parasites in my betta tank?

Question
I have a betta that I have had for almost three years. I have two questions..first how long do bettas usually live? Then I have tiny white parasites that are in the water what are they and how do I get rid of them? they do not seem to bother him but I change the water everytime I see them in there to be safe but they come back??

Answer
Hi Sheila,

A Betta's lifespan is usually 3 years, but some can live up to four. Congratulations on wonderful keeping of your Betta! Your Betta is probably reaching the end of his lifespan.

The 'parasites' are probably Planaria, which are often present in aquariums with dirty water/gravel. If you change 30% of the water twice a week, then they should be gone after a couple weeks. Then, you can switch back to a normal schedule of a 20% water change each week. There is no medication to treat Planaria. As long as 'parasites' don't attach to the fish themselves, it should be okay.

Good Luck, and Happy Fishkeeping!