Before Bringing a New Betta Fish Home

By Dr. Stacie Grannum, DVM

Prepare…Prepare…Prepare…

I can't emphasize this enough: preparation is key! Read extensively about Betta fish, including their natural history and natural habitat. It's not as simple as buying a fishbowl and filling it with tap water; all fish deserve better than that. Bettas are tropical fish that thrive in warmer waters and can breathe air from the surface. Remember, a fish's health is directly related to the quality of its water, so maintaining excellent water conditions is crucial for successful fishkeeping.

Purchase a minimum of a 5-gallon aquarium. Trust me, it's much more enjoyable to watch your Betta swim, interact, and thrive in a larger environment than in a smaller one. Additionally, larger aquariums are often easier to maintain in terms of water quality, as toxins and fluctuations in water temperature occur more rapidly in smaller tanks. Water weighs about 8 pounds per gallon; make sure your aquarium is placed securely on a proper stand that can support this weight.

Ensure that your aquarium has a secure, tight-fitting lid or hood. Bettas can jump out of the water and squeeze through the tiniest spaces, so to prevent accidents, it's best to have a properly fitted lid. I prefer not to use the hood light for my Bettas. Instead, I rely on indirect lighting, such as lamps or LED lights, to illuminate my fish room. I find that the aquarium light is too intense for them, similar to having a spotlight shining directly in your face for 12 hours a day. By using softer, indirect light sources and creating shaded or darker areas within the aquarium, the Bettas have the option to choose between light and darkness. This is important for their well-being.

To make maintaining water quality easier, purchase a filter that is suitable for the size of your aquarium. Filters work continuously to remove toxins and particulate matter from the water. Most filters come with a removable carbon cartridge, which should be replaced monthly. Healthy water leads to healthy Bettas! Ensure that your Betta cannot swim into the intake pipe of mechanical filters. It should have a cover with thin slats to prevent fish from entering.

Bettas need both a filter and an aquarium heater to thrive. Unless you have a dedicated fish room that is kept at approximately 80°F year-round, your Betta will require a heater. As mentioned earlier, Bettas are tropical fish and need their water temperature to be between 74°F and 82°F. Water that is too cold or too warm can stress them and lead to disease. Additionally, ensure that your heater is suitable for the size of your aquarium.

Use a glass thermometer in your aquarium to monitor water temperature, and consider having a digital thermometer for regular comparison of reading to ensure accuracy.

Adding a gentle flow bubbler enhances water oxygenation, flow, and circulation. Although Bettas are labyrinth fish and can breathe surface air, a bubbler is not essential. However, it can enrich their environment, and many Bettas enjoy playing in the bubble stream. Typically, a bubble setup includes an airstone, air pump, check valves, and tubing. I personally recommend a filter-bubbler combo, such as the Aqueon Betta Natural Plant Betta Fish Aquarium Filter.

Decorating your tank with plants and appropriate substrate is highly recommended for your Betta's health and well-being. You can use artificial silk plants instead of hard plastic ones, as the latter can tear and injure the longer fins of Bettas. If you have a green thumb, live plants are also a great option! Just make sure to quarantine them for 2-4 weeks outside of your aquarium, as they can carry pathogens that harm your fish.

You can add aquarium gravel to the bottom of your tank as substrate. It comes in a variety of colors, ranging from natural tones to more vibrant hues. Additionally, incorporating hiding places like caves and floating logs is beneficial for your fish, providing them with safe spots to retreat whenever they need.

When choosing decorations, ensure that your Betta cannot get stuck or lost inside them, as this can be fatal. I recommend selecting caves and decor with at least two large openings for escape and avoiding items with small spaces where your Betta might get trapped inside. Bettas enjoy exploring and can get stuck in tight spaces, so make sure any decorations are positioned away from the sides of your aquarium to prevent your Betta from getting trapped between them and the aquarium glass.

Purchase a water testing kit, such as the API Freshwater Aquarium Master Test Kit, to measure your water parameters regularly, including ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, and pH levels. I recommend this testing kit over dipsticks, as kits tend to be more accurate and reliable than strips. Additionally, a good tap water conditioner will eliminate chlorine and detoxify heavy metals that can be harmful to fish. These conditioners are essential and widely available in stores that sell fish supplies. While you do not need to purchase pre-conditioned Betta water, you can do so if you prefer.

While this introduction may not cover all the items you might need, it includes the essential supplies required for setting up a new Betta fish aquarium. Proper preparation is crucial for ensuring the health and well-being of your fish. In our upcoming lesson, we will dive deeper into important topics such as how to effectively cycle your tank to create a stable environment and how to choose best food options for your Betta fish. These steps are vital to promote a thriving aquatic habitat for your new companion. Stay tuned for more detailed information!

This article was written by Dr. Stacie Grannum, DVM.