What’s the Best Substrate for a Betta?
The best substrate for your betta depends on what kind of aquarium and set-up you’re trying to achieve.
In the list below we've included what's good and bad about each option, and some product recommendations.
Stone Aggregate
This is natural gravel stone or rock, usually sourced from a quarry or natural source. Pebbles, gravel and river stones can be purchased at most aquatics stores and come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. It can be more expensive than epoxy gravel but it does give a nice natural look to your betta aquarium. It’s easy to syphon and clean.
Epoxy Coated Aquarium Gravel
This is the most common aquarium gravel. This is an artificial, man-made gravel. It comes in a variety of colours and sizes and is fairly inexpensive. It’s easy to siphon and clean but it can be difficult to sterilise if not clean. Some people sterilise their used aquarium gravel by boiling it in hot water (as this kills bacteria). If you were to do that with this gravel — as it is coated with an epoxy — chances are it could melt and lose its colour.
Sand
Sand can really make your aquarium stand out and give it an impressive natural look, but it should only be used in a cycled aquarium that doesn’t undergo 100% water changes. Waste settles on top and can be cleaned by floating a siphon a half inch or so above the sand bed. It can be slightly more difficult to syphon compared to gravel. Plants can grow well in sand and if you wish to keep any bottom dwelling inhabitants with your betta, it can make a great home for them.
Planting Substrate
Some substrate is made purely for optimal plant growth, such as Seachem’s ‘Flourite’. Sometimes planting substrate can be mixed with sand or gravel to give it a more natural look. Planting substrate tends to be rich in iron, allowing fussy plants to grow healthy.
Planting substrate also tends to be a dark colour, so it really brings out any bright colours in your aquarium and can make a green bed of plants really stand out.
Glass Marbles
For some reason, glass marbles or ornamental substrate has proven popular with some betta keepers. They can make an aquarium look quite artistic. They work well in smaller aquariums and are easy to siphon, remove and clean, but it gives your aquarium anything but a natural look. It won’t allow you to plant rooting plants in your aquarium either if you’re just using big thick marbles as substrate. Furthermore, they don’t make a comfortable home for bottom dwelling fish like plecos and loaches, so take this into consideration if you are considering them as tankmates for your betta.
