I'm getting my boyfriend a betta for his 19th birthday (legal drinking age in BC... a "big" deal) in 2 weeks, and was just wondering what's the smallest tank size & set up that a betta can live with. We're talkin.....absolute smallest, until somethign bigger and more suitable can be purchased.

Basically I am not wanting to shell out $50 for a fishie that I haven't had before (nor has my boyfriend). He has wanted one for a while, and I decided I'd get him one, he thinks they look cool...and whenever i'm in the LFS with him he just stands and watches them. It's cute!

Anyways, any info would be amazing!! Also, what do they eat? Filter absolutly necessary? Or airstones?? etc.

I'm a newb when it comes to bettas!

Thanks,
Megs

Hey, nice to meet you!

Personally, I have my betta in a 10 gallon tank filtered with an aquaclear mini. I do not have any other aeration in there as betta's tend to prefer still water - although mine loves it in the 10 gal.

Lots of people keep their betta's in different conditions, I would say if you want the smallest tank you can get, you could put the betta in a 1-2 gal. You can get those 'little kid' tanks that come with eclipse filters, I think they are around $50.00 CAD - I know you do not want to spend that, but once you spend it, there is no more spending on getting a bigger tank, it's all you need.

Betta's are sometime picky eaters, so you may need to try a few diferent foods out before you find one they like. Mine will not eat flakes, he will only eat freeze dried worms and topfin's betta bits.

About the filtration, it is not necessary, but I would recommend it because of their long fins. Aeration is not necessary as most betta's prefer still water.

I, personally, really wouldn't put any fish in a tank smaller than a 1-2 gallon. Good luck with everything!

I wouldn't go with anything smaller than 2 gallon, since you can get a small 2 gallon hex tank for not much more than the 1 gallon set ups . I have my bettas in 5 gallon divided tanks (2 male bettas with a divider between them) and I also have some in 2 gallon tanks.

The 5 gallon tanks have filters, the 2 gallon tanks do not. I change the water 100% in the 2 gallon tanks about once per 5 - 7 days. I let the water sit in a large watering can for a couple of days before I use it in the tank and treat it with Prime (a very good water conditioner that I recommend highly). I let my water sit since it comes out of the tap at a lower ph than it will be after it sits for a day or two. PH fluctuations seem to be very hard on betta's fins, and letting the water sit alleviates this problem. Also, letting the water sit brings it to the same temperature as the tank water. I have my betta in the bathroom which is a warm room since my tiny tanks do not have heaters. Bettas like warm temperatures and there tank temps should be in the '70's. With heaters, many people keep their betta tanks around 80 f.

As for food, I have found that HBH betta bites are great for bettas. They also love frozen bloodworms (buy Hikari brand since they are sterilized). I also feed mine homemade gel food that I make for my goldfish and they love it

I am sure the others will have suggestions for you, too.

For a temp. house even a 1 gallon bowl will be fine.

I also know alot of people who keep their bettas in what they call a mini bow. They come in a 2.5 gallon version and also a 5 gallon version. I would say go with a 5 gallon tank, as 2.5 gallons cant be heated, and the filters can look HUGE in them. Some people dont use filters with their bettas, I do and would recommend it. If you dont have a filter, then you will need to change the water very frequently. Ive bought a 5 gallon mini bow for US $30, and I really like the set up. As for food, you can buy them the betta pellets, but make sure you soak them before you feed them to him. Also, they LOVE blood worms.

Your boyfriend is going to love the betta. Ive always thought bettas were great presents. I know I love getting fish for my birthday! Good luck and I hope you find a great set up for the new betta.

Just reading all the posts and thinking there are so many ways to house a betta. Really, as long as you keep in mind that water quality is the most important thing, then you will do right. If you chose to get a small tank for your betta rather than a large one, then do more water changes etc... Good luck!

I dream about getting my boyfriend a fishy tank!! I think I'm begining to brainwash him His mom won't allow pets, but I think I'll have him fully brainwashed by college!!

Haha it was the same for us until we reached university. Now though..... he's moving out of his parents house in August, and I'm moving back to university 5 hours from my parents house (into my own apartment) so it's time for us to load our places w/ pets!! Fish, cats, dogs...

I heard that if you don't have a heated fish room you should get a 5 gallon with a small heater as the minimum for a betta.

Even heated houses have temp fluctuations and aren't set to get to "tropical".

I suppose that would be the optimum, but I have had equal success with my bettas in both heated, five gallon tanks, and just at room temperature. It hasn't seemed to make a difference with my bettas when it comes to their health or longevity. In fact, one of my long living bettas is in an unheated tank.

Yeah, all of my betta's lived without heaters. I just put them in the 10 gallon with the aquaclear mini and that was it. My current betta I have had for about 2 years already.

Really? You probably have better home heating in Canada. We tend to be a bit drafty down here in Australia because our winters are a bit pathetic really.

I did hear of people just buying halogen desk lamps to keep fish in small tanks warm tho.

That's a much more affordable option.

I live in an old house, and the tank was right in front of the old window... I guess maybe we have better home heating... we have furnaces....

In the summer time, I never turn the tank lights on either. We have air conditioning, but still, my room at home used to get hot still. I would leave the lights off almost all summer and all my guys have been happy anyways.

WEll I FINALLY bought the betta! I got a glass bowl thinger (big one) for the betta, as well as Hikiri (I think) betta food, and a betta care book for my boyfriend. It's a red crowntail betta, beautiful fish. I will take pictures of it before I bring it out to him tomorrow.

1)I read in this thread that it's okay in a bathroom because it's warm there?? Should i tell him to keep it in his bathroom or just in his room??

2)I was told by the lady at the store to use water conditioners. I have some of my own, but didn't buy any for him (HE HAS TO SPEND $$ TOO!) so I think i'll use some in the bowl right now before i put the dude in.

3)Any other interesting info??

How do I tell the difference between male and female bettas?

Males normally have long, flowing fins (excusing short tailed bettas and the occasional 'cross dressing' betta.) Females will have shorter fins, and a small egg spot on their belly between their two front fins, it looks like a grain of salt. Of course, some male bettas have egg spots as well, but thats very rare.

Congrats on the betta, he sounds like quite a looker. Good move on getting the book, too.

Congrats to your Boyfriend! It really doesn't matter so much as to where you keep the Betta,so long as the temp. for the fish is kept at a stable temp for him. I think that one of the keys to keeping healthy Betta's,is a stress free enviroment. When Betta's are stressed out,it gives them a vulnerability to Ick/Fin,Tailrot,etc. If your Boyfriend,keeps the water param's on spot,matches the tank temps when changing out the Betta's water,keeps it at a stable temp,and doesn't overfeed him,his new Betta should do great! One thing that I do want to mention is to be careful no matter where he decides to keep the new guy.Often in bathrooms/Bedrooms,hair sprays/cologne's perfume's,etc. are sprayed. When keeping a fish in an open tank/container,one must be very careful in airborne chemical's. I had a friend that kept a betta in her Bathroom.Seemed like every few months,she was replacing the poor fish.One day I was visiting her,and we were talking as she was putting on her make-up etc.,in the bathroom.All of a sudden ,she took her hairspray,and began to spray it all over her head.Needless to say,it took about 2 seconds to figure out how she was killing her Bettas.

Yep, thats why I keep my fish in my room. I don't use hairspray, but when I use perfume I use it in the bathroom instead Also, the products used to keep bathrooms clean can really hurt fish, just the stuff evaporated into the air. My rule: If I can smell it, I don't use it in the same room as my fish. When I clean mirrors and windows, I spray the paper towel with windex instead of the surface to minimize the airborne chemicals

I keep my little guy, Cinnamon, in a covered tank in my bathroom (along with two other aquariums).

I am allergic to just about every makeup product known to mankind, so not much of that kind of stuff is used in my bathroom. Also, when cleaning, I don't use sprays and that kind of thing. Very careful around my fish.

No problems so far.

One thing about the new betta ... be very careful to feed very sparingly. Bettas should only be fed two or three of the Hikari pellets at a time.