Choosing a home for a Betta?

[TheGreatBetta]

I'm planning to get my first Betta fish, and I wanted to choose a tank first. Originally, I was planning on a holiday bowl, but an employee told me that Bettas needed at least 5 gallons and that I should do some more research, so thus here I am.

Here's the tanks that I've been looking at:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...AvailInUS%2FNo (Most practical, doesn't take up much space)

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...AvailInUS%2FNo (Small)

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...AvailInUS%2FNo (Great sale)

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...AvailInUS%2FNo (Might be able to split in half so both my sister and I can have a betta?)

Thanks, and sorry for being an ignorant newbie!

[ChoclateBetta]

I vote the last one.

[Cez]

If you want something practical that you and your sister can share and enjoy, I'd also go with the last choice. You've got the option of adding a divider so that you can both house fish, and can incorporate a light, heater, thermometer, airline, etc without much trouble. Some of your other choices are more limiting.

[ChoclateBetta]

It also has more air to surface access.

[LebronTheBetta]

I have the 1st one, I didn't use the filter as it was too strong.. The LED lights are pretty cool, though. They go a little dull after a month or so for each one. The 3rd on is for goldfish, why would you get that? I mean, there's nothing wrong with the tank but it comes with goldfish food. (Eww)

I vote for the last one also. :)

[ChoclateBetta]

Standard is just so great.

[twolovers101]

First, bravo for doing research! and bravo to the person who told you that bettas need 5 gallons! :D

All those tanks are good starters, personally I do prefer the last one, it's a GREAT deal as it's on sale right now (I'm pretty sure it is any way) and I have that tank myself. It's very flexible in the way that you can add a good sized adjustable heater, thermometer, and the filter doesn't take up too much space.

IF you decide to divide you need to know 2 things.
1. The filter it comes with is quite strong, I have it baffled at the flow out and the intake has a sponge around it and it still pushes my vt around.

2. The way the hood is made, the filter can only go in one place where the cut out is so that will make it rather difficult to divide AND filter both sides. A solution to this might be to divide the tank with a double divider so that there is a small space in the middle, and buy a canister style filter for that and put the heater in the center section. I haven't tried this myself as I prefer to keep one betta in the 5.5 but it can feasibly work if done correctly. :)

Best of luck deciding what to do and with your new boy(s)!

[ChoclateBetta]

I am glad they researched too. Standard is easier to divide too.

[TheGreatBetta]

I woke up this morning, and this is what I found on my desk:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Aqua-Cultu...-Pets/20693704

I guess my mom decided to take matters into her own hands.

I set it up (it came with a filter, and she bought a heater and thermometer from Petco) and I found a website on dividing betta tanks with plastic mesh. I made a divider, but I'm not sure if I'm using it. She also got some vibrantly colored cave thing and something called Mopani driftwood. Whatever that is. The employee at Petco gave her some media from his own tank to start the nitrogen cycle.

I'm assuming that it is 5 gallons (It's called an Aqua Culture 5) but when I tried measuring it when my sister said that it seemed big, it came in at over 6 gallons. Who knows.

I'm going to get some plants today :)

[ChoclateBetta]

Yay. Is the wood pre-soaked?