Help Me Choose Between 2 tanks Please

[H20Gardner]

I'm planning to get a king betta from Petco. http://www.petco.com/product/113290/...t=OnSiteSearch They get up to 4"

I can't decide between 1) a 10x10x12H (inches) and 2) a 14x8.6x10H tank. I plan to have ground cover plants with a few bigger plants, driftwood, and maybe some small rocks of pebbles. They are both about the same size, 5.1 to 5.5 gallons respectively.

Thanks!
Terri

[Laki]

Go for the bigger. Always.

[H20Gardner]

Originally Posted by Laki

Go for the bigger. Always.

Which one is bigger? The first is a bit deeper by 2", the second is 4" longer but not as deep front to back. The second had more volume (by.4 gallons!).

In which do the think the king betta will prefer to swim?

[H20Gardner]

Originally Posted by Laki

Go for the bigger. Always.

Got it! The 10x10 has 100"sq surface area, the 14x 8 has 120"sq.

I just hope 8' depth isn't too short for him to swim or turn around in!

[Laki]

Betta prefer to swim horizonatally rather than up and down. So depth should be fine but I'm too lazy to get out a tape and see what you're talking about. I'm pretty sure my depth is only like 7-8" but I only did a hasty check at the store.

[H20Gardner]

Originally Posted by Laki

Betta prefer to swim horizonatally rather than up and down. So depth should be fine but I'm too lazy to get out a tape and see what you're talking about. I'm pretty sure my depth is only like 7-8" but I only did a hasty check at the store.

My bad! I meant deep front to back not deep up and down/high.

The tank is 10.24" top to bottom/high. So if your up/down kind of deep is 7"-8" he should be okay.

But what about back to front? Is 8' enough or is it too skinny?

[Laki]

Don't think so. Depends on how deep the background planting will be. You can make it work and I'm again going off the top of my head. It should be great :)

[Pitluvs]

Id go with the longer side to side tank, since they love to swim. Actually for a 4" fish I'd upgrade to a 10g and spoil him rotten haha They are 20" side to side and 10" front to back. Wish you people were my neiighbors I have a spare 10g and a 15g LOL

[H20Gardner]

Thanks Laki and Pitluvs.

Pitluvs, I want to place the tank on my bedroom desk so I can be right next to the betta. I actually do work on this desk so there is no room for a 10g. I thought about the EcoPico but the two extra inches on that crowd my arm (and it has the same volume anyway). Thank you for wanting to bless me with your tanks!

My last king betta was in an 8g halfmoon tank with weird dimensions. The tank was 10"Lx15"Wx18"H, and he had a time getting to the top to breathe.

I'm gonna hope for the best. Worse comes to worse, I'd have to get a cheapo glass 10g from Walmart or put the king betta in the 8g if this tank proves too small (these tanks would be on a stand about five feet away from me. The distance changes the social dynamic ). It'll be high light CO2 injected for plants, so if plants are all I can have in it, it would have to do (or get a second, small betta to put in it ).

[Laki]

Well, my fish is on my working desk too! He's in a 2.5-3 gal kritter keeper. I don't know how big your desk is though, I make do with the space :D