit a 1 gallon on a comp desk... I mean heck, I have three of them on mine! Of course, it's one of those corner desks and also holds two 5 gallons and a 2.5 gallon, but it's still entirely possible to fit a 1 gallon on a small desk, especially if you go for the 1 gallon Aquaview tank Walmart sells. It has a kinda triangular design going on an can fit most anywhere
It's the $10-11 one, btw. Comes with a filter and light hood, not that the filter will do you much good

 

[lljdma06]

Yeah, you can easily fit a 1 gallon on a comp desk... I mean heck, I have three of them on mine! Of course, it's one of those corner desks and also holds two 5 gallons and a 2.5 gallon, but it's still entirely possible to fit a 1 gallon on a small desk, especially if you go for the 1 gallon Aquaview tank Walmart sells. It has a kinda triangular design going on an can fit most anywhere
It's the $10-11 one, btw. Comes with a filter and light hood, not that the filter will do you much good

[snapback]879462[/snapback]​

Yes, I had that one for my betta in my studio when I taught voice for my assistantship. Before Fassolt and Fafner. It housed Loge, a red betta, just your average VT, but he lived for nearly two years, alternating between the 1-gallon and my 15-gallon for extended vacations. I thought he'd be more comfortable for this past summer break if I moved him from the little tank to the 15-gallon. I should have taken him with me back to Miami.



The person watching my apartment didn't know much about fish, and though I cleaned my tank before I left, the power went out while I was gone, and then the filter wouldn't start, and she didn't know how to fix it, and just left it. So I came home to a cess pool and no Loge Amazingly, my tiny Bridget Rasboras survived the ordeal! I had to set up the tank all over again. Loge was a wonderful fish, but I learned my lesson. My bettas will travel with me when I go for long breaks. I'll sneak 'em onto the plane in my dog's sherpa bag, in their little travel jars, and set up homes for them when I get to Florida. I probably sound really crazy now, but the flight isn't that long, about 4-5 hours, so it's probably doable. But I really liked him, Loge was great, and he didn't have to die that way.

I guess the moral of this story is to make sure whoever's watching your fish knows what they're doing or at least has the courtesy to fix it if something goes wrong. Especially, if you go away for Christmas or Summer like I do.

Enjoy your betta.