I’ve been looking at different designs for small aquariums that I might use to house a betta, and I’m absolutely horrified by what people consider “small”. I’m seeing “betta tanks” that are only half a gallon. That’s not “small”, that’s fucking microscopic. Five gallons is “very small”. Smaller than that and you’d better be making constant water changes, which I doubt is happening if you’re opting for a microtank.
I had no idea you were into fish.
I’m not especially. I’d really like an axolotl but I don’t see that happening anytime soon – I’d like more practice with an aquarium before I opt for something with a 15 year lifespan. I could give an axolotl an acceptable home, or I could give a betta a phenomenal home and indulge in urges towards obsessive detail and caretaking. The frogs belong to my mother, not me, so I only get the satisfaction of tending to the vivarium when I visit my parents. I want to get an 8 or 10 gallon pretty aquarium and fill it with live plants, one rescued betta, and maybe a few cherry shrimp.
5 gallons works for especially long-tailed bettas, which tend to move less due to being weighted down by what amounts to a wedding dress of fins. They need lots of nooks and crannies to inspect, new items placed outside the tank for them to look at, and plenty of soft things near the surface to drape on, though. It works, but it’s the bare minimum. 8-10gal is much better.
Cherry shrimp are iffy with bettas. Bettas will either ignore them, stare at them but leave them alone, or tear them apart. It’s worth a shot with one or two, though, as long as they have plenty of places to hide and get away from the betta. If he doesn’t try to eat the test shrimp, add more. There’s not really any way to tell short of trying, it’s all down to the individual betta’s personality.
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