Ideal Betta fish tank

If you want to make sure your Betta fish lives a long, happy life, you need to choose the best tank you can for his home. Aquariums come in all shapes and sizes, and you have a lot of options. Ultimately, you want a Betta tank that is attractive, easy to care for and healthy for your fish.

Unfortunately, things get a little convoluted when it comes to the poor Betta fish. Betta are anabantids, which means they can gulp air above the water if they need to. In the wild this helps them survive for short periods of time in harsh, low-oxygen conditions and muddy, stagnant puddles.

Because of this ability to tolerate poor living conditions, people mistakenly get the idea that Betta prefer tiny little tanks or bowls with no filtration. Even worse, people stick them in plant vases, book ends, "cubes" and other horrible enclosures.

If you were hoping to get any such suggestions from this article you've come to the wrong place. Betta do not belong in tiny little tanks any more that you or I ought to live in a closet. Just like any other tropical fish, Betta need space to thrive.

If you choose a larger tank your Betta will be healthier. But there are benefits for you, too. Larger tanks are easier to care for. You'll spend less time fussing with the tank and performing water changes. And, you'll have lot more room to decorate, whether than means lives plants or artificial décor.

Ultimately, choosing the right tank means a happier Betta fish and a happier you. This article will get on the right track to finding the perfect home for your Betta.

Betta Tanks Under 5 Gallons

One gallon of water is the absolute minimum tank size your Betta needs for survival. Even though there are plenty of options out there for smaller tanks and other habitats, I really hope you avoid them.

In fact, even one gallon is very small. Frankly, I do not like to see any fish in a tank under 5 gallons, even a solitary Betta. Tanks that small get dirty way too fast, and don't provide enough room for your fish to swim around. Really, putting your Betta in any tank smaller than 5 gallons is not a great idea. If you take anything away from this article, I hope it is this lesson.

However, I know I can say this until I turn blue and pass out and people are still going to do it. So, let me at least offer some points of advice.

• Do not rely on the air pump that comes with many small tanks to operate as a real filter. Instead, choose a tank with a decent in-tank filter or hang-on-back filter, or one that has the capability of mounting an aftermarket nano filter.
• You still need to do full weekly water changes with a tank under 5 gallons. If you move up to a larger tank with quality filtration you can do partial water changes at less frequent intervals.
• Betta may not like the bubbles or current created by the air pump. You might be better off without it, and again this is a one big reason to avoid small tanks that rely on air pumps for so-called filtration.
• Choose pebbles instead of aquarium gravel so you can remove them weekly and clean out any waste or uneaten food. In larger tanks you can vacuum the substrate, but in tanks under 5 gallons you are going to need to do more thorough cleanings to maintain healthy water quality.
• Do not choose a tank under one gallon, whatever else you decide.

5-Gallon Betta Aquariums

A 5-gallon tank is perfect for your Betta fish. It is small enough for a desktop or tabletop, but large enough to provide adequate swimming room for Betta. In a perfect world every Betta keeper would house their fish in a tank 5 gallons or bigger!