By Conner Tighe
Betta Fish Care
The betta fish, or Siamese Fighting Fish, is known as one of the most common pets in aquariums. The beautiful specimens are native to Southeast Asia and come with their share of personality. Knowing the basics of betta care is essential because of the many possibilities of shaping a betta’s life. It’s possible that with proper care, bettas can live to be 2-5 years old in captivity.
Understanding Betta Fish
The typical and native habitat for the betta fish consists of rice paddies, ponds, marshes, and other bodies of water with slow-moving streams. While the fish enjoy showing off their vibrant colors, they enjoy hiding, too. The most well-known personality trait of the betta fish is their aggressive side.
Bettas are best housed alone with no other bettas. However, I’ve had luck with two females before. Males especially are aggressive and will nip and fight other male bettas to death if housed together. This isn’t to say bettas can’t be housed with other aquatic species like snails, shrimp, cory catfish, and neon tetras.
Lifespan and Common Health Issues
Bettas can live up to five years if properly cared for, compared to up to two years when they live in the wild. Signs of a healthy betta include many behaviors, including incredible alertness; bettas are naturally curious about the world outside the aquarium. Their colors will be vibrant, and they’ll swim freely around their habitat, taking note of each time someone approaches the tank. Bettas require gulps of oxygen, so you will see them occasionally come up for air.
Signs of a sick or unhealthy betta include unnatural swimming behaviors like sideways or even upside-down behavior. Pay close attention to their fins. You will know they are stressed if they’re clamped to their body. Distressed bettas will not be as active and may lose their natural appetite.
Setting Up the Perfect Betta Tank
Bettas require at least five gallons of water to thrive, but if you can get your betta in a 10-gallon tank, even better. The more room to explore, the better. Any tank smaller than five gallons calls for a stressed betta, which can cause disease and eventual death. Avoid buying fish bowls and other small containers for your betta.
Setting up your betta habitat starts with the appropriate substrate and decorations or live plants. It’s best to work with riverbed gravel or sand as the base of your tank. While live plants offer beneficial bacteria and other crucial benefits, artificial plants work, too. Common aquatic plants bettas enjoy include java ferns, anubias, marimo moss balls, sword plants, and more. If you go with artificial plants, ensure they’re as smooth as possible to avoid damaging your betta’s fins.
You’ll discover bettas love to hide and rest as much as any other fish, so it’s important to have little hiding spots here and there throughout the tank setup. Again, avoid sharp edges and objects that can injure your betta.
A gentle flow of water mirrors the betta’s natural habitat, and it’s crucial to their health, so make sure your tank’s filter is adjustable or comes with a slower flow option. You don’t want your betta fighting the current to swim around, as this can lead to stress in your fish. Maintaining a water temperature of 78-80°F is crucial to the habitat of your betta. Many manufacturers have their preset heaters for this so that it can be less of a worry down the road.
When it comes to lighting for bettas, it’s best to mimic a natural setting. Include natural day and night cycles and avoid overly bright lights.
Cycling the tank before introducing your betta is crucial for appropriate water quality. This responsibility involves testing water conditions, including pH, ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite levels. Use a water conditioner made for bettas to neutralize chlorine and other harmful chemicals.
Caring for Your Betta
Bettas aren’t too picky about their food. Pellets, frozen, or live food will work. These frozen/live foods include brine shrimp and bloodworms. The critical thing to remember is to avoid overfeeding them. Stick to two to three small meals a day.
When cleaning and conducting maintenance on your tank, stick to partial water changes, so 20-30% of water should be removed and replaced weekly. You should not use harsh chemicals to clean a betta tank, including any standard cleaning chemical beyond water.
It’s essential to recognize the common illnesses that your betta may face. These illnesses include fin rot and swim bladder disease. Fin rot includes decaying or frayed fins. You may also notice colored spots on your betta. If you experience this, move the betta to its quarantined tank and treat them with an anti-bacterial treatment. Swim bladder disease is when a fish cannot control its buoyancy, causing strange swimming behaviors, floating at the top or bottom, and struggling to rise to the top of the tank. Treatments for swim bladder disease include keeping the water temperature between 78-80°F, adding aquarium salt to the tank, reducing the water level, reducing water flow, and applying a water conditioner to improve the betta’s slimy coat.
Important Considerations
Regarding tankmates for your betta, you want peaceful bottom-dwelling aquatic tankmates. These include snails (nerite or mystery snails), shrimp (cherry or ghost shrimp), corydoras catfish, African dwarf frogs, and schooling fish like neon tetras or harlequin rasboras. These tankmates will not challenge the betta’s dominance and will stay out of their way. You want to ensure whichever tankmates you choose aren’t aggressive or nip the betta in any way.
Your betta should be kept in quiet and low-traffic areas. This will minimize stress and prolong your betta's life. Gradual water changes are best to avoid temperature shock. Each betta will come with their quirks and personality traits. Respecting these is key.
Common Myths About Betta Care
You’ve likely heard of the common myths of betta care, such as that bettas thrive in small spaces. We’re all used to seeing bettas in the small cups at fish stores. The reality is that bettas will not live long or thrive in these conditions. Other myths include that bettas are too clean for filtered water or don’t require a heater. These statements are inaccurate, and your betta will (again) not live for long under these conditions.
The betta fish requires dedicated care to thrive in captivity and can live 2-5 years with proper attention. Known for their vibrant colors and aggressive personalities, bettas should typically be housed alone, although they can coexist with peaceful tankmates like snails, shrimp, and certain fish. A proper betta tank should be at least 5 gallons, equipped with a gentle water flow, a heater maintaining 78-80°F, and safe hiding spots with smooth plants or decorations. Key care practices include feeding them small meals of betta-specific pellets or live food, performing weekly partial water changes, and monitoring for common illnesses like fin rot or swim bladder disease. Dispelling myths about bettas thriving in small, unfiltered, or unheated environments, responsible ownership involves respecting their natural behaviors, providing a stress-free habitat, and ensuring their well-being through informed care.
This guide was written by Conner Tighe.
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