Care Guide for Betta Fish – The Best Beginner Pet Fish
Betta fish are also known by the Siamese fighting and Betta splendens names. They are beloved for their bright finnage and friendly personalities. If you’re brand new to the aquarium hobby, this care guide is for you! Learn the most important information to care for your first bettafish.
Is It OK to Keep Betta Fish in a Bowl?
If you haven’t bought a small bowl yet, we highly recommend that you get a larger aquarium that holds at least 5 to 10 gallons of water. More water gives your betta fish extra room to swim around and allows you to go longer between tank cleanings before the water gets too dirty. Also, it doesn’t cost a lot more to buy a bigger tank, especially if you take advantage of Petco’s “Dollar Per Gallon” aquarium sale (where a 10-gallon tank only costs $10). This blog post will provide detailed instructions for setting up a tank and a checklist of betta fish.
How long should water sit before adding fish?
The chlorine in tap water can kill harmful pathogens. It is also fatal to betta fish. You may have heard that letting the water sit out overnight allows the chlorine to evaporate, but nowadays some cities treat their water with chlormine, which does not evaporate. To make sure your tap water is safe for your betta fish, you should always add water conditioner or dechlorinator.
Fritz Complete Water Conditioner is a great choice because it includes an easy to use pump head that can quickly remove chlorine and detoxify ammonia compounds.
Are Bettas in Need of a Heater?
Yes. Betta fish like temperatures around 80 degrees Fahrenheit and are more active when they are kept in warmer water. In the United States, where room temperatures are commonly between 67degF to 69degF, a betta fish without a heater is quite lethargic and may even become sick from the constant stress of being too cold. For recommendations on heaters, read our article How to Choose the Right Aquarium Heater.
Why Does My Betta Tank Get a Film on Top?
A good filtration system is necessary to ensure that an oily layer of proteins does not form. It should provide adequate surface agitation and clean water. However, since betta fish usually have long, beautiful fins, they cannot swim in strong currents that will whip them around the aquarium. You will be a blessing to your betta fish by setting up a small filter with an adjustable flow rate or a gentle sponge filter. Here’s a complete tutorial on how to set up your first sponge filter.
Sponge filters have become a very popular choice for filtering betta fish. They are gentle, reliable, easy to use, and so gentle.
How Many Times Should I Feed My Fish?
Feed your betta fish once a day, as much as they can eat in one minute. Overfeeding betta fish can be dangerous. Make sure that his stomach is not full. Begin by giving two main foods to your betta fish: a dedicated bettafish pellet and freeze-dried worms. When you’re ready to add more variety to his diet, get some ideas from our list of 5 betta fish foods you should try.
These small floating pellets have been specially designed to give betta fish the nutrition they need.
How Often Do I Need to Clean My Betta Tank?
If you followed our previous advice and got a 10-gallon tank for your betta fish, you may only need to clean the aquarium once or twice a month by changing out 30% of the water. You will have to clean your 1-gallon aquarium every two to three days, with 100% water changes. This frequent maintenance can cause a volatile environment which is stressful for your betta fish. It’s similar to having to move every week. The bowl will end up getting clogged up with holidays and deadlines, so you may forget to clean it. Your fish will get sick from living in his own waste, and then you’ll have to spend time and money on medications to try to save him.
Do Betta Fish Get Lonely?
Betta fish should not be housed together with other bettas. They are territorial creatures, hence the name “Siamese fighting Fish” However, depending on their temperament, many betta fish can live with other peaceful nano fish, provided that you give them a larger aquarium (at least 10 to 20 gallons in size) with lots of cover and live aquarium plants. Corydoras, smaller tetras and rasboras are some of the recommended roommates. Our complete list of ideal roommates for betta tanks can be found here.
Our number one piece of advice is not to cut corners on the care of your betta fish. Buy betta fish food and equipment that is of high quality. Continue to learn by joining a Facebook group for betta fish or reading online articles. With more knowledge and experience you can help your Betta live a long and happy life.
