Betta fish are common house pets that are famous for their vibrant and beautiful colors. But if you don’t know how to take care of your fish and what makes your fish happy can lead to several health problems.
Factors like aquarium size, light intensity, water temperature, and the aquarium’s environment can affect the well-being of the fish. Any of these factors can impact your fish and put them under stress.
Here are the details on how to take care of your betta fish.
Betta Fish Habitat
Tank Size
Betta fish need an aquarium with 11 liters of water. The tank should be functional one day before they arrive. The fish come to the surface to breathe using their labyrinth organ. These fish have a jumping tendency. Make sure to have a lid on the top of the tank and provide them space to breath as well.
Male betta fish are territorial; don’t keep two males in the same tank. Keep the tank where there is less flow of traffic. Pick a base according to your fish and fill the tank with water. There are several betta fish starter kits to provide a perfect base for your fish.
Tank Filter
Betta fish can live in a small tank, but even in a small tank, the filter could be useful to the fish. The filter not only maintains the water quality but it also removes the toxic chemicals like ammonia from the water and helps in providing oxygen for your fish to breathe.
The aquarium filter should be powerful enough to process all the water 3 to 4 times in an hour. The betta fish do not like extra movement in the tank. These fish are not good swimmers; they don’t move a lot. The high water current can put them into stress and the prolonged situation can rip off their fins and cause actual death. Place the filter that allows them to control the flow rate so they can keep their speed low.
Water
Make sure your fish stays at the perfect water temperature. The betta fish can live 75 C° to 80 C° degrees. The pH of the water should stay between 6.5 and 8. You can use the test kit to check the water parameters. Fish can not stay in cold water as it makes the immune system of the fish slow. On the other hand, hot water puts them under stress and increases their metabolism, causing them to age faster.
You can install a water heater that can control the water temperature and keep it within preferred parameters. Try to use decolonized water for your tank. It can be available in the market as a water conditioner.
Decoration of Your Tank
The bottom of the tank should be covered 2 inches with freshwater substrate. The tank needs ½ of substrate for a gallon of water. The betta fish is also known as fighter fish due to the aggressive behavior of males towards their territory.
Try to place caves and plants to mimic the natural habitat for the fish. They like hideouts, so try to provide them with their required space. Try to add live plants. Artificial ones are fine too; just look, there are no sharp ends.
Light
Do not place your tank where the exposure to sunlight is direct. Try to form a cycle of day and night to provide them with a natural habitat. The aquarium’s light can do that trick. The to much exposure to light can cause the growth of algae in the tank which can cause several health problems to the fish and can reduce the water quality of your tank.
Heater
Use a good heater that is attached to the thermometer for your tank. The heater will control the temperature of the water so the water parameters stay at an ideal temperature. The thermometer will check and regulate the water temperature and stop it from rising.
Food For Your Betta Fish
Betta fish is a surface eater. In the wild, the fish mostly eat insects and invertebrates. You can feed your fish a variety of meat-based food, including flakes, pallets, shaping, and freeze-dried blood worms. In filtered aquariums, feed your fish once a day, and in filtered aquariums, feed your fish two times a day. The babies of betta fish can not eat food of the same size. The food must be small in size and crushed.
Tank Mates For Your Bettas Fish
Not all fish can live with your betta fish. Here is a list of the best tank mates:
Mystery Snails
The snail is also known as Pomacea Bridgesii and comes in blue, golden, and dark brown colors. These snails are best tank mates to the betta fish. They eat uneaten food and algae. They do not reproduce sexually as most of the snails do. So, there is no concern of invasion. The snail can be 2 cm in size and has a lifespan of about one year. Snails have shells that protect them from the curious behavior of male betta fish.
Ghost Shrimp
The shrimp is also known as Thalassinidea. The color of shrimp is transparent, and it is best to live with betta fish. The color of the shrimp makes them invisible in the water, and it’s hard to spot them with the naked eye. They can be kept in groups of four to six. The shrimp can be 1.5 inches in size and can live for 1.5 years. They eat the excess food from the tank or stick it in the substrate.
Feeder Guppies
The feeder guppies are also known as Poecilia Reticulata. The color of females is gray while the males have color spots on them. Feeder guppies are not bright in color or have fancy fins like other guppies do. Their simple appearance is the best to live with betta fish.
Cory Catfish
The fish is also known as Corydoras. The color of the fish is bronze. The cory catfish is perfect to add with bettas. They enjoy the same water condition as betta dose, and they are easy to care for. They stay on the bottom of the tank and can live alone or in a group of 4 or more. They live up to 2 to 3 years. The size of the fish can be 1 to 2.5 inches. They are nonaggressive in nature, which makes them perfect mates to live with Betta.
Harlequin Rasbora
The fish is also known as Trigonostigma heteromorpha. The species are peaceful in nature and perfect to coexist with bettas. The food similarities are the same. They can live in groups of 6 or more, depending on the size of the aquarium. The size of the fish can be 1.5 inches and can live up to 5 years.
African Dwarf Frog
The African dwarf frog is also known as Hymenochirus Boettgeri. The color of the frog can be gray or brown. They are good tank mates to betta fish due to their calm personality. They are easy to care for, and their size can be increased to 2.5 inches. The life span of the African dwarf frog is up to 5 years.
Neon Tetras
The neon tetras are also known as Paracheirodon Innesi. The color of the fish is silver-blue. Where tank owners avoid bright color fish to live with, betta tetras are best because of their speed. Tetra live in packs of 6 or more, depending on the size of your aquarium. The size of the fish can be 4 cm, and the lifespan of tetra neon in captivity is up to 5 years.
Ember Tetras
The fish is also known as Hyphessobrycon Amandae. The color of the fish is orange-red. Ember tetras are the other species of neon tetra and can grow up to 1 inch. The life span of this fish is up to 4 years. Their food taste is similar to that of betta fish. Ember tetras also like brine shrimp, just as betta fish do. They like to stay in a group of 4 or more. They normally stay in the middle of the aquarium. On the other hand, Betta stays at the top due to territorial issues.
Clown Plecos
The clown pleco is also known as Panaque Maccus and Dwarf Loricariid. The clown pleco is a suitable mate to add because it’s a member of dwarf. The size can be up to 4 inches. The clown pleco can live up to 10 years. They have hard skin and like to explore new places.
Kuhli Loach
This fish is also known as Pangio Kuhlii. The color of the fish can be pink to yellow with black dark strips. The fish appears to be like an eel. They like to be disappointed in their pants. They have a calm personality that is perfect to pair with betta fish.
Check if Betta Fish is Healthy or Sick
When you bring home a new betta fish, normally, every fish has one health issue. After bringing the fish home, take her to the veterinarian. Place it and another tank to check the health issue.
Here are the signs that indicate your fish is healthy or sick:
Signs for Healthy Betta Fish
- Bright coloration
- Good apatite
- Normal swim patterns
- Undamaged fins
- Aggressive or may flare at you
Sings of a Sick Betta Fish
- Loss of appetite
- Dull coloring
- Odd swimming pattern
- Clamped fins
- Bloated belly
- Heavy breathing
Common Illnesses in Betta Fish
- Parasites
- Cancer
- ICH
- Fin or tail rot
- Bacterial infection
- Dropsy
- Pop eye
- Skin infection
- Fungal oral
- Swim bladder disorder
Cleaning and Maintenance of Betta Fish
- Change the 10% to 25% of the aquarium water.
- on regular times
- Don’t change the whole water of the aquarium or put your fish out. It may stress them or even injure them.
- Before changing the water in the aquarium, wash your hands so there are chemicals like lotion or perfume that can impact the health of fish.
- Use a soft sponge or scrubber to clean the inside walls. To avoid scratches, there are specialized tools that you can use.
- Remove all the decorations, and if there is any algae growth, remove it.
- Use a siphon to clean and remove the uneaten food from the tank.
- Monitor water parameters with the help of kits.
Clean Your Fish Tank
The cleanliness of the tank depends on the size of the aquarium. Tanks under 3 gallons need frequent changes to prevent the overgrowth of ammonia.
In a tank where there is no filter the water cycle requires 23% and 100% after a week depending on the water quality. Have a pH kit to test the water quality of your tank. Tanks without filters have more waste than tanks without filters. Without filters the ammonia growth can be high so these tanks require more work in the long run.
The cycling of water or changing water is a common process, but it is habitual in filter tanks. If you are just cycling the water, don’t remove your betta fish. It will put them under stress. Betta fish don’t like changes in the environment. Removing too much water can cause shock to your fish.
Whenever you change the water, acclimate your fish to avoid any stress or shock. Then, introduce your fish to the tank. Whenever you change the water, make sure the refilling water’s temperature and pH are the same as the water inside the aquarium. Use the dechlorinated water drops in your water.
Tips to Clean Tank and Decoration
Cleaning all the decorations in the aquarium is very important. While the tank is filled with water, you can use a magnetic or algae cleaning wand to remove algae from the tank. The tank filters should be cleaned as well. Use only approved aquarium decoration to avoid any health issues for your fish.
After cleaning the decoration, place it in the aquarium water to bring in the good bacteria. Never wash the decoration with soap. It is too dry to use, and it’s hard to remove from the decoration. The new decoration should be washed with hot water so there will be no dust or harmful chemicals. For cleaning, you can use a regular bleach that is free from detergents and perfumes.
Take Care of Your Fish
There is very little difference between male and female Betta fish. The female needs the same water parameter, same decoration, same food, and same tank size. However, the female can live and coexist, while it’s hard to keep males in the same tank. The care can be different during and after the breeding season. Betta fish fry (babies) need a little extra and different care. They can not eat the same palette as it does not fit into their mouth. Most of the fry died before they became adults.
Betta Fish Safety Tips
Everyone should wash their hands after connecting with the pet. It can be a fish’s habitat or an aquarium. The fish can transmit zoonotic diseases, which are harmful to humans. Wash your hands with soap before and after interacting with your pet. Children, pregnant women, elderly people, and people with low immune systems should take extra care.
Common Problems
- Don’t overfeed your fish. It can cause them bloating and constipation and make them lethargic
- Overeating will cause extra waste to build up in the tank
- If the food still stays in the tank after 5 minutes of feeding, remove the food from the tank with the help of the net
- Don’t place your tank in front of the sun. Use aquarium lights to form a cycle of day and night
- Fish need limited exposure to light. More exposure can cause significant growth and other health problems in the fish
- Use a timer to maintain the availability of aquarium lights
- Change the water of the aquarium at the needed time
- Check and monitor the temperature and pH of water
- Monitor the tank mates who are living with betta fish, as male betta fish get aggressive due to territorial issues
- I bought an adjustable heater for fish so I can control the water temperature according to the fish’s preference
Conclusion
The males in betta fish can be aggressive. If you have knowledge regarding what species of fish you have will keep them happy and healthy in the long run. For the good health of the fish, a good mimic of their nature is important. Check the tank size, water temperature, and pH level, and install a filter in the tank that will ultimately make your fish happy.
Before giving the food to the fish, make sure what the fish really eats or likes. Give food 1 to 2 times a day. Only give the quantity of food that your fish will consume in 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the extra food from the tank. Select the calm tank mates for your betta fish.
Maintain the good environment of the aquarium to have a good ecosystem. Try to clean the tank and the decoration regular needed times. Try to wash your hands before and after interacting with your pet.