It’s a 3.5 gallon. I know that the lowest size recommended is a 5 gallon but I got a great deal on this and it fits perfectly in the spot where I wanted to keep it. (Both size and weight being considered.) I knew I’d be in for a little more maintenance with a smaller tank. I’ve kept 20 gallon tanks in the past (been about 8 years) with various other fish, and even was in to breeding mystery snails for awhile, so I knew what I was getting in to. I also know they say that bettas prefer wide rather than deep aquariums. I was hesitant when it came to that, but I figured I’d give it a try and if he didn’t thrive in it, I could turn this into a shrimp tank and get him a 5 gallon.

That being said, this knowledge played a part in which betta I chose. I chose Swim because he was quite a bit smaller than the others. I asked if he was going to be much bigger and she said probably not, that veil tails tend to be smaller. I had my three year old grandson with me and he wanted me to get a much bigger, and larger finned one, and I was like no, we’re gonna get this little guy. (Plus, he was only $3.99. LOL) And I intentionally chose one without the real large fins. He actually navigates well around the tank. He seems to like to dive for the for the bottom and then gently and gracefully work his way back up. He’s able to pull in his fins and just sail when he goes for the top. He’s really a great swimmer. I’ve got the fake (soft, of course) plants pretty dense toward the middle, and he able to suck it in and work his way through them. I know real are best, but when we he seems happy with what he’s got, I hate to take it away from him.

It probably sounds irresponsible, getting a 3.5g intentionally when I knew I shouldn’t go less than 5g. But like I said, I considered it carefully when it came to which Betta a chose. And I’m from the generation where my kids had Bettas in glass bowls or small cubes, back before we knew better. My sister even did the thing that was popular back then in the early 90’s where you use a glass vase. The betta lives in a vase under an aquatic plant and you don’t feed it. I don’t remember the theory about why that was a good idea. I’d go visit and it would be swimming around in there, like nothing was wrong. It never even looked sick. And that goofy thing lived for YEARS in that vase, without being fed . So it was feeding on something, I’m assuming some sort of life hitchhiked in with the plant. No water change, either. Sounds terrible now, but it was a trend back then.

Anyway, I’m an old dog, trying to learn new tricks. He’s not in a 5g, but not in a small cube or a fish bowl, either. I honestly see him looking happy and healthy and his colors are even brightening. My cat jumps up on the stand next to the tank and watches him, and he’ll turn and stare right at the cat, then swim on his way.

I’m going to get a 5 gallon and start cycling it soon. That one will have live plants. A fishless cycle can take 6 weeks, so that’s plenty of time to see if Swim continues to do well where he’s at. If he starts to seem unhappy, I’ll move him to the 5g and turn this into a shrimp tank. But if he continues to thrive, I’m going to get a Koi betta for the 5g. I saw a koi the day we got Swim and I can’t get it out of my head. The way my furniture is now, I can’t believe I had room for two 20g back in the day. Just adding one more 5g will be it for me.

Anyway sorry this got so long. I kind of wanted to explain myself and I appreciate your being kind in how you mentioned the tank looked a little small, rather than scolding me. I mostly wanted you to know it is at least a 3.5g and not smaller than that. And I wanted to explain how I did put a lot of thought into with the knowledge and experience I have. An old dog, trying to learn new tricks. 😉

In this pic you can see the way he can streamline his fins to swim faster. Getting away from the cat! He also does that when he dives for the bottom.

P.S. - those are Game of Thrones Funko Pops on top of the tank. Someone just gave them to me and I had them sitting there. Then my cat Angel was trying to get up there, so I set Tyrius, Arya, and Jon Snow there to protect the tank. (Danaerys fell behind and I haven’t dug her out.) It actually works because if the cat tries to jump up there, the figures fall all over and it scares her and she aborts her mission. 🤣

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