What Is the Ideal Betta Fish Tank Size?

INTRODUCTION: Let me ask you.  Are you housing that fabulous black halfmoon betta of yours in a home that they consider to be a Super Bowl at least?  Or is it more the equivalent of a tiny snow globe?  With them being the one found in the falling snow?  (And by "snow" I mean fish poop.) 

Now if you're of a mind that bettas can thrive in a small bowled environment, you might want to think again.  Oh they can survive alright.  Much like you could survive in a refrigerator box under a bridge - for a while.  But sooner or later the elements would get you.  Just like sooner or later bad water would get any finny inhabitant of a tiny bowl. 

So if you want a pet that is very active, that darts all about, that is constantly on patrol, that is happy and eats well, then set your sights on a bigger tank.  Please!

Most will tell you five gallons is good.  And it is.  But I'm here to tell you 10 gallons is better if you have the space for it. Ideal even.  Reason being the water quality will be more stable.  The temperature will be more stable.  And it will be less work for you to keep it that way.  Better for you, better for him.  What's not to like?

While anything less than five gallons will cramp his style.  Not to mention that unfiltered bowls invite quicker fish waste build up which can lead to the poisoning of your fish.  Literally.  And who wants that?

So.  Your ideal set up might come down to the tank, a submersible heater, a gentle sponge filter, some real or silk plants - skip the plastic ones they can be hard on the fins, smooth stones instead of rough gravel for much the same reason, and a cover of some sorts.  Yes, these guys are notorious jumpers unfortunately. 

Bottom line, if you bother to heat and filter their space, they'll be happier and more active.  Plus in this kind of set up the water quality will tend to be good and stable.  It will also tend to be good and warm and you can keep it that way safely.  Plus the extra space will make for a grateful, happier, more active fish.

And don't forget that bettas are labyrinth types.  So being air breathing they like to gulp some surface air from time to time.  That means you don't want to fill the tank to the top.  Leave a couple two three inches of breathing or head room - literally.

Result?  A happier more active fish. 

Granted bettas and fish in general have limited reasoning powers.  Quite often their brain runs through a simple progression when they encounter something for the first time which often comes down to three light bulb moments:

1) Is this food? - if so let's eat
2) Does it look at me as food? if so get me outta here
3) Is this a possible mate?  if so then it's show time!

Happiness doesn't really enter into the equation.  But you can still tell a happy betta from an unhappy one.  Just head to any big box pet store and see those poor souls stuck in tiny bowls if you need to see what an unhappy one looks like.

CONCLUSION:  These guys can be great companions.  So why not give your black halfmoon male a really great home?  One that all but insures a great life rather than just getting by.