Betta Fish: Going from a 6.8 to a 55 gallon?

I spent over a month preparing his tank and have only had my betta a couple of weeks and I’m OBSESSED. There’s 3 amano and some ramshorn snails in there but after deep diving into aquarium research I learned about corys and have become obsessed with wanting some corys.

I’m absolutely kicking myself for not getting a bit of a bigger tank so I could fit at least a school of corys with my betta and have been bit by the “bigger is better” bug.

I’ve found used 55 gallon tanks available and I love the idea of having a 4 foot show tank and I have the perfect space for it. I would hope to have a school of corys, a school of nano fish like rasboras or tetras, and more amano shrimp and snails in a big, planted, community tank.

But…. My betta is SO FREAKING HAPPY. He makes big clusters of bubble nests every day and is active, swimming and playing using every inch of the tank. He doesn’t seem to bother the amano. I wish I could have a more complete ecosystem for him (less mulm) but now I’m wondering if he would be his very happiest in the tank he’s in now. Or maybe just upgrading it to a 20 long style of tank.

Is putting him in a 55g community tank really a good move for him? I am attached to this fish and the idea of him getting his tail nipped, or nipping his own out of stress kills me. Obviously I also don’t know how he would interact with other fish either.

Would be heavily scaped/planted and keeping the tank black water help a betta cope in a 55 community?

I still want the 55g to watch beautiful schools – I’d just rather stay away from MTS this early on in the hobby. But I also want what’s best for this beautiful happy guy.

This is a picture of his tank now. Thanks!