Betta Fish Care - Ways To Keep A Healthy, Beautiful Fish
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Although part of the appeal of betta fish is that they can be kept without the need for a large aquarium or with a complicated filtration system, betta fish care does require some effort. Betta fish are beautiful when kept healthy and happy, and this article will give you the basics on how to achieve just that.
The first key to betta fish care is to give your fish at least a little space. Yes, they can be kept alive in those little jars they sell them in at the pet stores, but imagine how happy you’d be if confined to a space so small you couldn’t move. Bettas kept in very small containers often grow listless and may lose color over time. While your fish does not require a tremendous amount of space, you do want it to have enough room to swim around a bit. A one to two gallon fish bowl works nicely. In addition, since Bettas do breathe at the surface from time to time, you want to make sure there is sufficient space at the surface for your fish to do that.
It is a good idea to have a cover (not an airtight cover!) over the top of your container, as bettas have been known to jump out of their containers.
Water cleanliness is essential to good betta fish care. One tip for this is to be careful when feeding your betta. Uneaten food will cause bacteria to grow and cause the water to get cloudy. If you use betta food pellets, I suggest feeding just one or two at a time a few times per day. This will cut down on the problem of rotting food in the container and will help prevent the fish from being overfed, which can lead to swim bladder problems.
Another way to make sure the water is clean is to change part it on a frequent basis. How much water to replace and how often is largely dependent on the size of the container, as waste products build up much more quickly in small containers than in larger ones. If your fish is in a container with half a gallon of water or less, it is a good idea to change at least a third of the water every 3 days or so. For larger containers of one to two gallons or more, a once per week schedule changing out a third to half the water should work just fine.
When changing the water, there are various test kits, water treatment chemicals, aging techniques, etc. that can be used to remove toxic substances like chlorine and to establish the preferred neutral pH of the water. There is a much simpler trick to betta fish care with regards to water though. You can buy ordinary distilled water and not have to test or treat it at all. Distilled water is free of contaminants and has a neutral pH - perfect for your betta fish, and much simpler than trying to get your tap water to the right chemical balance! Just be sure to get DISTILLED water instead of spring water, drinking water, etc., in order to ensure purity and the correct pH.
Good betta fish care also involves keeping the water warm - about 75 or 80 degrees. Bettas come from tropical regions and do not like it when the water temperature is too low.
Smooth objects without sharp edges make good decorations in the betta fish container because bettas like to rest on objects above the bottom. Bettas have delicate fins, so anything with sharp edges must be avoided, even artificial plants that are particularly rigid.
Using the tips you have just learned, you will be well on your way to keeping a healthy, happy betta fish. The show of brilliant color on your fish will be your reward for your excellent betta fish care.
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