Betta Fish (sometimes spelled Beta Fish) are also known as Siamese Fighting Fish. They are a freshwater fish and because their natural habitat consists of small dirty puddles, they are hardy and relatively easy to care for. By following some simple guidelines, you can insure a healthy, happy lifetime for yourself and your betta fish.
Basic equipment you will need
- A fishtank or bowl from 1/2 gallon on up. You can only keep one male betta fish in a tank as they are extremely territorial and will fight to the death with another male betta. It is also best not to keep a female with the male until they are ready for mating as he will torment her often until she dies.
- Gravel or marbles - do not use stones from a creek or your backyard as they contain chemicals that could be harmful to your fish. Be sure to wash the store-bought gravel or stones in plain water until the water runs clear.
- Live plants or plastic aquarium plants - These are stress relievers for your betta fish as they like to rest on the leaves and the cover gives them security.
- PH Test Kit
- Ammonia Test Kit
- Food
Optional equipment
- Aquarium Heater - Although not necessary, an Aquarium Heater is something you might want to consider especially if your tank is 5 gallons or larger. The ideal temperature for your betta fish is between 72 and 82 degrees. Fish will become listless if the temperature is too cold and will appear overactive if the temperature is too warm.
- Aquarium Thermometer - You will need an Aquarium Thermometer if you choose to use an aquarium heater.
- Aquarium vacuum cleaner - If you have a larger fishtank, other than a bowl, you will need something to clean the debris out of the gravel between water changes.
- Aquarium filter - An Aquarium Filter really is not necessary unless you have a large tank. It will help with the debris as bettas tend to give off a considerable amount of waste.
Preparing your Betta Fishtank
- Rinse the gravel in plain water before adding it to your fishtank or bowl.
- Allow your water to sit for 24 hours before adding any fish to it so that any chlorine will draw out of it.
- Rinse and place any plants and decorations into your fishtank.
- Attach any equipment (filter, heater and thermometer).
Bringing your Betta Fish home
- While transporting your Betta Fish, protect it from direct sunlight or any cold drafts.
- When you get it home, open or cut the bag and float it on top of the water in your betta fishtank or bowl (a clothespin clipped on the side of your tank can help hold the bag from sinking). You need to do this to get your betta fish used to the water temperature.
- The water in your fishtank will not be the same as the water from the fish store. You need to acclimate your betta fish to your water slowly. Take your time with this and plan on spending at least 30 minutes or more for this step.
- Slowly start adding some of your fishtank water to the plastic bag.
- After you have done the above steps, you can release your fish into your fishtank or bowl.
What to feed your Betta Fish
- A special blend of Fish Food made especially for Bettas is available.
- You can supplement this food with bloodworms or brine shrimp.
- The more nutritious the diet, the healthier your fish. So take advantage of the prepared foods available.
- Your Betta Fish should be fed daily, but if you need to be away for the weekend, they will be fine for two days without food. In fact, it is sometimes a good idea to allow them to go for a day without food to clean out their systems.
- Betta Fish have a tendency to keep feeding as long as there is food available. For this reason you need to restrict feeding as it is possible for them to literally "eat" themselves to death.
Keeping your Betta Fishtank clean
This is probably the most important part of fishkeeping. If too much waste and rotting food is allowed to remain in the tank, it can become toxic to your fish.
The smaller the container, the more often you need to clean it. A bowl should be cleaned daily, while a 5 gallon fishtank needs a 25% water change once a week.
If you have a larger fishtank and are doing a 25% water change, take out as much of the contents (plants, decorations, etc.) as you can and rinse them thoroughly. Use an Aquarium Gravel Cleaner to clean the gravel and stones to remove debris. - Scoop the fish out gently with a Fish Net and place him (or her) in a container filled with clean water.
- Remove all of the plants, gravel, stones and decorations and wash them with plain water.
- Wash the bowl or fishtank in plain water.
- Replace the plants, gravel, stones and decorations and fill with water that has been sitting for at least 24 hours.
- Gently reintroduce your fish back into the clean fishtank.
Some Betta Fish facts
- Males are extremely territorial and should always be kept separate.
- For some interesting entertainment, occasionally place a mirror in front of your Betta Fish. This will give him some activity. Don't overdo it as it can exhaust him.
- Bettas are jumpers! Keep your tank or bowl covered.
- If cared for properly, these beautiful fish will reward you with years (they can live from 2 to 4 years) of pleasure and entertainment.
