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Betta Fish

Betta Fish: Is my tank good for a betta?


I’ve had this tank for over a year and previously had a single cherry that was gifted to me. Waldo is no longer with us (rip) and the snails made quick work of him 😭. The tank has sat empty for a little bit, just cycling, while I decide what to do.

It’s a marine land portrait 5gallon that I modified to take out the back compartment, so it’s a true 5 gallon now compared to the bs it was before (I did the math :P).

I was considering getting a betta but ik there can be concerns about how fully planted it might be and the size or verticality. It’s 12 inches in height after the substrate layer. I was also thinking of stocking it with cherry again as tank mates but probably prior to the fish so they can get established? Idk, ik it’d always be happier in a larger tank but this is what I have up and running and I just want thoughts on the matter, please and ty 🙂

https://i.redd.it/4qclwv4u5vkg1.jpeg

Posted by 15minoffame

14 Comments

  1. Crafty_Ad3991 on

    While longer finned bettas are better suited for long tanks instead of tall, short fin(plakat) bettas can do well in either and I think one would definitely enjoy this! It is heavily planted but looks good for what they need!

  4. Few_Midnight_8477 on

    12 inches is shallow enough. It actually doesn’t even have to be super shallow, I would just add some kind of lid bc they can jump. My betta lives in a 20 gallon 14 inch high and swims on the bottom and top and middle and is just fine!

  6. AcceptableVast6526 on

    I have this tank, I think mine is a Marineland. I had a king in it and he was doing really well. I thought. I guess I left the lid pushed back like .5 inch when I fed him. I’m guessing. I went to feed him one morning and he didn’t come to meet me. That registered as abnormal but I was in a hurry and didn’t stop to search. In about an hour I saw him dried up on the floor. Lid was snug then but all I can guess is I didn’t put it back snug the day before. Lost my king. 😒. Got to be careful with lids..

  10. Ungratefulpickle on

    The 12 in height is not the issue it’s the lack of horizontal swimming space. Think of it like living in a tall, narrow hallway instead of a wide living room. Fish don’t really use vertical space the way we imagine. Bettas swim back and forth horizontally, not up and down. At the end of the day it’s not going to hurt the fish but I personally wouldn’t do it.

    If you do decide to add a betta definitely get a long finned one as they typically are less active. Also add places for resting near the surface like floats and hammocks.

  11. BugsB3 on

    The thing about a 5gal and a Betta is that with the right kind of live plants is that the fish will enjoy that tank. Your tank provides all lthe things a Betta might want such as an area of luscious plants to explore looking for tidbits. An open swimming area to patrol. And tall plants that it can rest on while ‘resting in ambush’ in case some juicy bug drops from above.
    Very nice Betta tank. You could get a Kuhli loach or some amano shrimp to help clean up uneaten food.

    Enjoy a tank that the Betta is enjoying. You did very well setting it up.

  12. RadiantPreparation33 on

    I think it would be a beautiful home for a betta 100 percent but if it was me it would only be a betta I have 4 bettas and you’ve done a beautiful job planting this beautiful home so I would yesssss get a beautiful betta to go in there

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