What size tank does a betta need? Our 4 sizes compared
"How big should the tank be?" is the first thing most customers ask us. The honest answer: a betta can live in any of the four tanks we sell, but they're not the same amount of work. This guide compares them in liters and in chores, so you can pick the one that fits your space and your schedule.
MomoShopping for Hanabi's tank
HanabiHer red and blue halfmoon betta
DangoHer Winter White. Likes naps.
Our betta tanks, side by side
Sizes are width × depth × height in inches. The column shows how much water each one holds.
Bigger isn't fancier. It's easier.
A betta makes about the same amount of waste whatever tank it lives in. In a small tank, that waste has less water to spread into, so it builds up faster. That's the whole reason small tanks need more water changes.
Same fish, same food, one day of waste. The bar shows how strong it gets in each tank, compared with a 5 gallon.
Same me, same food, same mess. In a bigger tank my water stays clean for longer.
Many international guides recommend 5 gallons or more for a betta. Smaller tanks work too, and many of our customers use them. Just keep up with the water changes.
Which size fits you?
if you have a small desk or shelf and don't mind a water change every 3 days. Easy to clean, light to carry.
if you want live plants or an aquascape. Our ready-made 2.5 gal sets come with the tank.
if you want the least work. With a gentle filter, a quarter of the water each week is enough.
What every betta tank needs
Use a lidwith a small air gap at the top
Bettas can jump, and they breathe air from the surface too. A lid keeps them in, and the gap keeps the air fresh.
- Don't fill to the brim. Leave a little space at the top. With gravel inside, the real water amount is a bit less than the tank size.
- Gentle filter or none. Small tanks are fine without one if you keep up with water changes. In a 5 gallon, a gentle filter saves work.
- Soft plants and a leaf to rest on. Long fins tear on sharp decor.
- Anti-chlorine for every bucket of tap water.
Our starter sets put the tank and the basics in one order. Our rock and Sakura bonsai aquascape displays come scape only, with a 6×6×8 tank, or with a 2.5 gal tank.
How to work out any tank's size
Example: a 12×6×8 in tank is 576 ÷ 231 = 2.5 gallons, or about 9.5 liters.
How glass tanks leave our shop
- Lalamove
- Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
- Pet transport
- Message us to arrange it.
- Pickup
- Our shop in Bacoor, Cavite.
- J&T
- Not for glass tanks.
- Aquascapes
- Made to order: small sets in 2–3 days, 2.5 gal sets in 3–7 days.
- Sundays
- No deliveries or pickups.
Questions customers ask us
What is the minimum tank size for a betta?
Many international guides say 5 gallons. Our customers also keep bettas in 4×6×8 in (0.8 gal) and 6×6×8 in (1.2 gal) tanks, with half the water changed every 3 days. The smaller the tank, the more often you change the water.
Is a 1 gallon tank enough for a betta?
It works if you change half the water every 3 days. A 2.5 or 5 gallon tank stays clean longer and is easier to look after.
Does a betta tank need a filter?
Not in a small tank, as long as you keep up with water changes. In a 5 gallon tank, a gentle filter means you only change a quarter of the water each week.
Can I put two bettas in a big tank?
No. Even in a big tank, male bettas fight. Keep one per tank.
Do I need a lid?
Yes. Bettas can jump. Use a lid or cover with a small air gap.
Can you ship a glass tank by J&T?
No. Glass tanks go by Lalamove or pet transport, or you can pick one up at our shop in Bacoor.
The cartoons show our characters Momo, Hanabi and Dango. The betta photos are real fish from our shop, and the tank photos show the tanks we sell.