Proper Betta Fish Care

It is surprising sometimes how many people get their start in the aquarium hobby by buying a single Betta fish. There is good reason for this trend since Siamese fighting fish have beautifully flowing fins, bright colors, and each one seems to have a unique personality. One often gets the impression that these fish get to know their owners and even anticipate their arrival during feeding time and when you spend time watching them swim throughout their aquariums.

Proper Siamese fighting fish care is important if you want your fish to live a long and healthy life. The average lifespan of Bettas is somewhere between three and five years. It is difficult to tell how old the fish are by the time they make it to your home though. One can expect that they are at least 3 to 6 months old and may be up to one year old which leaves 2 to 4 years of life in your hands.

Myths abound about Bettas needing very little water due to a sense of security in small containers but they simply are not true! Professional breeders keep their Bettas in smaller jars but they change the water daily, preventing build up of toxins. In your home, your fish should have at least a one gallon tank but will do better with 2.5 to 5 or 10 gallons of water. There does not need to be a filter if you do regular water changes of about 25% per week.

Bettas are tropical fish that need an aquarium heater if the room temperature in your house isn't 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. There are small heaters designed for fish tanks down to 1 gallon - these are made by Hydor and usually cost less than $10.

Bettas thrive on a variety of foods. Many people like to have a quality pellet food as their Siamese fighting fish's main diet. By supplementing with other types such as live or frozen bloodworms, daphnia, and white worms, one can easily ensure your fish has a balanced diet that will keep its colors bright throughout its life.

Finally, your fish evolved to be a fighting fish and honing this instinct can help keep its fins full and keep your fish feisty. Since males and females should be kept solitary in their aquariums, you can easily help the fighting instinct by placing a small mirror against the side of the tank for up to 15 minutes at a time at least once per day. The Betta will think the other fish is a rival male and will try to scare it off by flaring its fins and gill plate at it - a great form of exercise for your fish!

These simple tips for caring for your Betta fish will help keep it happy and healthy for the 2 to 4 years you can expect it to survive in your home.