Betta in a 20 gallon tank?

**batmura** · 08-05-2009, 04:07 PM

With the exception of a few cories and pleco, would a 20-gallon tank be a bit too much for a betta?

Cheers!

**Red** · 08-05-2009, 04:30 PM

I keep bettas in two of my 75gals. They would love a 20gal.

**batmura** · 08-05-2009, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by The Red Severum

I keep bettas in two of my 75gals. They would love a 20gal.

You keep two bettas in 75g?

I heard that even if you put a male betta in a 20g, it won't swim much. It'll pick its own territory and just hang out in that area neglecting the rest. That's why I asked.

**megastealer** · 08-05-2009, 06:56 PM

Hmm. That may be true, but whats the difference of not swimming "much" a 75g and swimming quite a bit in a 5g? If that is true about bettas, it probably means bettas swim about the same in either container because of their behavior but it is more noticable in a small container.

**Red** · 08-05-2009, 06:57 PM

My betta's swim all over the place. I also have 3 females in there too. They make great community fish. I would not reccomend keeping 2 in a 75 but 1 in a 20gal is great. They will swim.

**jas95** · 08-05-2009, 07:24 PM

I wouldnt keep a betta in anything smaller than a 5gal or anything bigger than a 10gal unless it was a divided or a big community tank.
I heard to much room isnt good for them.

**Red** · 08-05-2009, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by jas95

I wouldnt keep a betta in anything smaller than a 5gal or anything bigger than a 10gal unless it was a divided or a big community tank.
I heard to much room isnt good for them.

Where are you getting this info from? Please link me to a source. Bettas live in big lakes during the wet season, and only for 1-2 weeks live in a little puddle.

**robflanker** · 08-05-2009, 07:31 PM

Originally Posted by jas95

I wouldnt keep a betta in anything smaller than a 5gal or anything bigger than a 10gal unless it was a divided or a big community tank.
I heard to much room isnt good for them.

BREAKING FISH NEWS!!!!

No, i've never heard this. Please link where you are getting this from - cos i'd be very interested in this too.

**jas95** · 08-05-2009, 07:41 PM

This is what someone commented on a thread of mine, read what fishnoob has commented, http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.u...ad.php?t=51252.
Personally i thought a betta would LOVE alot of room but then this guy/gal told me this and other people have also.
I guess there not excactly saying about they wont swim or naything, there just saying its big for a betta.

**-Lp** · 08-05-2009, 07:41 PM

Tried in vein to come up with something to back that claim. I did however find this tid-bit of information..

"In the wild, betta fish yield from rice paddies, swamps, wetlands, and shallow ponds in South East Asia. These bodies of water, though shallow, are quite expansive; rice paddies typically span many acres so they would be fine in a large tank."