2 gallon mini aquarium

[Cher]

I just got a 2 gal aquarium that I intended to turn into a new home for the betta I keep on my desk at work.  Now that I've got it all put together, I'm concerned that the motion caused by the filter system would be a problem for my betta.  I'm new to fishkeeping (the only other tank I have is an Eclipse 12 with some fancy goldfish that I've had for a few weeks that I've already determined are going to require a MUCH bigger tank despite what the guy in the pet store told me...
:-/   ) so I was hoping to get a suggestion as to what kind of fish I should get for such a small aquarium??   I suppose I could just turn off the filter and still use it for my betta..  Would that be a stupid idea?
Thanks!  

 

[DannyDJ]

You don't mention if the tank has an Under Gravel Filter (UGF, for short) or if it's a 2 gallon Eclipse tank.  My betta, Rusty, is in a two gallon hexagon tank with an UGF and he's just fine.

Make sure you do partial water changes on a regular basis.

 

[colesea]

You can read a related thread on this site called "And In This Corner..."

I did a comparason between keeing a betta in a UGF AG 2 gallon hex and a Marine Exclipse 2 gallon Explorer, as well as in a bowl.

With regular maintance, (1/2 tank water change every other week using a gravel vac to suck all the food off the bottom), a betta should live a happy, healthy, and long life in a filtered tank without any problems at all.

My betta Elwood lived in a 1 1/2 gallon UGF tank from 1995 to 1999 on my desk in my dorm room at college until he died, and that was me doing a complete water change once a week and using the grubby dorm tap water. But he was a happy fish, and even had a tiny little emerald cory, Jake, for bluesy company. The two would make beautiful music together

I did have a betta in a 2 gallon Marineland Explorer on the counter at work, he lived there for a good two and a half weeks before somebody sold him. Beautiful fish, and he even learned that if he hung out underneath the outflowing waterfall, the food would come right too him. Now there is a blue betta in there for about two weeks, and its doing just perfectly fine as well. I change the water on that tank pretty haphazardly (I wouldn't reccomoned that to anyone!) when I get the chance if the day is not busy, they do fine.

Currently I have "Mom's Fish" in a 1 1/2 gallon UGF at home, he's been there for four weeks, and he's fine. He moved there from a Bowl.  He'll be a year in our company at Easter.

So your betta should be fine and thrive in a 2 gallon tank provided regular water changes are done, and he's fed betta pellet every day.
~~Cole (who's  6 fancy goldfish have moved from a 6 gallon eclipse to a 29gallon tank in less than a year)

 

[ChazECJr]

You can also check out the "Betta in filtered tank" thread that I started.  I had the same concerns you did, but it seems like a lot of people here have kept their bettas in filtered tanks without a problem.

Welcome to the board  

Charlie

 

[Cher]

Thanks for the welcome and the replies!!!   ;D

It's a 2 gal hex tank with a UGF - it just seems that the force of the water coming up thru the little tube filter is a bit strong..  The pump that came with it appears to be the smallest there is available.  What I'm thinking about doing is introducing a new betta to this tank at home and keeping Spanky (yep, that's the name of my betta at work   ) in his "bowl" until I find something I feel more comfortable transferring him to.. I'm think that one of those Eclipse mini tanks with the quieter filter system would be a happier environment for him..  I don't want to do anything that will upset his world 'cause he's my bud!!  

~Cher

 

[ChazECJr]

If you have a Walmart near you they carry the Regent Starfish which I believe is identical to the Eclipse Explorer 2 gal, but priced lower - only $20.  But I would not buy any fish there personally, they tend to take poor care of them.

 

[Pooky125]

I have a betta in a 1 Gallon Planted aquarium, w/ just an airstone on the side that does fine. One of my has a 2 Gallon UGF w/ 2 African Dwarf Frogs, that have been very happy for about 4-5 months! Otherwise, I'd say your betta would be quite content in a 2 Gallon, even w/ the filter on!