Betta fish is one of the most beautiful fishes that you can have in your aquarium. These are friendly fishes and a good choice for those who are starting with their first aquarium. Caring for your betta fish is a very easy process, but you will have to keep it alone in the tank. These betta fishes can live up to 2-3 years in the tank. Learning how to take care of betta fish is simple.
Here are some simple steps on how to take care of betta fish.
Things Required:
- Tank
- Filter
- Heater
- Water conditioner
- Fish net
- Betta fish food
- Smooth stones, gravel for covering the bottom and pool filter sand
- Ornaments
- Betta fish
Steps:
- First, you will have to start with preparing the home for your betta. Start with selecting the home. Bettas are inhabitants of the Thai rice paddies that live in the wild. Hence, they are used to living in shallow but spacious environments. Therefore, you must consider giving your betta a decent size tank for prolonging the life. Buy a tank, which can fit up to five gallons of water.
- Now decorate the home of betta. One of the most distinct qualities of a betta is to breathe in and outside water, so you will not need aeration. You can decorate their home with gravel stones, silk plants, and some small cave like structures where they can hide. A creative home will be a happy home for them. Keep a filter and small heater inside the tank.
- Always remember that you must never use hard plastic plants inside the tank, as they can be rough on their fins. For this, you can take the pantyhose test, if the pantyhose tears when rubbed against the plant, then it will be rough on your fish as well. Therefore, be safe and get some silk plants.
- You will not need live plants, but they will make the betta tank look even more attractive. They are way more prettier than the fake ones, and the bettas will like lounging on the leaves and they will hide behind them when sleeping.
- Get the water ready. You will have to use some water conditioner before you put fresh water inside the tank. However, never use chloramines or chlorine as they can harm the bettas. All the older sources will suggest you to use aging water, but it is better to use a water conditioner, as the aged water will only remove chlorine and not heavy metals or chloramines. It is safer to use purified water or spring water, but it is essential to use water treatment for the betta. The purified water will help in reducing the stress from your betta fish.
- Start filling the tank. If your tank does not have a top cover, then you will have to fill it up to 80 percent so that your fish does not leap out. Remember that bettas are hyperactive and they can leap up to three inches if they are motivated.
- For tanks without top lid, you must use mesh cloth for avoiding jumping of leaping in your betta fish. Your betta will be very happy with enough water and access to surface on air. After this, you must check the water temperature. You will have to maintain a temperature of 72-82 degrees inside the tank. A small heater will be good enough, as the water temperature will be cooler as compared to the room temperature and it will fluctuate very easily.
Some considerations when purchasing a betta
- Before you buy a betta you must have a general understanding about the fish. First, you will have to check the color, if the color of the betta is vivid or bright. Bettas come in many colors, but reds and blues are the most common colors in this fish.
- Next thing you will have to check is receptiveness. Is the fish responding to your movement? Does it start swimming rapidly after seeing you or is it simply sitting in the bottom and sulking? Always remember that you must not tap the container as this will irritate them.
- Check the health of the fish. Are the fins of your fish in a good condition or are they damaged or torn? Are the eyes in good shape? Do you notice any odd lumps on the body of the fish? If you notice any of this then you must consider other betta.
Feeding your Betta
- The primary diet of your betta should consist of pellets. On special occasions, you can feed your betta with frozen bloodworms or brine shrimp. You must feed your betta only once every day. Some people say that you must feed them every alternate day, but give little everyday.
- Make sure that you clean the extra food that your betta has not eaten. Similarly, you will have to watch your betta and check if he throws out any food.
- Give a varied high protein diet to your fish. You can give pellets, freeze dried or live food whatever works the best for your fish. If you do not give enough variety to your fish, then it will be constipated, which can result into swim bladder disease.
- Though live food will be very exciting for the fish, even the frozen one works well. They are far more safer and free from all the parasites. However, make sure that you do not overfeed your fish, no matter how cute or hungry the fish seems to you. Always remember that the stomach size of betta is of the size of an eyeball.
Tank cleaning
- You will have to clean the betta tank at least once a week and this depends on the size of the tank as well. Remember that you must never remove the betta from the tank.
- For cleaning the tank, you must use a siphon for removing the water. start cleaning the gravel and then you can wipe the sides if required. For cleaning the sides you can use an acrylic cleaning sponge.
- Now, start replacing the water you removed with siphon. Remember that you must never change all the water at once, as the instant change in the environment can harm the fish. You should always change only 50 percent of the water from the tank at one time. Every week you must change 30-40 percent of the water.
Tips and Warnings:
- Bettas are the only fish that can recognize the owner and they will learn their faces. Always keep your betta company and say hi to him at least once in a day.
- Remember that you must never net a betta as this can damage their fins. Instead, of this you must use a small cup for shifting betta.
- If the male betta becomes happy, then he will start making bubblenests.
- Bettas are very sensitive to change in temperature. If there is a change of three to four degree then it will lower their immunity system, therefore, you must get a heater in your tank.
- Never use distilled water. Distilled water has all the nutrients and minerals removed from it. Bettas will never live in distilled water and if you force them, then it will be dangerous for their health.
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