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! This guide will help you learn the essentials to keep your first betta fish.
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 does water need to sit before adding fish?
Chlorine in tap water is used to kill harmful pathogens. This chemical can also be fatal for 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. Before you pour your tap water into your tank, make sure to add some water conditioner.
We love Fritz Complete Water Conditioner because it comes with an easy-to-use pump head for quickly removing chlorine and detoxifying ammonia compounds.
Are Bettas in Need of a Heater?
Yes, they do. They prefer temperatures between 80 and 69 degrees F, but they are more active in warm water. The United States has room temperatures ranging from 67degF-69degF. A betta fish that isn’t heated can become lethargic. For recommendations on heaters, read our article How to Choose the Right Aquarium Heater.
Why Does My Betta Tank Get a Film on Top?
To prevent an oily film of proteins from forming, you need adequate filtration to provide good surface agitation, cleaner water, and improved oxygenation. However, since betta fish usually have long, beautiful fins, they cannot swim in strong currents that will whip them around the aquarium. Your betta will appreciate a gentle sponge filter, or a smaller filter with an adjustable flow speed. Here’s a complete tutorial on how to set up your first sponge filter.
Sponge filter are a popular choice for betta fish filtration because they’re gentle, reliable and simple to use.
How Often Should I Feed My Betta Fish?
Feed your betta fish once a day, as much as they can eat in one minute. It is easy to overfeed your betta fish. If he has constipation, he could become more bloated. Start by feeding two staple foods: a dedicated betta fish pellet and freeze-dried bloodworms. 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 Should I 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. You can create a stressful environment for your betta fish by having to change the water every other day. 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?
No, betta fish are actually territorial creatures (hence the nickname “Siamese fighting fish”) and should not be housed with other bettas. 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. You can see our complete list here of ideal betta tank friends.
Our main advice is to make sure your betta fish gets the best care possible. You should get a larger tank and high-quality equipment and food for your betta fish. Also, continue to educate yourself by joining a betta fish group on Facebook or reading online articles. You can make your betta live a long, healthy life by sharing your knowledge and experiences.