What sized tank would I need for a Betta fish?

I had a Betta fish and I had a pretty big tank. DO NOT PUT MALE AND FEMALE OR MALE AND MALE BETTA'S TOGETHER OR WITH OTHER FISH!! They are extremely aggressive and WILL KILL EACH OTHER...on the flipside, You CAN put female Betta's together, that would be called a sorority tank however you must keep your eye on them and make sure they get their fish issues worked out so they can live peacefully. If you do decide on a sorority tank don't use a tank smaller than 10 gallons so if they want to stay away from each other they can, use a heater with a thermometer, and use a filter. My Betta's name was Bingo, he was awesome but I had to find out the hard way that they are aggressive. (he ate all of my goldfish) I suggest you read the link I provided.. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

You don't really need a big tank for a betta, they're even happy in a medium sized flower vase. Though that's not reccomended, it works if you have more than one betta. You CANNOT put more than one betta of the same gender in the same tank. You will wake up one morning and one might be dead. It is okay to put a male and a female together, but if they start to fight you have to transfer one. Also if your betta lays eggs, it will eat the eggs. So you would have to take the parents out and put them in a separate tank. They typically lay alot of eggs so once they hatch they will start to fight and you'll have to separate. They're called "Japanese fighting fish" and that's what they do. It's best to have just one in it's own tank. I you have a bottom feeder, it would probably ignore it unless it got in it's way. A simple plant in the tank would give it something to hide in.

That size tank is perfect for one betta, but dont ever put male/male or male/female(unless they are in breeing conditions). As for bottom dwellers you could get an apple snail or some ghost shrimp (but watch out with the shrimp because some bettas will eat them). Decorations you could get a nice plastic plant, a small peice of driftwood, a fake deco, or a live plant and place it in the middle of the tank just to give your betta something to hide in. Make sure you cycle the tank before you get the fish and have a smalle heater and filter to keep water clean and heated. Feed them 1-2 times a day with betta specific foods or brine shimp. blood worms, black worms, etc. Change the water once a week (25%) with dechlorinated water.

5 gallons is good for a single Betta. No more fish. You could add some smaller shrimp, such as Ghost or Red Cherry. Some Bettas eat shrimp. Most ignore them completely. Having some plants/moss for the shrimp to hide amongst will help. Java Moss is a Shrimpy favorite. Here are the basics you need to know for your Betta to live a long and happy life: 1. A cycled ( http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php and http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aquarium/cycling.php ) 5 gallon or larger aquarium is minimal for a single Betta. 2. A filter is necessary in any tank in order to keep the water aerated and free of toxins. For Bettas it is best to set the filter flow to low, as they are not very strong swimmers. Another good option is a sponge filter. If your current filter is too strong, you can remedy it by covering the intake with a pair of pantyhose, putting a tall plant in front of the output, or follow these instructions to oufit your filter with a simple current/flow reducer: http://www.petfish.net/kb/entry/347/ I use AquaClear filters on the majority of my aquariums and all of my smaller tanks that house Bettas, primarily because of their extreme adjustability. Be sure that whatever filter you choose has rinsable/reusable filter media. (Rinse only in aquarium water when dirty.) Throw-away cartridges will lead to constant re-cycling of your tank, which in turn can send your fish/critters to heaven. 3. A heater is essential. Bettas need warm steady temperatures of about 80F, to thrive. Constant fluctuation leads to stress, which inevitably leads to disease and often death. You can find an inexpensive heater for a small tank at any fish store. 4. In a 5-gallon or larger tank, weekly 25% water changes, using a gravel siphon are necessary. Water conditioner must be added to the new water before it is put in the tank to remove toxic chlorine, chloramine, metals, etc. Never change all of your Bettas water, as this shock your Betta, and ultimately weaken him. The Betta stays IN the aquarium during water changes. 5. Bettas enjoy a well planted aquarium, (use live or silk plants, plastic can tear their fins,) with a cave or two for exploring and resting. The tank should not, however, be stuffed with plants, as Bettas also need a good amount of room to swim. (And swim they will if given enough space.) 6. Feed your Betta a good staple, carnivore- specific, pellet or flake diet, substituting frozen foods such as brine shrimp and blood worms several times per week. Reserve one day per week for fasting. When properly cared for, Bettas have been known to live for 10 years. I have personally known them to live for 6. Betta info: http://www.firsttankguide.net/betta.php http://www.fishlore.com/Articles/betta-fish-care-guide.htm http://www.caringforbettafish.org/

Sorry in advance if this gets long-winded. lol Just want to be informative. A 5 gallon would be great for 1 Betta and nothing else. If you want to add another fish, I'd recommend a ten gallon. Betta's need a low-current filter (I really recommend Marina, they are perfect, last forever, and has an adjustable flow control.) Betta's are fighting fish, but they get along great with the right tankmates and actually like the social activity. I've had personal luck with otocincluses, plecos, minnows, albino cory catfish, and other Bettas with a Betta fish. Any bright colored fish would get harassed to death. Shrimps are hit and miss, it seems. I've never had them, but many people told me that they're Bettas ate one. If you have tons of plants (live or fake) and caves for relief, you might have luck with shrimp. But they are shy and need lots of hiding places to get away from the Betta. ;) If the Betta is young, which I'm assuming it will be, the shrimp should be safe for awhile until the Betta gets older. Cory catfish are great. They have a variety of different types, too, but I have albino cory catfishes. They are social, and it's recommended they be bought in at least groups of 4, which may be too small for a 10 gallon. They eat algea and look pretty cool and are fairly active. Snails are another option, but most people hate them. lol Bristlenose plecos only grow to 6-7 inches, but I'd recommend at least a 20 gallon for him, even as a baby. ;) Otocinclus, but it needs an established tank with established algae as mine have refused absolutely all commercial foods I've tried, including algae pellets. I cultivate algae in a two gallon bowl for them and switch out their driftwood and rocks about once a week or so, just to ensure they have enough. ;) They are also social and it's recommended to buy at least 3, although I've heard people buy only one and they thrived. I wouldn't recommend it, though. Some websites claim they can die of depression with being the only one. They only get to 2 inches, so with a Betta, you could probably fit 4-6 of these adorable fish with one Betta in a 10 gallon. ;) Just make sure to cultivate algae for them, as a 10 gallon doesn't produce enough for 4-6 otos. I can't really think of any other bottom feeder for a betta that would thrive in 20 gallons or less. I'm assuming you prefer a smaller tank bottom feeder, so that's my list. ;)