Betta Fish Care

If you have visited a pet store, a chain discount store, or even a florist, lately, you've most likely been attracted to the rich colors and long-finned elegance of the betta fish. Bettas, also known as "Siamese fighting fish" are relatively inexpensive, but exceedingly beautiful. For these reasons, they have recently (and unfortunately) become popular not so much as pets, but as decorating accents, due to misleading reports that they're meant to thrive in tiny amounts of water and need very little looking after. However, betta fish care entails much more than plunking your new fish into a wine goblet with a marble or two for company. Taking care of a betta fish requires preparation, education, and compassion. Let this brief tutorial turn you into a better betta owner!

Perhaps the misconception that bettas are "meant" to live in small amounts of water stems from the fact that bettas are usually sold in containers no larger than a teacup. Unlike most other fish at the aquarium store, bettas are extremely aggressive towards one another, and cannot be housed with other fish. Since they must be sold separately, they're put into cups and stacked row upon row to save room. Potential betta owners are then happily informed that the fish needs very little oxygen or water. The sad fact is that many bettas die within a few weeks of purchase due either to ammonia buildup in their small habitats or lack of oxygen. With this in mind, let the first item on your betta fish care checklist be an adequate tank-at least one gallon, but preferably three or more. With optimum room to swim and an aerator providing fresh oxygen, bettas have been known to live for ten or more years!

When you go to the store to select your betta, know first of all that almost every fish is going to be a male, unless otherwise specified. The male bettas are what earned these fish the title "Jewel of the Orient" while the females are remarkably dull and short-finned, by comparison. Most bettas sold in pet stores will be around nine months old-just after their fins have lengthened and their mature coloration has arrived. When selecting a betta, seek out the healthiest specimen by looking for and avoiding torn fins, dull color patches, and wounds. Most bettas will appear extremely droopy as they float in their alloted six ounces of water, but rest assured that when you take them home and introduce them to their new, larger dwelling, they should perk up immediately and start gliding about, unfurling their magnificent fins for you to admire.

When it comes to a betta's diet, moderation is key, as a betta's stomach is about as large as the black dot in the center of his eye! With that in mind, feed your betta one specialty "betta pellet" once a day. For a treat, try giving him a pinch of frozen bloodworms about once a week, as it will help maintain his jewel-bright complexion. Other than taking precaution to not overfeed your betta, the most crucial factor in betta fish care is water quality. Never place your betta in water straight from the tap! There are many products on the market that will instantly make water safe for fish, or you can use bottled spring water. Ensure that your betta's tank is kept warm enough (but never placed in direct sunlight!), especially during the winter months. You can get a small thermometer, and if needed, a heater made especially for fish tanks, to make certain the water temperature is kept between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. When changing the water, replace no more than half of the water at any given time, and always make sure the replacement water is purified.

With this betta fish care advice well in mind, you'll always have a healthy betta. Remember: a healthy betta is a beautiful betta, and a beautiful betta is one you'll be proud to enjoy and share with friends and family for years to come!

Betta Fish Care

Betta Fish Care - Taking Care of your Betta fish

Betta fishes live for approximately 2 to 5 years. The Fishes that are sold in pet stores are generally adults, so they have the fine lengthy fins, but that also shows that they are by now a year old. That shows that if your betta fish lives for more than 2-3 years after you purchase it, it's a fine, long-lived fish.

The foods for bettas have a tendency to be more of a meat diet as compared to other fishes. A number of fishes are very particular about what they will or won't consume. It's totally special with every fish, although, and depends a great deal on what they were initially lived with. Most bettas will involuntarily be stuck on and consume all types of live food, brine shrimp, tubiflex worms, black worms, mosquito larvae, daphina, etc. But the majority of the people don't like or aren't capable of keeping the live food around always, so dry foods are developed for the fish. You can get pellets and special flakes for bettas from your nearby pet shop. However be aware that if your fish hasn't eaten them earlier it might take some time for him to develop a taste to them or even to begin eating them. One more kind of dried food is the freeze-dried foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, worms, etc. You can also train your betta fish to eat normal flake food that you feed the rest of your aquarium fishes and exchange that with the live foods.

A betta fish’s home must be like their natural habitat to make your fish a happy fish and live. The rice paddy region is exceptionally hot and humid, with ordinary waters in the 80-85 deg F range, and very moist air. In the U.S., the atmosphere doesn't usually come close to matching that atmosphere, and the fish have been bred for years and years to cope up with various weather conditions, so that they can also stay alive in room temperature water, but they will be much more contented and healthier in warmer water.

A most suitable temperature for a betta fish is 78-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Not much hotter than that, as the outside temperature doesn't match. And they are also fine generally down to 72 degrees. But if the room temperature gets much lower than that, the betta fish will most likely not be able to eat, will get ill or have many other troubles.

If the outside temperature is hotter than 80 degrees, don't be troubled about trying to keep the betta cool. They will be contented in the higher temperatures, but you must keep an eye as hotter temperatures will also make the water stinking faster and sicknesses that had been hole up might unexpectedly have an effect on the fish.

Betta fishes are fish that initially came from very hot regions of Asia. They get raised in still water where rice and other plants grew. To become accustomed to this inactive water with low-oxygen content, they developed a particular organ called a "labyrinth organ" that performs action something like a mammal's lung. In this case the fish goes to the upper surface of the water, takes in a lungful of air, and then the organ lets them to process the oxygen from the air, instead of an ordinary fish that obtains the oxygen from the water through its gills. And only because of this unusual capability of bettas, they can be placed in small jars and enclosures and can live in it. They don't have the need of the movement of the water and the quantity of water like other fish.

Though, that doesn't signify that they're happy fish when placed in the small jars. They are usually very happy fish in bigger containers, and a small bowl or jar must only be a provisional tank for a betta fish.

Mainly one gallon of water is an excellent size to place a Betta fish with water changes in two weeks. If you don’t keep your fish in that much water then you might face two types of problems i.e. the water will become polluted very and the fish can't swim in it. If you don't possess an aquarium, you can use a plastic or glass 1 gal goldfish bowl as the initial container for a betta fish.

While changing the water, it is a great idea to acquire some water conditioner to get rid of the chlorine and some "stress coat" formula to help out to keep the fish healthy. Be alert to match both the temperatures, as in that way the betta fish doesn't get disturbed.

Betta Fish Care

Betta Fish Care - 5 Common Myths

Despite the popularity of beta fish in US offices and households, there still many misleading misconceptions about these creatures. They are vibrant and it is fun to care for them, but betta lovers can enjoy them only when they know how to care for a beta fish.And this is where myths continue to grow and spread like fire.

In this article, I aim to dispel some of the most common myths related to betta fish care.

Myth #1: bettas love small containers like bowls.
Probably this myth comes from the fact that in pet stores we see bettas kept in bowls, thus we get the idea that this is the right home for them. Actually, this is wrong. Bowls are not preferred; remember that in the wild betta fish are not limited in space. So a 3-gallon tank is highly recommended. Ideally, you should consider a 5-gallon home for your betta if you want to make them really happy.

Myth #2: two male bettas will fight to death.
While bettas tend to protect there territory from invaders, much depends on the size of the container. If you keep two males in a small bowl, they're likely to fight. But providing they live in a tank with enough space, they may share the territory pretty peacefully. Bettas are not used to cruel fighting; like other species in the wild, they show their superior position by demonstration, and not fight.

Myth #3: you should feed betta fish as much as he can eat.
Betta owners should know that in the wild bettas are carnivores. That is, they tend to eat as much as they can catch when there's food. A Betta can live up to a month without food, and that's why he eats up all the meal. Domesticated creatures should be fed in small portions to avoid any betta fish diseases like constipation and Swim bladder disease.

Myth 4: Betta fish tank doesn't need any heating.
Bettas come from Asia, where temperatures in the wild are higher than temperature of the outside air in the US. Bettas are tropical fish and need their water heated to the 79F - 85F degree range. Low water temperatures stress out the betta fish, lower their immune system and lead to diseases.

Myth 5: Bettas prefer to eat plants, not meat.
Betta fish are not herbivores! They are carnivores, that is meat eaters. While it may sound strange because of the size of bettas, plants are not suitable food for them. If you see a betta fish eating roots of some plant, then it's because he is starving! The most preferred food for them would be frozen bloodworms or flakes from local pet store.

Of course, there are more myths about betta fish care you should be aware of if you want to learn how to be a happy owner of these fancy freshwater creatures. You're welcome to my blog for more useful tips on how to care for betta fish.

Head over to Betta Fish Care Guide for advice on how to properly breed and feed bettas, or read more myths about these tropical fish.

Alberta Glamerheim is co-writer and consultant in fish breeding and care in domestic conditions.

Betta Fish Care

Secrets to Betta Fish Care

The betta fish, most commonly known as the Siamese Fighting Fish, is a very popular tropical fish because of its brilliant colors plus betta fish care is relatively easy especially for newcomers to tropical fish hobby. In the Wild bettas live in the rice fields and rivers of southeast Asia, so they are actually a pretty hardy tropical fish but the betta fish can also be finicky.

Betta fish care does entail some special considerations that are unique to betta fish especially in regards to the males in order to keep him/her happy and healthy.

With that said here's a sneak peek at some of the secrets to betta fish care as well as where you can go to find more information about betta fish care and get great tips to breeding betas successfully.

* 1. Water Quality. As with all tropical fish this is the number one issue when it comes to keeping healthy fish and is also true with betta fish care. It is important that the PH level of the water be as close to a neutral PH of 7.0 as possible to insure a healthy happy betta fish. As well water temperature is equally important to maintaining healthy betta fish, and they prefer temperatures between 72-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
* 2.Vegetation. Here's a little tip that a lot of people miss in regards to betta fish care. Having some vegetation in the tank for the fish to rest/hide in. Betta fish remember come from southeast Asia and as such are very common the the rivers streams and rice fields of those countries. Having vegetation helps to re-create this habitat and helps to maintain a healthy betta.
* 3.Give them some space. A lot of people think that just because a betta fish doesn't have gills like other tropical fish and breathes air just like people do (yes betta fish have lungs) doesn't mean the fish is happy inside of a cup. Would you be, so give the fish some space you'll be rewarded for your efforts.

There's other tips that are crucial and insightful about betta fish care but these basics should point you in the right direction to maintaining and keeping healthy betta fish.

Betta Fish Care

Betta Fish Care - What You Don't Know Will Hurt Your Betta Fish

Betta fish bowls are by far one of the biggest misconceptions about Betta fish. Many people are under the impression that if you buy a Betta fish you can just let them sit in the bowl you purchased from the store and everything will be fine. This is probably the worst myth regarding them.

Here is why-Betta fish were not meant to be confined to a small bowl. On the contrary, they love to swim around. In the wild they have plenty of room to do their thing, but as a pet, if the owner doesn't give them a great home to swim in, then ultimately the Betta will be unhappy and their life expectancy will lessen. Think about this for a moment, would you be happy if you were confined to a 6ft by 6ft box each day? Then why do we assume our Bettas will enjoy a dinky little 4 inch diameter bowl?

They don't. In fact, smaller fish bowls may actually harm your Betta.

Now, what are some other good tips to know about purchasing Betta fish bowls?

If you need to go small, be sure that your fish bowl is big enough so that your Betta's fins and tail aren't always touching the sides or bottom.

Your bowl needs to be aesthetically pleasing to you. Don't go purchase some cheesy bowl (a glass bowl shaped like a fish comes to mind). A nice, elegant glass bowl that shows off the fish and helps to make them a great conversation piece during gatherings makes great Betta fish bowls.

Don't go too big for just the one fish. He doesn't need a 20 gallon tank!

Add some decoration to the inside of the bowl, preferably small, smooth pebbles; some kind of aquatic plants and small buildings or figures.

Be sure to get a bowl/tank with a cover. Betta fish have been known to jump out of the water and end up on the table...which will spell disaster for your Betta if you don't happen to be around when it happens.

Don't harm your Betta, learn more about Betta Fish Secrets and how to take care of them by reading an in-depth review here

Eric is a Betta fish enthusiast and loves spending time with his daughter taking care of their Betta.

Betta Fish Care

Betta Fish Care - What You Need To Know

Betta Fish Care.
Betta Fish Secrets is a guide dedicated to Betta Fish lovers everywhere. Betta Fish can be some of the easiest fish to care for if you know what you are doing. Unfortunately for most Betta fish, their owners are clueless on how to take care of them.

For example, did you know that they love to jump out of the water? These fish are some of the most playful fish you will ever see. This can be both good and bad. The good is that they are very entertaining fish when they are in the mood , but the bad, is if you don't take proper care of them, they could commit suicide by jumping out of the water!

Another secret about Bettas is that they can breath both through their gills in the water and through an organ on the top of their heads which allows them to take in oxygen from the surface. Wonder why this is so? Well betas love to eat and one of their favorite meals in the wild was the bugs on the surface of the water. Their upturned mouths allowed for them to easily suck down the unsuspecting mosquito or waterbug.

Did you know that Bettas are easily affected by their environment? This is why it is vitally important to research tank size, and tank accessories prior to purchasing. Getting the wrong tank can spell disaster for your fish.

Betta Fish Secrets reveals to you many secrets surrounding these exotic fish. There is so much information packed into the ebook that taking care of a Betta shouldn't be hard at all.

Betta Fish Care

Beta Fish Care - How To Care For Your Beta Fish

Beta Fish, also known as the Siamese fighting fish, are a splendid looking fish that are very popular among pet owners.

They are wonderful fish to have however without the right care your Beta fish wont thrive and can have some real problems.

Beta fish are popular for their bright colors, decorative fins and their active lifestyles. They are amazing fish but you need to keep in mind that Betta fish tend to be very delicate and without proper care they can be prone to diseases such as fin rot.

If you already own a Betta fish or are wanting to get one you will need to know how to care forit so that it lives a long happy life. You don't ever want your Betta fish to develop fin rot and takeaway those beautiful fins they are popular for.

Beta fish care isn't hard when you know how to care for them. Below are 3 tips to help you take the best care of your Beta fish.

1/ Tank size, For your Beta fish to remain healthy and happy it needs to be in a big enough fish tank.With those beautiful long fins they need space where their fins won't get caught and break. Also don't use rocks or other decorations that your fish may get its fins caught on.

2/ Clean Water, although you don't need to have a water pump system you do need to keep the water clean. This can be done by replacing 1/3 of the water every 2-3 days. Also it is best to clean the tank with a turkey baster. This will pick up all the small uneaten food or debris particles from the bottom of the tank.

3/ Don't use soap, when you clean any plants, rocks or decorations you may have in the tank do not use soap. This irritates your beta fish and can lead to problems.

For Betta fish to thrive and have a long happy life you need to know how to take good care of them. The 3 tips above will help you start caring for

your fish properly but theses are just a start. Beta fish are very particular and there is more you will need to know to ensure your fish has the best care.

Beta Fish Care

Breeding Betta Fish Successfully Getting That Prized Full Moon Tailed Betta Doesn't Happen Overnight

Breeding betta fish is something that many people have tried and even more have struggled with. However, learning to breed betas successfully does require that some work. It isn't like breeding guppies at all where you just simply put a few fish in a tank and start making babies. No breeding betta fish successfully requires proper knowledge of betta fish care, and in learning to apply tips that are crucial in order to get that next prizes full moon tailed betta. Here are a 3 quick tips that will help you on your next attempt at breeding betta fish

1.Don't use Store Bought Bettas. I know that this may sound weird because chances are the betta you have was bought at your local tropical fish store but there is a reason behind this tip. For one store bought betta fish are usually the wrong kind of fish. Most of the really beautiful bettas come from qualified breeders and the store bought ones in all likely hood are the wrong kind. The other reason is, store bought fish generally are not in the mood for breeding if you know what I mean. Store bought betas are usually older, less hearty and just not as inclined to have love affairs. So the solution when breeding betta fish buy them from a qualified betta breeder, it might cost you more, but you have a far greater chance of success.

2. Always Buy Breeding Betta Stock in Pairs. This is really an extension of point number one. Once you realize you need to stop using store bought fish in trying to breed betas don't chance out by buying only one. That kind of is self defeating of point number one.

3. Buy More then One Pair. This is the real secret to breeding betta fish. Betta fish are like people when it comes to love. Don't think that just because you thrust two betta fish on a blind date that your going to make the magic happen. It many cases your going to find perhaps the male just doesn't like the female you chose, or the male is interested but she is not in the mood. By buying more then one air of breeding stock you double your chances of making a love connection.


Betta Fish Care

Betta Fish Care

A Betta fish is a beautiful freshwater fish that comes in extraordinary color patterns. It is one of the most inexpensive fish to keep and doesn't need much care at all. You will have a healthy fish if you follow these simple care requirements.

The Betta fish is one of the most well known aquarium fish. It comes in many colors including red, blue, purple, green and white. The males have much brighter colors than females and also have longer fins. Bettas are originally from Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, parts of China and

Vietnam. They are usually found in very shallow waters, such as rice paddies and shallow ponds. Bettas can live to be two or three years old.

Bettas may look like regular fish, but they are actually very different. Unlike most fish, the Betta breathes air by going up to the surface of the water. This makes them very easy to keep because it is not necessary to have any airpump, filtration, or aeration at all in their tank. They do well in small bowls; you won't have to buy a large, expensive aquarium for this fish.

You must be sure not to keep two male Bettas in a tank together because they will fight to the death. Females can be kept together though.

Many people think that Bettas cannot be kept with any other fish but this is not true. Male Bettas and female Bettas can be kept with other peaceful fish species. Just don't put them in with any aggressive fish that may nip their fins.

Bettas must be fed once a day. Be sure you don't overfeed this fish. Don't leave any uneaten food in the bowl. They can be fed freeze dried brine shrimp or freeze dried blood worms. They don't usually like freeze dried worm cubes or flake food though. There are many foods sold at pet stores specifically for Bettas. Any of these will do.

Be sure to clean your fish bowl once a week if you don't have a filter on it. For the water in the tank, start with tap water and add a product that removes chlorine. Follow the directions on the package. Also add one teaspoon of aquarium salt. Make sure any water you add to the bowl is the same temperature as the water in the bowl.

Keep a lid on the bowl because the Betta can jump out if you don't have one on. Just make sure that there are holes in the lid so the fish can get air. It is also good to have a live plant in the fish bowl. Bettas love to rest on plant leaves. They even have a plant called "Betta Bulbs" that you can use. If you put a plant in the bowl, you will need to have gravel. Gravel gets dirty easily so you must be sure to clean it regularly. If the tank gets dirty, your Betta will get sick.

The Betta is a tropical fish, so keep the bowl in a warm spot. They like to be in temperatures around 75 to 80 degrees. Just don't put the bowl in direct sun or in a drafty spot.

If you follow these simple requirements for this fish, it will be healthy and happy. Bettas are absolutely striking fish to watch. You will surely enjoy this fish!


Betta Fish Care

Secrets to Betta Fish Care

The betta fish, most commonly known as the Siamese Fighting Fish, is a very popular tropical fish because of its brilliant colors plus betta fish care is relatively easy especially for newcomers to tropical fish hobby. In the Wild bettas live in the rice fields and rivers of southeast Asia, so they are actually a pretty hardy tropical fish but the betta fish can also be finicky.

Betta fish care does entail some special considerations that are unique to betta fish especially in regards to the males in order to keep him/her happy and healthy.

With that said here's a sneak peek at some of the secrets to betta fish care as well as where you can go to find more information about betta fish care and get great tips to breeding betas successfully.

* 1. Water Quality. As with all tropical fish this is the number one issue when it comes to keeping healthy fish and is also true with betta fish care. It is important that the PH level of the water be as close to a neutral PH of 7.0 as possible to insure a healthy happy betta fish. As well water temperature is equally important to maintaining healthy betta fish, and they prefer temperatures between 72-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
* 2.Vegetation. Here's a little tip that a lot of people miss in regards to betta fish care. Having some vegetation in the tank for the fish to rest/hide in. Betta fish remember come from southeast Asia and as such are very common the the rivers streams and rice fields of those countries. Having vegetation helps to re-create this habitat and helps to maintain a healthy betta.
* 3.Give them some space. A lot of people think that just because a betta fish doesn't have gills like other tropical fish and breathes air just like people do (yes betta fish have lungs) doesn't mean the fish is happy inside of a cup. Would you be, so give the fish some space you'll be rewarded for your efforts.

There's other tips that are crucial and insightful about betta fish care but these basics should point you in the right direction to maintaining and keeping healthy betta fish.


Betta Fish Care