I’m in the early part of cycling my tank & it’s about half planted/scapes so this pic is only for size 🙂
I have a new 6.5 gal and have always had long finned bettas. While researching I’m hearing shorter finned bettas need 10+ gallons. I was looking into koi and plakats for this tank but I think it may be too small!
https://i.redd.it/0g6wwhq0ucgg1.jpeg
Posted by skorhoney
14 Comments
i would definitely say so. i have a koi female in a 26gal community and she uses absolutely every inch of space every single day they are nothing like the long finned bettas mobility wise, and their fins aren’t heavy so they don’t spend as much time laying on things/ resting either so are much more active that way too
They usually do better than long fins in big tanks since they don’t have to drag a big dress behind them basically, but that doesn’t mean they can’t handle a smaller tank! A 6.5 is totally ok for a short fin.
Personally, bigger is better, but 6.5 is still above the minimum so it’s still ok!
I’ve never heard this. Can you share what the reasoning is that the research is providing?
I will say that my current betta is my first betta and she is a plakat and VERY active. I got a 5 gal knowing that was the minimum for betta and the biggest I could get right now, but not knowing enough for short vs long fin and as soon as I can upgrade to 7-10 I will. she would love it she’s literally CONSTANTLY moving until she tucks herself in at night.
5 gallon is the minimum requirement for a long finned betta!
short finned bettas require 10 gallons or more because they aren’t limited by heavy fins like males are.
My girl is in a 10(,5) gallon tank, she is not supershort finned being a dumbo ear, but I just can’t imagine putting her in a smaller tank. So I would say 10 gallon should indeed be the minimum for short finned betta’s.
I now have a second tank cycling that’s 6,5(not for a betta) and I really think that should be the minimum for long finned ones. 5 gallon is just so small.. 5 gallon shallow could still work, not the cubes you often see.
As someone who rescued a short finned betta and put him in a 5 gallon, I can’t say I recommend it. I had never felt like a five gallon wasn’t adequate before, but he zoomed around so much that I felt bad that there wasn’t more room. He is much happier in his 10 gallon.
5 gallon is the minimum requirement for a betta, and they would survive, but I really think 10 gallons is much better for short finned. They’re just more active and really benefit from the extra space 🙂
Every betta is different but personally I wouldn’t place a short finned in anything less than 10g just based off my long fins in their 5gs. One of my long fins is looking to be upgraded soon to a larger tank since he is so much more active than my other 2
I don’t know. I mean, I have my Bettas in 5 gallon, 6 gallon, 10 gallon and 28 gallon tanks. Design Matthew, low is better than tall, for example.
I guess bigger is better but if the betta doesn’t seem bored then I don’t see a 5 gallon being bad for them.
Imo a 6.5 is doable if it’s very heavily planted and enriched, but for tanks under 10G, I would only recommend shallow ones with large floor areas to allow more horizontal swimming/movement.
Healthy short finned bettas don’t have as much trouble swimming and mostly have easier time access the surface of the water. So they can handle depth better than long finned bettas. But long finned bettas also benefit from bigger tanks. They need frequent breaks when swimming but will still swim around in the entire tank.
A short finned betta is able to swiftly swim longer distances without needing a break, and a bigger tank allows them to do so.
As long as the tank has plenty of cover, I mean way more than the level you have in the photo, a betta will not find a tank too big.
A larger water volume helps maintain stable water parameters and encourage more natural behaviour. The latter also has to do with the scaping/arrangement and enrichment. An empty 10G is not necessarily better than a heavily planted 5G with live food enrichment.
With that information, you decide what you are able to provide for your betta.
i have a shortfin female in a 35 gallon and she just goes everywhere
My girl is tiny, maybe an inch and a bit. Short fin. Upgraded her from a 20l to a 50l as soon as I could because she was obviously needing more space. She seems OK now with a ton of plants and wood that I move about a lot to keep her engaged (and hopefully distract her from the tasty snails and shrimps.
I would say 10 for a short finned, but 6.5 might be okay! 5 gallon is the minimum for long finned bettas because it’s easier to get around and there’s more weighing on them. As long as there’s plenty of things to do, a good amount of plants, and the waters all good, your tank should work out fine 💗