Can I put a betta fish in a 29 gallon aquarium?

Question

I just saved a betta fish from a fair that I went to. He looks healthy, if not happy, and is eating some frozen brine shrimp I have to him in the little ""tank"" he came in. I have five other betta fish which all have their own five gallon tanks. However, this veil tail male has nowhere to go but an empty, cycled 29 gallon aquarium that I set up a while ago. It has three live plants, some rocks, and black sand at the bottom, plus a filter. It doesn't have a heater because it's in my room, which stays at a steady 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Can he go in a tank this large? The ammonia is 0, nitrites 0, nitrates 0.5, pH 7.4. Thank you!

Red · Accepted Answer

You can put him in there, yes. It's a myth they need less space spread by stupid people in pet shops. The "Rice Paddies" they live in, can be hundreds of feet long.

Just make sure he's strong enough to be able to get up top, some aren't when they come from bad places. I currently have one in a 30 gal, but he was so messed up when I got him I had to pop him in a homemade net so he could get up for air since he can barely swim. That net is more than a foot long and six inches deep(I use them for mothers giving birth with my livebearers and raising some fry for a few weeks, much better than those sucky little nets at the store).

Anyways, make sure he can get up, and make sure the filter current isn't too powerful. Some of mine like it, some don't, and you don't want him blown around. A bit of flow should be okay though. Lot's of hiding and plants to go through will keep him very happy and feeling secure too. They're such curious fish, they love that stuff. 
Also would make a good size for a small betta community tank(as in you can add in betta friendly tankmates IF he allows it, I intend to do cardinal tetras with mine if he survives his hell, I've only had him three days and he eats, but still can't get up on his own).

BettaFan · Answer

there are many fish that are compatible as betta tankmates. The four rules that you can use to determine whether a fish is compatible are

1) Not colorful or resemble a rival betta's colors (guppies)
2) Not a fin nipper (Tiger barbs are a big NO)
3) The right size for the size of the tank (No common plecos in a 10 gallon tank since they get to 2 feet in length)
4) Lives roughly in the same water conditions as a betta (no brackish/saltwater fish)

more info here 
http://bettacare101.com/tankmates

Anonym · Answer

Of course. Just make sure that if you want to add any other fish in there, they are not going to fight with the betta. Hope this helps xoxo

Can I put a betta fish in a 29 gallon aquarium?

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