How to select a healthy Betta Fish
Here are some tips on how to select a healthy Betta fish. You might want to start from the fish shop. Observe the jar in which the fish are kept is clean. The water should appear fresh and clear with no traces of leftover food. There should be no bad odors emanating from the jars. These malodors could possible be from dead fish. Next, a thorough check-up of the fish needs to be undertaken.
Check the body
The body should be free from any unordinary bumps or velvety patches or white spots. The scales are flat and smooth in a healthy Betta, with missing and loose scales signifying a history of trauma and illness. White patches on the body could be indicative of a fungus infection. If its stomach is swollen, consider this a clear warning that the Betta is certainly not well. If any fish display these symptoms, do not buy a specimen from that particular store at that time.
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Check the fins and gills
Fin rot is a common problem for Betta and it has several possible causes, including genetic predisposition. However, the most common source of fin rot is dirty, impure water. When the animal is lax in its tasks of cleaning, tank became filled with too much feces and food not consumed. When feces and diet are left in water for too long, they will start to rot. As with any decomposition issue, it will result in bacterial populations increase. The increase in the number of bacteria attached to the edge of the Betta's tail causes it to rot.
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Preparing Water Tank
Ideal tank size
The minimum tank size for a Betta fish should be at least 3 gallons (11.36 liters), and up to 10 gallons (37.86 liters), especially if you’re going to keep other fish, or have more than one Betta in the tank. No matter what tank size you choose, make sure that you’ve got some places for Betta to hide, especially if you are putting him into a tank with other fish.
Decorations and plants that offer hiding spots make Betta fish feel secure and allow them to get away from light and rest when they want to. If your decoration has holes for your Betta fish to swim through, make sure your thumb can fit through all of them to ensure that your Betta fish won’t get stuck. Use live plants or silk plants with the decoration. Avoid using plastic plant and jagged rocks or decorations as it will damage your Betta fish’s fins.
Two male Betta fish should never be placed in the same tank unless it has a divider. In the wild, Betta fish does not fight to the death. They fight until there is a clear winner for territory, then the lesser male will go off and hide, or jump to another area to find safety. In small tank, there is nowhere to hide, thus leads to deaths.
You can keep Betta fish together with other types of tropical fish, as long as they are small (but not significantly small) and are not fin-nipping types, and do not have similar body types and long fins, as they could mistake them for rivals.
Decorations and plants that offer hiding spots make Betta fish feel secure and allow them to get away from light and rest when they want to. If your decoration has holes for your Betta fish to swim through, make sure your thumb can fit through all of them to ensure that your Betta fish won’t get stuck. Use live plants or silk plants with the decoration. Avoid using plastic plant and jagged rocks or decorations as it will damage your Betta fish’s fins.
Two male Betta fish should never be placed in the same tank unless it has a divider. In the wild, Betta fish does not fight to the death. They fight until there is a clear winner for territory, then the lesser male will go off and hide, or jump to another area to find safety. In small tank, there is nowhere to hide, thus leads to deaths.
You can keep Betta fish together with other types of tropical fish, as long as they are small (but not significantly small) and are not fin-nipping types, and do not have similar body types and long fins, as they could mistake them for rivals.
The Ideal Site for Your Fish Tank
Never place your tank where it will be in direct sunlight, or heating or air conditioning units, or near a draft. Not only can the sun raise the temperature of the tank too high, it also spurs the growth of certain algae which are bad for your fish. Likewise, water that is too cold, or constantly fluctuates can be deadly for Betta fish.
Choose a site that has a natural day/night cycle. Don’t choose a location that has light or dark all the time so that your Betta doesn’t get agitated or depressed.
In order to keep the water temperature constant, you will need to invest in a heating system. Which means you will need an electrical outlet near the tank.
Make sure that the tank is not near stereo or video equipment. The constant vibration will, over time, stress out and agitate your Betta fish, and chances are, he will react by getting sick, or becoming listless and inactive.
Choose a site that has a natural day/night cycle. Don’t choose a location that has light or dark all the time so that your Betta doesn’t get agitated or depressed.
In order to keep the water temperature constant, you will need to invest in a heating system. Which means you will need an electrical outlet near the tank.
Make sure that the tank is not near stereo or video equipment. The constant vibration will, over time, stress out and agitate your Betta fish, and chances are, he will react by getting sick, or becoming listless and inactive.
Preparing the Water
Betta fish are tropical fish, and they need fresh water to live in. The water that comes out of most faucets contains chlorine and other substances in concentrations that are safe for humans but can be toxic to fish. Water conditioner conditions tap water to make it safe for your fish. You should always use water conditioner according to its instructions when performing water changes to ensure that the water you add to your water tank is safe for your fish. To test the purity of water in your house, use a liquid test kit. A pH reading of 7.0 means your water is free from harmful substances. If you get a reading of 8.0 and above, you will need to add a few drops of pH down on your water in order to achieve a neutral pH level.
A cycled water tank will ideally have the following parameters:
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Betta fish require water at a constant temperature within the range of 24.5°c to 30°c. Otherwise, they can become very lethargic. If the water gets too cold, they can even die. For that reason, heaters are considered very important for taking proper care of Betta fish. A thermometer is recommended to ensure the water is at the right temperature. Ideally the room temperature will not be radically different from the temperature of the tank’s water. Keeping you tank covered via a hood or glass cover will help keep the air above the tank moist and warm for your Betta fish, as well as slow down the rate of evaporation. It will also helps to prevent your Betta fish from jumping out of the water tank. However, you must reserve some space for the Betta fish to breath from the water surface and make sure they have easy access to the surface of the water. Ideally is to fill the water tank with 80% of water and leave 20% of space.
While not considered strictly necessary for Betta fish, a filter can help keep water tank clean. Betta fish should have very little water movement in a tank. So if you opt for a filter for your tank, make sure it has a very low flow. You can ensure a low flow by either getting a filter rated for a smaller tank.
While not considered strictly necessary for Betta fish, a filter can help keep water tank clean. Betta fish should have very little water movement in a tank. So if you opt for a filter for your tank, make sure it has a very low flow. You can ensure a low flow by either getting a filter rated for a smaller tank.
Add Betta fish to Water Tank
Carefully, slowly tip the container in which you received your Betta fish into the new habitat so that the new water and old water can mix, slowly let the fish get accustomed to the new environment. This way, if your habitat water is much colder or warmer than the previous water, it will not put the fish in shock.
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Water Changes
Harmful substances accumulate in your water as your Betta fish expels them. You will need to perform water changes so that they do not become too concentrated. The amount and frequency of the water changes you will need to perform will vary depending on the size of your tank and whether it is cycled.
For 1 – 2 gallon tanks : A 25% - 50% water change is recommended every other day, with a 100% water change once a week.
For 2.5 gallon and larger tanks : A 50% water change at least twice a week. If your tank is cycled, you should change 10% of the water twice a week or 25% of the water once a week.
For 1 – 2 gallon tanks : A 25% - 50% water change is recommended every other day, with a 100% water change once a week.
For 2.5 gallon and larger tanks : A 50% water change at least twice a week. If your tank is cycled, you should change 10% of the water twice a week or 25% of the water once a week.
Taking Care of Your Betta Fish
Feed Your Betta Fish
Your Betta Fish’s diet should consist primarily of pellets. Check the ingredients of your pellets, The first three should be protein based. Experts say protein in the pellets should be no lesser than 40%. Tropical fish flakes, goldfish flakes, etc are not for Betta fish.
Feed your Betta fish no more than 3 pellets every other day. This is important, as overfeeding is the number one cause of death. Betta fish will continue eating as long as you feed them and will eat themselves to death. Also, overfeeding can cause bloating of your Betta fish.
Clean up any extra food that your Betta fish does not eat. Similarly, watch your Betta fish to see if he spits out any food. This could be a sign that your Betta fish is a picky eater. Try another brand of pellets.
Betta fish can live without food for two weeks. You can skip one day in the week from feeding them for them to cleanse their digestive system.
Feed your Betta fish no more than 3 pellets every other day. This is important, as overfeeding is the number one cause of death. Betta fish will continue eating as long as you feed them and will eat themselves to death. Also, overfeeding can cause bloating of your Betta fish.
Clean up any extra food that your Betta fish does not eat. Similarly, watch your Betta fish to see if he spits out any food. This could be a sign that your Betta fish is a picky eater. Try another brand of pellets.
Betta fish can live without food for two weeks. You can skip one day in the week from feeding them for them to cleanse their digestive system.
Play With Your Betta Fish
Bubble Nest
Do not provoke your Betta fish by tapping the glass often, but you can play with it by moving your finger around the tank and watching him follow you.
Betta fish recognises their owners and will actually learn faces and games. Keep your Betta fish company by talking to him, so he learns who you are. Betta fish can and do recognise people, mainly because they associate you with feeding time.
Male Betta fish builds bubble nests when happy.
Betta fish recognises their owners and will actually learn faces and games. Keep your Betta fish company by talking to him, so he learns who you are. Betta fish can and do recognise people, mainly because they associate you with feeding time.
Male Betta fish builds bubble nests when happy.