getting a betta

Question
I recently purchased a 2.5 gallon rectangular fish tank and will be buying a betta to put in it. I bought a Whisper filter made for small tanks but have read that in tanks that small bettas don't like the current, does it depend on the fish? Also, I have not bought a heater yet. I've read that tanks that small are hard to control the temp and frequent changes can disturb the fish. Do you recommend a certain brand of heater? How much water should I change at a time and how often? How often do I need to do 100% water changes? And where should I put my betta when the water is being changed? Thanks

Answer
Hi ally.


First you need to cycle your aquarium. Read up on the cycling process here:

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aquariumforum/showthread.php?t=2678


for a 2.5 gallon aquarium, you could do a small 25 watt (or less if you can find one) heater. As long as you keep your tank topped off, the current will not be a problem. But just to be sure, add a floating plant (real, fake, or otherwise) to minimize surface agitation. You could do a gallon every 5-7 days, and your fish should be fine in the remaining 1.5 gallons for 5 minutes.

Let me know if you have any questions, expecially about the cycling process. Remember, if you dont cycle your aquarium, your fish WILL die, so take the time to cycle.


Thanks,
  ~Matt