How to Care for your Betta

How to care for male and female Betta Fish Splendens

The Betta originally came from mud puddles in southeast Asia. Itis also known as the Siamese Fighting Fish, because beta males are totally intolerant of each other and will fight violently.Their distinctive feature is the
long broad fins on the males. Females have very short fins.  Betta Fish come in a variety colors and are very slow swimmers most of the time.They have a labyrinth which allows them to breathe air directly. You will find them continually at the surface of the water. Bettas are often sold in small bowls or cups, because they don't need oxygen from the water like most other fish.They will eat flake foods. Although Bettas are often kept at room temperature in small
bowls, they will do better in a heated aquarium. Frequent water changes
are necessary if they are kept in a small container.

Bettas fish are beautiful and very popular aquarium fish, betta fish are also called Siamese Fighting Fish.
Never mix two males together because they will fight.
They will flare their gills and fins when confronted with another male.
They are slow moving and like to hover near the water surface.
Betta Fish normal life span is 2 years.
They have a special air-breathing organ (labyrinth) that allows them to live in water with low oxygen content.
For this reason bettas are sometimes kept in small bowls.

Bettas in Small Aquariums

The best way to keep a betta is a small filtered, heated aquarium. A 5 or 6 gallon filtered aquarium is idealKeep the temperature at 78-82 degrees with a small heater Keep the filter running 24 hours a day, and change ¼ of the water every 2-4 weeks.
Bettas are slow moving and like to hover near the surface, and a few floating plants would be appreciated.
Tank mates can include a couple of small catfish, a snail, and a couple of small Head& Tail Lite or Red Eye Tetras.

Betta Fish in Community Tanks

 
Betta fish are not recommended for community aquariums. But some people do keep them with other fish. Here is some advice for community tanks:

Keep the temperature 78-82 degrees.
2. Bettas are slow moving and like to hover at the top. Provide some floating plants for hiding.
3. Avoid aggressive tank mates that may nip the Bettas fins. These include tiger barbs, large gouramis, and black tetras.
4. Avoid slow moving tank mates that the betta may nip. These include guppies, neons, small tetras, angelfish, and goldfish.
5. Possible tank mates include Dwarf Gouramis, Head Tail Lite Tetras, Moons, Mollies, Catfish, and Small Red Tail Shark
 

Bettas in Small Fishbowls

A small fishbowl is not the best way to keep a betta.
However because of their air breathing organ a betta is one of the few fish they may survive in an unfiltered fish bowl.
If you want to keep a betta in a fishbowl please follow these guidelines:
Maintain at least a 2 gallon bowl. Avoid 1 gallon bowls
 Bettas like warmth. Place the bowl in a room in which the temperature does not drop below 70 degrees.
 Change ½ of the water weekly.
 Let the new water sit for about 2 hours prior to the water change so that it will come to room temperature.
 Add chlorine neutralizer to the new tap water.
The most common mistake made by bowl owners is overcrowding.
A small fish bowl will only hold one fish.. (You will have to trust us one that one.) Other fish will make the bowl too crowded, and the water quality will deteriorate.
A betta is a solitary fish and it will not become lonely.
Feed once a day with a special betta food. Remove uneaten food with a net.

Feeding Betas

Feed bettas once or twice a day. Buy a special food that is designed for bettas.
We recommend Tetra Betta Min or Hikari Betta Pellets.
They also enjoy tubifex worms, frozen bloodworms, or Formula 1 frozen food.
Observe you betta at feeding time. Remove any uneaten food with a fish net after 10 minutes.
To avoid overfeeding be sure that only once person in the family feeds the fish.
Overfeeding will make the water cloudy.

Breeding Betta Fish

You can breed bettas if you get a book and study their breeding habits.
The male has longer fins and more color. The females always have short fins.
Males are females should only be mixed with breeding conditions are set-up. (Otherwise they will fight.)
Females should be conditioned separately and must be fat in belly before breeding is attempted.
Bettas are bubble-nest builders. Males build a bubble nest and place them in nest after mating.
Female can be removed after eggs are laid.

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