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The Siamese fighting fish, popularly known as Betta fish, is a freshwater species distinguished for its vibrantly colored tails.
Betta fish have become one of the most prominent fish to have among enthusiasts all over the world due to their eye-catching color variants. The species originated in Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. The male Betta fish are available in a vast array of color combinations and are truly fascinating to watch. It’s one of the reasons many enthusiasts prefer Betta fish as pets.
If you’re planning to care for Betta fish soon, it’s crucial to be familiar with the basics. Although there’s abundant information available online, it can be misleading if this is your first time, especially when it comes to aquarium setup and accessories such as the filter.
A filter should be one of your top priorities when it comes to keeping your Betta fish healthy. The best filter for Betta tank should be capable of filtering the entire tank several times in an hour without producing excess flow, ideally the sponge or internal models.
Betta Fish Care Basics
If you want to care for Betta fish properly, you should first understand the basic requirements.
Tropical fish require a tropical environment with water between 75-80 degrees. The pH of the water must be in the neutral range, ideally around seven, with low ammonia and nitrate levels, ideally zero.
Betta fish are carnivores and require a protein-rich diet. If you’ve been feeding flakes to other fish, it’ll not work for Betta fish.
The life span of Betta fish can reach up to 10 years, even though the average is between 3-5 years. Proper care for your fish will ensure it’ll last for a long time. One of the most important considerations when caring for one is to set up the ideal tank because it’s their home.
Keep on reading below to learn more about how to keep your pet Betta fish healthy.
1. Provide The Ideal Living Environment
When creating the ideal home for Betta fish, it should be clean, and the best approach is to keep it simple. The addition of several plants and decorations isn’t necessary. If you want to add plants, you can use either plastic or live plants, but keep them to a minimum. For the gravel, choose a waste-absorbing variety.
Remember that size is important for Betta fish. The tank should have a minimum of three gallons of water for every Betta fish, which is the minimum amount of space. The aquarium can be made of acrylic or glass. If you plan to have several fish in your tank, a 10-gallon tank is a good place to start.
A filter is also one of the essentials to keeping your aquarium suitable for your Betta fish. As previously stated, Betta fish prefer stagnant water, so choose a system that generates minimal waves, ideally a filter with a low flow rate.
Betta fish require bright light during the day and complete darkness at night. You can go for natural or artificial lighting. Natural light is difficult to control and too much of it can promote algae growth in the tank. Hence, artificial lights are considered the most effective because they provide a consistent and controllable source.
2. Maintain A Well-Balanced Diet
As carnivores by nature, Betta fish require either a high-protein pellet or frozen foods such as blood worms and brine shrimp. Small insects and larvae are ideal for a healthy diet. A protein-rich and varied diet is essential for keeping your Betta fish healthy. The Betta fish pellets should float so that your Betta fish can feed on the surface. As a treat, you can offer shrimp, bloodworms, and krill occasionally.
Overfeeding is a common problem among beginners. Remember that a Betta fish’s stomach is no bigger than its eyeball. Keeping this in mind, a single feeding session per day is usually sufficient. Two or three pellets per day will make your Betta fish feel happy and filled.
3. Know The Characteristics Of A Healthy Betta Fish
Providing the right environment and diet, with an emphasis on routine maintenance, will ensure a happy and healthy Betta fish.
If the following characteristics are present, you have a healthy and thriving Betta fish:
- A strong appetite;
- Vibrant colors with healthy, flowing fins;
- Moves quickly and energetically in the tank, eagerly interacting with you on the surface; and
- Aggressive reactions to unidentified stimuli.
Don’t forget to also watch out for common signs that your Betta fish is sick, such as the following:
- Poor appetite;
- Lack of energy or unusual swimming patterns;
- Withering or curved fins and tail;
- The presence of irregular growths or marks, as well as evidence of body or fin damage; and
- Colors are dull.
4. Perform Routine Tank Maintenance
If you want to ensure the ideal environment for your Betta fish, it’s best to change 25% of the water once a week while allowing the filter to do the rest. Remember that changing the water frequently can upset the balance of your aquarium and be a stressful experience for your Betta fish.
As for the environment, a fish tank heater will come in handy in maintaining the right temperature since Betta fish prefer warm conditions, ideally a tropical temperature between 75-80 degrees. Don’t forget to treat the water with pH-regulating additives before bringing your Betta fish home. Test kits will come in handy for measuring the pH levels every week.
Final Thoughts
Caring for a Betta fish is both an enjoyable and rewarding endeavor. If you have long wanted to care for a fish or have been a fish lover for years, a Betta fish is a great pet to start. A Betta fish is truly a sight to behold with its striking color combinations. You can keep your Betta fish healthy and thriving for many years with proper care, feeding, and tank maintenance.
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Tom
Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!
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