How to Take Care of a Betta Fish - Tips For Beginners

Saving a Betta fish from a cramped plastic cup at the pet store is a noble move, but only as long as you can provide a better environment for it. This isn't difficult, it's just a matter of getting a hold of the right information. Too many rumors and misconceptions float around in regards to "what's right" and people get caught up in what they've heard and end up killing their pets. Below I've compiled a few starter tips for you and pointed you towards several professional resources that helped saved my fish's life time and time again.

Temperature: Temperature is a subjective topic in the Betta care world, various "caring for betta fish" websites will give you different answers. Any temperature between 76 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit is suitable for every day life from a Betta's point of view, the main thing is to be consistent. Once your heater settles and can keep your tank water at one temperature in the acceptable range, try your best to keep it there, rapid temperature fluctuations can be harmful or even deadly to a Betta fish.

Tank Size and Feeding: These are both somewhat short answer items so I've combined them into one section. A Betta's tank size should be 5 to 10 gallons, larger is OK, smaller is not. Betta's do not live in little tiny ponds as rumored on various Betta forums on the internet. They live in vast expanses of wetlands (BIG puddles) and as such should not be confined to a little 1 gallon bowl. This misconception gets spread because so many Betta owners have no idea what a rice paddie really is, and just consider their Betta's natural habitat to be a shallow, muddy puddle. This is easily disproved by the fact that the Bettas living in large tanks with clean water are nearly always those that live longer.

As far as food goes, I highly recommend pellets for two reasons. They are well balanced and contains everything your fish needs in it's diet, and also that they are roughly the same size as one another. What does this mean? It means that you will be able to more easily ration your Betta's food. Two pellets twice per day (two in the morning and two at night) is plenty!
Live foods are great for snacks, but as far as an every day meal these foods (such as brine worms and blood worms) tends to be very high in protein and fats, but no other nutrients.

Most deadly Betta mistakes occur without the owner even knowing what's going on. To give your pet the best life possible put some effort into learning how to take care of betta a fish and collecting information. When my fish was inexplicably taking a turn for the worse I found my salvation in Betta Care Made Easy, a professional care guide downloadable online.

You owe it to your pet to spend time learning. I've reviewed the two resources that I found most helpful in caring for my Betta on my blogsite at http://www.how-to-take-care-of-a-betta-fish.info

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My Beta Fish Won't Eat - Is Your Beta Fish Sick Or Just Not Hungry?

So your beta fish won't eat?

It may be a sign of an illness.

Below are some of the most common illnesses of which one of the symptoms is that your beta fish won't eat:

- Fungal infection - If you can see white patches all over its body and head, and your fish is generally inactive, resting at the bottom of the tank, barely showing interest in food, then it may have a fungal infection.

- Rotting tail / rotting fin - If your fish's fins or tail show signs of deterioration and its body is lackluster, pale and your fish isn't eating, your fish may be sick.

- Ick - Beware that sometimes live frozen foods may contain live parasites. These parasites can infect the fish, causing it to break out with itchy dots all over its body, head, and even the eyes. If your fish is just not paying attention to its food, then you may have to treat your beta fish for parasites.

- Popeye -If your fish's eyeballs are bulging out of their sockets, it is due to bacterial infection from dirty water. Popeye is generally a symptom of more serious internal problems. Your fish may not have much of an appetite and thus your fish won't eat.

- Dropsy - If your fish's scales are standing upright, looking like a pine cone, then your fish has a bacterial infection, transmitted typically through consumption of live worms. Your beta fish won't eat, most likely, under these circumstances.

You saved your beta's life from the pet store's tiny cup. Now learn how to make your beta into the most comfortable, safe, and cared-for fish in the world.
Who else wants a beautiful, healthy beta fish, swimming happily in a stunning tank, without having to spend a bundle or constantly worry about your beta's health?
Let's learn more about why your beta fish won't eat with this companion guide that is a MUST for every beta fish owner.

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Betta Diseases - Does Your Betta Fish Have Any of These Symptoms?

When it comes to betta diseases, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Here's a list of the most common betta diseases:

-          Fungus  - If your fish has white patches all over its body and head, and he is behaving generally lethargic, lazy, and inactive, spending most of his time resting at the bottom of the tank, and not showing any interest in food, then your betta may have a fungal infection.

-          Rotting tail or fins - If your betta's tail / fins are pale, lacking their normal luster and brilliance, and are showing signs of deterioration, and your fish isn't interested in eating, then your fish is most likely sick.

-          Ick -Frozen foods such as blood worms can potentially contain live parasites. These can infect your betta and cause him to have a breakout of itchy dots all over its body, head, and even his eyes. If your fish isn't eating its food, then you most likely will need to have your betta undergo treatment for removal of parasites.

-          Popeye - If your betta's eyeballs are bulging out of their sockets, then he must have caught some form of bacterial infection from the dirty water in your tank. Lack of interest in food will often accompany this condition as well.

-          Dropsy - If your fish's scales are standing on end, making your beta look more like a pine cone than a beta, then your fish has been infected by bacteria which is transmitted typically through the consumption of live worms.

Do any of the above symptoms sound like something that your own betta is going through? Here are the cures to these and many other betta diseases.

You saved your betta's life from the pet store's tiny cup. Now learn how to make your betta into the most comfortable, safe, and cared-for fish in the world.

Who else wants a beautiful, healthy betta fish, swimming happily in a stunning tank, without having to spend a bundle or constantly worry about your betta's health?
Let's learn more about betta diseases with this companion guide that is a MUST for every betta fish owner.

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Betta Fish - Essential Facts on How to Keep Them Alive and Well

The betta fish is a popular fish among fish hobbyists. As the betta is an attractive fish, many of them use this fish to add beauty to their aquarium. However, there are some people who prefer to keep their bettas in small containers as pets. Although rearing bettas are not difficult as these fishes are known for its physical hardiness, there are some points that we need to observe in order to keep these fishes well.

Due to its quality of physical toughness, the betta fish can survive well even if it is placed in small bowls or jars. The betta is a labyrinth fish and is able to breathe atmospheric air. Hence, give a small space, it will not suffer any oxygen deficiency because it can swim to the surface of the water to breathe air. Although the betta can thrive in small containers, it is important that the water in these containers be changed regularly. The smaller the water space, the more often is the need to change the water. If a betta is reared in a small living space with poor water conditions, it will not reach its full coloration and high activity levels.

Bettas should be kept in water with temperature between 74 degrees F and 84 degrees F. If the temperature is above 84 degrees F, the betta will display some discomfort and in the long run, they may age faster. When changing water, it should be ascertained that the temperature of the new water be similar to that of the old water. This is to ensure that the betta will not experience a sudden change of temperature and become sick. If small containers are used to keep the betta, the water in these containers need not be filtered. However, if larger containers are used, filtering is encouraged as it can lengthen the time needed for a water change.

It is not advisable to place more than one male betta fish in an aquarium. If this happens, the bettas will become aggressive and attempt to defend their territory within the small space. Hence, they may cause harm to each other. It is very rare that two female bettas will fight against each other, though sometimes there may be a little fin nipping between the two. As such, most of the time, there is no serious injury. Placing a male and female betta together with other fishes in a community aquarium can create problems. This is because there is a possibility that these two bettas may start spawning and this may affect other fishes in the tank. When you place a betta in a community aquarium, you should ensure that the other fishes in the aquarium are not the aggressive type. This is to prevent attacks from these fishes which can result in damage and injury.
Bettas have a rapid metabolic rate, hence, it is advisable that these fishes be fed with small, frequent meals. If too much food is given in one feeding, the betta may not consume all the food and the remaining food may cause pollution of water.

The above are some points we need to note if we want to keep our bettas well. Keeping the betta is an interesting, enriching and rewarding hobby. You can choose to keep it in an aquarium or in a small container. As there are many types of bettas available, you can have more choices to select the type you like. Once you have started this hobby, your passion will grow and eventually you will want to learn more about this remarkable fish and hope to keep more of them. For more information on care for Betta fish, please visit Betta Fish Care.

Rose Mary enjoys travel and write on various interest topics. Discover the essentials on keeping Betta Fish alive and well at Betta Fish Care at => http://www.fibcool.com/betta-fish/betta-fish-care/

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Choosing Plants for Your Betta Fish Tank

Betta fish use plants as a defensive strategy in their natural environments. This allows them to avoid contact with predators and other male Bettas Nervous or threatened-feeling Bettas will squeeze through close together plants to escape danger. Because of this, it is important to include some kind of plant in your Betta's tank, to reduce stress and allow it to feel that it can hide. While some people prefer artificial plants in their aquariums, live plants help to take care of harmful chemical byproducts in the tank, such as ammonia, nitrite and nitrates. They also perform the important function of gas exchange, keeping the water more oxygenated than an environment without plants or with artificial plants. Soft and leafy plants are preferred, to prevent damage to the Betta's scales should it squeeze between leaves or branches.

Plants do require light, however. An aquarium with live plants should have either access to sunlight or a light built into the hood. Some plants which are recommended for use with Betta fish are the floating Water Sprite, Hornwort, and Elodea. Tiger Lotus is considered good for use in tanks with breeding Bettas since it puts out a lily-pad-like leaf that sits on the surface of the water. Male Bettas use this leaf to shelter their bubble nests. Be sure to keep an eye on your Betta tank's plants, since dead and rotting vegetation can be bad for the water quality. Java Moss and Java Ferns can thrive in uncycled bowls without any filtration. They also require low to medium light, and are thus suitable for aquariums or enclosures that cannot be put close to a window.

Live plants for your Betta tank can be found locally from some aquarium stores or ordered from the Internet. All plants should be bright green and very healthy looking. They should also be quarantined before placing them in with the fish, to make sure that they do not carry diseases or parasites that could harm your Betta Be sure to acquire plants from a reputable source. It is wise to do some research into your supplier before purchasing live plants for your Betta tank. Bettas tend to interact more with live plants than with artificial plants. Many types of artificial plants are also rough and could damage fins and scales. Unlike fake plants, real ones will also sway attractively in the water as the fish swims through them. When the time comes to clean the tank, some plants can be gently removed and rinsed if this is desired. This is particularly easy when using free floating plants like the Java fern.

For more information on beta fish plants, try visiting http://www.bettafishcenter.com, a popular website that provides tips, advice and resources on caring for betta splendens.

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Don't Harm Your Betta Fish By Putting The Betta Aquarium In The Wrong Place

If you position your betta fish tank in the wrong place, you could be doing your betta a great deal of harm, even to the point of causing them to get sick or even to pass away.

One of the many misconceptions that people have concerning bettas, is that a betta fish should be kept in bright sunlight next to a window.

Granted, bettas come from an area that is hot most of the time and has a great deal of sunshine. The problem with this logic is that a lake is much larger than a fish tank, has plants to keep the temperature down and the bettas have places to hide under if they get too hot.

If you put a plastic cup full of water in direct sunshine for about two hours, you will find that the temperature of the water has risen. After a few hours or days the temperature will become hot to the touch. Imagine if this was your betta tank instead of a cup. Bettas thrive in water that is around 80 degrees and will die in water that gets into the 90's. If your tank has a lid, the temperature increase will be even more dramatic.
Think about a garden hose that has water in it and is in the direct sunlight all day. When you start the water flowing, it comes out almost boiling to the touch. Guess what would happen if your betta had been in that water; they wouldn't have lasted more than a few minutes.

The best place for your betta aquarium would be on an inside wall, out of direct sunlight, but still capable of having a great deal of light come into the tank.

Another misconception is that the aquarium should be in front of a mirror, so the fish thinks that it has company.

One of the main things to remember, about bettas, especially male bettas, is that they are fighting fish and will fight to the death with other bettas.

If you put two male bettas in a tank together, they will fight until one of them is dead. This is the nature of the male betta, after all, they aren't called Siamese Fighting Fish for nothing.

It may shock you to learn that two females will do about the same thing, they may not kill each other but will tear at the others fins and tails. In the end this will cause death to the other fish.

Having a mirror behind the tank will make the betta think he has a rival in the area that is trying to dominate the aquarium. Your betta will then spend all his time trying to get at the other fish. He will frantically bang on the tank walls, swim endlessly around the aquarium and even try to launch himself out of the tank to get at the other male.

In the end, your betta will wear himself completely out, to the point of exhaustion and maybe even death.
To remedy this type situation and make the betta a little happier, my wife found a picture of flowers in a magazine. The flowers were colorful with lots of green stems, that gave the scene a tropical look. We taped that picture to the back of the aquarium, giving our little fish a bright cheery home that he could call his own.

Placing your betta fish tank in an area that is eye level with children may seem like a fun idea. If you were a fish on the other side, you wouldn't think it was such a great idea, especially if the child starts tapping on the side of the tank.

Imagine that you are in your house and a huge giant comes up, puts his face at your window and starts banging on the side of your house. A little scary isn't it?

Think how scary it must be for a fish to have this happen to their tank. To make matters worse, water will amplify the sound of the tapping within the tank. You can just imagine how uncomfortable this would be for your betta.

Make sure that your children look and enjoy, but don't tap on the glass or put their hands into the water.
Your betta can live a long and healthy life, up to 5 years. Correct placement of the tank can significantly add to the lifespan of your betta, by giving them more enjoyment of life, a feeling of security and a safe environment in which to live.

If you are a betta fish lover, who wants to keep their fish happy and healthy, then Robert D Schroeder, would like you to join him at http://myhealthybetta.info Learn the correct water temperature, how to improve tank conditions, how to handle betta diseases and many more secrets to improve the lifespan of your betta.

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Ten Mistakes in Betta Fish Care

Almost everyone knows what Betta fish, also known as Siamese fighting fish, look like. They are very distinct thanks to their brilliant coloring and long, flowing fins. You will find them in all colors of the rainbow. Their beauty has made them one of the most attractive types of fish kept by aquarium hobbyists. They are not only stunning to look at, though. They also make very interesting pets with their sometimes incredible behavior and unique personalities.

Betta fish care is not hard, once you learn to avoid some things which could adversely affect your little finned friend's health and well-being. Let me give you ten examples below:

1. It all starts with the trip home. If you bought your Betta at a pet store, don't drive it home alone. It's better to have someone in the car with you who could hold the Betta and keep it from experiencing bumps, sharp turns or sudden stops. Also, never leave your Betta in the car for any length of time, especially if the outside temperatures are very hot or very cold.

2. Some pet stores advise you not to use gravel in an aquarium. That's a mistake for a Betta fish tank. Substrate is where the beneficial bacteria grow and help break down the waste in the tank. It also adds beauty to your tank and allows you to secure rocks and plants to the bottom of your Betta's home.

3. Don't overfeed your Betta. This is especially important at the beginning - before your tank has produced enough beneficial bacteria. Remember - less food means less waste produced by the Betta. You may be surprised to learn that bettas can live up to ten days without any food.

4. Never use soap or chemicals to clean the tank or the aquarium or any of the decorations. If there is any algae accumulation, you may need to do a little more than a simple wipe down. A 15 minute bath in a 10% bleach solution will do the trick. But don't soak them any longer than 15 minutes.

5. Avoid plastic plants (unless they are brand new and very soft to the touch) in your aquarium or anything that contains metal which will eventually leech into the water and poison your Betta.

6. Do not leave the Betta tank uncovered. Bettas love to jump. You need to prevent them from jumping out of the tank. When you cover the tank with a lid, make sure it has holes for ventilation. Another option is a mesh screen. This will protect the Betta not only from itself, but also from predators, such as your pet cat.

7.Tap water would kill your fish due to chlorine, chloramine and other chemicals. Use a dechlorinator (such as Stress Coat) and AmQuel. Never use distilled water, either, because it doesn't have sufficient mineral content.

8. Don't clean the tank too thoroughly! It needs the build up of good bacteria for your Betta to stay healthy.

9. Be very careful with powered filters. Contrary to the opinion of some pet store personnel, Bettas like their waters very still. Too much motion will stress out your Betta. A sponge filter would be your best option. They are the quietest and also least expensive.

10. Discover whether your Betta will be happy alone. There are different theories on the subject of Betta social needs. Many believe that Bettas are perfectly happy on their own, that they should be kept alone. Others swear that Bettas need stimulation and presence of other Bettas or Betta-friendly fish.
These contradictory beliefs seem to suggest that we don't really know what is best for our Betta fish, but that we may be projecting our own preferences on them. Get to know your Betta, observe it, try different things and keep an open mind. They do have different personalities and it could be that while one Betta is perfectly happy alone, another would thrive in some good company.

If you want to create a community tank, learn about good tank mates for Betta fish. Watch for contradictory advice on that subject as well. Some simple guidelines on which most seem to agree are:

• Don't put two Betta males together unless you know their personalities well and it's a large tank.
• A male and female also don't belong in the same tank, unless you are breeding them.
• Avoid placing Gouramis, the Platy and Variatus with the Betta. They may get too aggressive.
• Avoid also any fish that is long-finned and could be mistaken by your Betta as another Betta.

These are the most common mistakes you could make with your Bettas. Avoiding them and learning the simple principles of proper Betta fish care will help you keep your fish as long as they were really meant to live.

- Mischa

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