Easier / Best Fish And Tank?

What eider would he need for a betta?

 

Otherwise.... it sounds like a really good idea, to me.

Bettas need shallow rather than deep tanks (I mean anything except some of the 'designer' tanks) as they need to breathe air and with a shallower tank they don't have as far to go.

For the betta, any substrate is fine; though if you want live plants choose the substrate with them in mind.

Filter - they don't like a flow that is too strong, but there are things you can do to reduce it if necessary.

They need things in the tank to keep them interested. Plants, real or silk; caves, decor they can swim through. But they need to be chosen carefully - silk plants rather than plastic if you go for fake; decor that is not rough or with sharp edges (file them smooth if necessary); and decor that has no holes a betta could get stuck in, because they will.

Food - a betta pellet is the best staple food. I soak mine before feeding as they do swell up. Live (frozen) food a couple of times a week. Don't feed too much. Bettas are greedy fish and will stuff themselves, causing bloat. They beg for food, so don't give in!

Would a tank like this suffice?

http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/aqua-optic-aquarium-fish-tank/1065514390

Great thank you Sue will start the ball rolling with this. .  I'm a bit excited considering it's not for me haha

Thank you Resa! I think I'm going to get very jealous! Hehe.

I'm trying to decide if it might actually be easier for me to set up the tank initially at my house in order to cycle it and then empty it (keeping the filter wet of course) to take to the home (thus sort of doing the big water change). That way I don't have to take the ammonia and testing kits to the house and can keep an eye on how it's running. Hmm. Or it might just be easier to set it up there. If I'm using media from my own tank or MA how long would it take to cycle theoretically? And should I put some new media in my tank in preparation??

That would be great if it only takes up to a week, it would be quite a difficult thing to explain why he didn't have his fish yet!

Great advice as always Sue, I think since I won't be there every day it may be best to cycle it at home. Though I could arrange for it to be a week I'm there more frequently I guess. Will let you guys know how it goes!

my shrimp like to do the same the thing when i am  cleaning the bottom of the tank , they nearly climb into the siphon tube   

perhaps its like a day out at the fun fair for them shrimps idea of a roller coaster 

Thanks for that point Sue!! I have that problem with my endlers, luckily I've never sucked one up in the siphon tube but I'll be extra careful around the Betta.

I'm now a little concerned as I spoke to someone today who referred to Bettas as 'Siamese Dying Fish' and said they had no luck with them... Please tell me that this isn't a general idea of them!? I really don't want to get him a fish that dies really quickly, he'd be devastated!

I asked someone to pick up things for him and they bought a siphon, however I really don't understand how it works! It appears that you're supposed to attach it to the pump somehow??

I think it's an Algarde one like this:

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/fish/fish-tank-equipment---maintenance/fish-tank-cleaning/aquarium-power-cleaner

Unfortunately they also bought a filter for a tank too - I think they must have gotten confused by my note to them / I wasn't clear enough so I need to take these back eventually too. Being a non-car driver I couldn't get the bits myself though! They did good otherwise!

One other thing I still need to get them is a heater. What would be a good inexpensive brand for a 21l tank?

I've had my current betta since the end of April last year. Yes I have also had some that only lived a few months but I've also had some that have lived over a year. For the very fancy types, 2 years is a good age especially when you take into account they can be the best part of a year old when you get them - it can take that long for the finnage to develop fully so that they are desirable.
But I do wonder if the people who claim they don't live long are keeping them in unheated, unfiltered jars. You hear about some keeping them in 2 litre  (half gallon) tanks or even vases 

That's very true! That's reassured me somewhat, I really don't want the fish to die too quickly! Hopefully they'll live a long happy life in his tank!

Thanks for your comments about heaters, I think I'll order one online for him. We're collecting the tank this week, very exciting! In the end I'm going to set it up in his room, but will be taking some filter from my tank. The problem is I'll be travelling around an hour and a half. Will the filter be ok in a normal fish bag like that? Which reminds me I need to get a fish bag too!