Baby Betta Tank size?

[BettaPirate]

I know that it has been posted several times that it is best to have a 2 gallon minimum size tank for a betta but I was wondering if a baby betta can be kept in a 1 gallon tank comfortably until it matures?

[Kytkattin]

Just keep a really close eye on water quality. :)

Really even adult bettas, especially the ones with ridiculous finnage can be kept in 1 gallon, sometimes to their benefit if they have less room to haul those heavy fins around. But no need to make this a debate about tank size. Just keep that water clean and warm!

[babystarz]

Yes a 1 gal would work, but you'll need to do daily 100% water changes to keep up with the ammonia and hormone production. I have done this myself in a pinch and it worked out fine.

[Kytkattin]

Or get some cheap, fast, heavy ammonia absorbing plants like anacharis and just float it at the top. It will help you baby feel secured and you could do like a 50% change a day instead. I caution against doing 100% every day as there is such a thing as too clean, and water changes are stressful but babystarz is right, you need to make sure that growth stunting hormone doesn't build up.

[SpeakNow13]

I had one of my babys in a 5 gallon when I got her, She didn't like it one bit! She constantly had stress stripes and her fins were never perky! I put her in a 1.5 gallon bowl until she is mature and she seems much happier for now!

[BettaPirate]

Thanks for the responses. I already have a small tank with heater so I think i'll try it out and if the baby seems unhappy I'll upgrade asap.

[Myates]

A 1 gallon is just fine for a betta to live in it's whole life.. and please do not do 100% water change daily, as the tank would then be too sterile and that would be detrimental to the overall health/immune system of the fish. Tanks that are 1-4 gallons with no filter require the same amount of water changes per week - 1 50% and 1 100%. Anything more and you're not helping the fish out.. there needs to be a balance to the water and bacteria, etc.

BUT a baby betta (those tiny ones at Petco) do require a bit more cleaner water - so at most just add in another 50% per week until it's a few months old, then go to 1 50% and 1 100% per week schedule.

Bettas generally do not accumulate a whole lot of ammonia themselves, so it takes a bit more time to build up in the tank (this based off of no excess food being left in the tank to rot).

[Kytkattin]

^+1 for Myates! You said it way better than I managed. Clean, but not too clean. They don't need to live in a sterile environment!

[ChoclateBetta]

I would still go with the 2 gallon. The 2 would be safer. If you go with the 1 gallon semi aquatic plants growing out of the lid is good.

[gossipgirl1031]

In my experience, I've found a gallon to be fine. Clean, but not too clean of water is best. And it needs to be warm. I usually go for the really tiny babies, they don't do too well during the winter in the stores where I live. Good luck!