Quote Originally Posted by njnolan1 View Post
Sure, but what are you going to do with an empty 10 gallon tank? You need a filter, a decent one is around 20 bucks or more, you'll want some lighting and a hood, that's another 20 bucks. What about decor, plants etc..? Another 20-40 dollars depending on what you get. So let's see, that's 13+20+20+20 = 73 bucks! Now, you can get a kit which most stores have but it's usually only a few bucks cheaper but you'll still be expected to get your own decor.
I don't remember ever saying the aquarium hobby was the cheapest hobby to get into, I know personally I have invested well over $1,000 dollars into it.

In fact now that I think about it my african clawed frogs cost me $1.65+tax each, a rather paltry sum compared to what I've spent to assure they live a long, healthy life.

That being said.. a 10 gallon tank for 13 dollars is vastly superior to 2.5 gallon 5 gallon and bowls. You're kind of high balling this stuff. Why not just get a 10 gallon from Wal Mart, get a CFL plant-grow bulb, an aluminum reflector from home depot, go down to a river or creek and collect some rocks and pick up some cheap plants at the LFS? You could easily do this set up for way less than 73 dollars. That being said, 73 dollars isn't a lot of money regardless especially compared to say a cat or dog.. their food, toys, vet bills, ect.

I checked out the price and it's like 50 bucks for a 5 gallon betta bow. I did find two okay looking 5 gallon kits (includes filter and hood/lights) on Walmart's website for under 30 bucks. They don't have them in store so I can't take a look at them in person but they do offer free at store pick up. Maybe I'll look into that. I just have to find a place to put it. I live with three other people and everyone has too much stuff so there's not a lot of room to work with...
Seems over priced, PetCo runs specials on tanks for 1 dollar a gallon up to 40 gallons. There is a saying I live by, a poor person can afford only the best. Why not just invest in something that will last rather than buy these gimmicks?

I totally agree a 5-10 gallon is better for a betta and a much larger tank is better for a community tank. That being said, everything you stated is only a risk if the water's not clean. One betta that is fed sparingly (once a day, old food removed) will not create enough ammonia in a 2.5 gallon tank for lasting damage, especially if one has live plants and cycles the tank IMO.
I don't think it will reach it's full life span in 2.5 gallons, it may live for year or two if you're lucky but really our goal should be allowing these animals to live out their entire natural life without sickness or disease, premature death. How long do betta fish live? 6 years 9 years? How many people do you know that have kept a betta fish in a 2.5 gallon tank for that amount of time? I am willing to bet most of these fish succumb to illness in 1 year or less.

I guess my point is it takes a better mastery of the hobby to successfully keep fish in smaller aquarium, it's actually more work. Bigger tanks are just easier to maintain is the simple message I am trying to convey here.. mo' water less problems, you could say.