Betta Fish: 2013

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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10 Important Betta Fish Care Tips or How to Increase Your Betta's Lifespan

Every betta owner is concerned with the health and well-being of his precious fish. However, there are a lot of less-known issues regarding betta health that are not always paid attention to.

The following ten tips for proper betta care should be known to every responsible betta fish owner:

10) When getting a new aquarium, it is essential to have enough "good" bacteria in it in order to process the ammonia and nitrites excreted by the betta. In a brand new tank, there are none (unless you put real aquarium gravel in), which causes bettas to suffer from "new tank syndrome". The correct way to handle this is to get a testing kit from your local pet store, add some Java moss to the tank, replace about 20% of the water each day with fresh water, and keep measuring the ammonia and nitrite levels. If they stay at a stable low level, you have a colony of good bacteria in place and there is no more reason to worry.

9) Never use purified or distilled water, since the mineral content is too low. Nor should you use one of the carbon water filters that humans use for their drinking water, unless the manufacturer recommends them for aquariums (and normally they don't). There is no need to buy "designer" bottled water either. Your plain, unfiltered tap water should be fine if it is properly treated.

8) The minimum amount of water necessary for a fully grown betta not to be miserable is about 2 gallons. However, there is no real limit, since no betta will be upset with too much water.

7) Never put two males together. That's the surest way to prevent them from fighting. If your goal is to introduce a female to the environment, do it slowly. Start by putting the female into a tank and placing it next to the male's tank. Let the male become accustomed to seeing her for a week or so. Then introduce her to the male's environment

6) Bettas are carnivores. That means they eat meat. Feeding your betta a vegetarian diet will make him sick because he will not get the protein he needs. If your dietary beliefs do not allow you to feed meat products to your betta, don't buy one!

5) Avoid using antibiotics on the water. Although they do kill the bad bacteria, they also kill the good bacteria, which can again lead to betta getting poisoned.

4) Your betta's life revolves around the surface of the water - so don't make it hard to get to. Even if there are no females in his tank, your male will still enjoy building a bubble nest at the surface and playing around with it as if training for the day he'll have real babies to raise. This means moving eggs from the bottom up to the nest - and it's something your male will practice even if he hasn't done any breeding. So
the bottom line is that you should aim to have the water depth be no more than 10 inches from substrate (gravel on the bottom) to surface.

3) The water pH levels should ideally be 6.8 to 7.0 - slightly acidic to neutral. However, don't worry about it if the water's pH isn't in that exact range. Bettas can adjust. The main thing is to not make drastic changes
to the pH level. For your little ones, a stable pH is the most important thing. Additionally, the chemicals used to adjust pH have been observed to cause bettas to become sick and even die.

2) There is some disagreement about this issue, but we have found through extensive research and experience that most bettas only need to be fed once per day. This most closely approximates a betta's feeding experience in nature. If you want to feed twice per day, remember you are running the risk of overfeeding plus you will likely end up having to clean the aquarium more frequently to counteract the additional waste buildup.

1) Before handling your bettas, wash your hands. Use a soap that is organic and non-toxic. Sticking dirty hands or hands washed with aggressive chemicals into the tank is a sure way to make your bettas sick.
These were just some of the basics of caring after bettas. For exhaustive information on purchasing bettas, betta health care, feeding, breeding, and more, you can refer to the Betta Fish Lover's Guide by Marcus Song at http://www.bettafishguide.com

David is a pet enthusiast and a long-time aquarium owner.

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5 Secrets Every Betta Fish Owner Needs to Know

Have you ever gone to a pet store and seen those fish stacked 3 high in little cups at the front of the register? These are what are known as betta splendens or Siamese fighting fish. Their origins can be traced to Southeast Asia from Thailand to Borneo, to Malaysia, and Cambodia, but today many are bred overseas in fish farms and locally by various breeders. Unfortunately, the needs of these fish are misunderstood, and they are not given the proper care requirements in order for them to reach their full potential. In the following article I will give five simple secrets that are needed to successfully keep betta fish.

The following five secrets are secrets that are okay to be shared amongst friends, neighbors, and anyone else that is interested in keeping betta fish.

1. Betta fish should be kept in tanks that are at LEAST 2 gallons in size. Some use a 5 gallon minimum, but I would recommend anything in the 2-5 gallon range. A one gallon tank could also work, but it is a little more challenging to keep the water requirements stable.

2. Betta fish need a heater in their tanks to keep the water warm. A temperature no less than 76 degrees Fahrenheit is what they need to thrive. Some think a heater is for the "advanced" aquarist, but in reality a heater is like an oven. Just set the temperature dial on the heater to 76, submerge the heater in the water, and plug it into the wall. That is all that is required to "install" a heater for a fish tank.

3. Betta fish do not thrive on flake food. They require a diet with a lot of protein or meat, and they do not like a lot of vegetable matter. They do well on specialty betta pellets, brine shrimp, daphnia, cyclopeeze, live black worms, or any other meaty food.

4. Betta fish should be fed once per day and should be able to finish all food within 1-2 minutes. Do not feed them more if "they look hungry" because all fish look hungry. The leftover food cannot be kept until the next day in the tank. Rather it will settle on the bottom and begin to rot. This will throw off the water chemistry and your betta will start floating listless at the top of the tank, or perpetually hide at the bottom of the tank.
5. Betta fish tanks need to be cleaned weekly especially if there is no filter on the tank, but 100% of the water should NEVER be changed at one time. Every water change should consist of a 30-50% change. For example, in a 3 gallon tank, change about 1-1.5 gallons of water at a time.

These are only five basic guidelines that are required for proper betta fish care. Nevertheless betta fish will survive in much worse conditions such as a small, unheated cup, but you will never see the full potential of your fish in an environment like that. Records show that the average life of a betta fish is about 3-6 years, but if kept in the cup it came in from the pet shop you'll be lucky to get 3-6 months of survival.

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Aquatic Life Federation is a full service pond and aquarium care/installation business. We work closely with our customers to ensure that they are fully satisfied with their fish. With so many variables that go into keeping saltwater, tropical, and pond fish healthy and happy, let us partner with you in this journey providing you with the knowledge and guidance necessary to allow you to Love Your Fish.

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Why Do Betta Fish Fight?

Introduction

Want to know why Betta fish fight? Well there are many reasons for this aggressive behavior. The main reason is the people of Southeast Asia have bred them to fight for hundreds of years. Here is a history of this popular fish and the reasons the little fish wants to fight.

Betta History

Betta fish, also known as Siamese Fighting Fish since they are mainly found in Siam, now known as Thailand, can be found all over Southeast Asia. They normally can be found in rice paddies, ditches, stagnant water and slow-moving streams. With the current use of chemicals to raise rice, the Betta is slowly disappearing from the paddies.

The villages of Southeast Asia used to compete with each other to determine who had the best fighting fish. The winning village would have bragging rights over the losing village.

Why Betta Fight

Betta males are the ones that will fight the most, in fact they will fight other males at the drop of a hat. Usuallythey fight to ensure they have enough food, for control of their territory and to get the female for reproduction. Betta males can live with females in the same tank, but putting two males in the same tank, without keeping them separate, can lead to trouble.

To have two or more males in the same tank, you must keep the peace by ensuring they are separate. You can do this by providing them each their own space using a wire mesh to keep them separate or putting them in plastic containers with holes in it to allow circulation of water.

Which ever method you chose, ensure that the males cannot see each other by placing rock, plants or ornaments between the males.

When getting ready to fight the males will flare off at each other, almost doubling or tripling in size to intimidate his rival. Their gills and fins will flare out and their colors may become more intense.
Betta females on the other hand, are not as intimidating as their male counter-parts. But they will develop a pecking order if you keep two or more in the same tank. The top female Betta will peck at the other female Betta fish that are below here in the pecking order.

Conclusion

The reason Betta males fight is for more food, territory or to get the female for reproduction. The female fights other females to determine pecking order.

J.W. Chase is an amateur Aquarist who has successfully been keeping aquariums for over 35 years. Over 75% of people who start aquariums fail in the first month for lack of knowledge. If you want more information on how to keep an aquarium, go to his web site and download a free eBook on "15 Tips On Building And Maintaining An Aquarium" at http://www.squidoo.com/homefreshwateraquariums.

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Discover The Correct Betta Fish Water Temperature

Here is the question of the day for you betta lovers. What do you think your betta fish water temperature should be in their tank? 70 degrees? after all, they are tough fighting fish. 75 degrees? that's where we keep the temperature of our houses. How about 80 degrees? Well, if you guessed 80 degrees, your were correct and your betta loves you for it.

Does it surprise you that your betta should have water temperature at 80 degrees? Think about it for a second, they are tropical fish, tropical fish live where the temperatures are almost always above 80 degrees. If the temperature drops below 80, the water they are in, holds the higher temperature until the sun comes out and it warms up again.

The urban legend of a little betta living in mud puddles and jumping from one to the other, is just that, an urban legend. These fish live in rice paddies, rivers and ponds that usually maintain a fairly high temperature.
Thinking of your betta as a fish that needs no special treatment or care is pretty much going to doom your betta to an early grave or whatever.

My wife and I got a beautiful blue betta for our anniversary about 4 years ago. For two years we were at home most of the time and the house stayed at 75 degrees. During the summer we set the temperature at 80 degrees. We noticed a marked increase in activity from our betta when the house was at 80 degrees as opposed to 73 or 75 degrees. It never dawned on us that this was due to the difference in temperatures. We just figured he was lazy one day and not the other.

During the winter we took a week long trip and had one of our neighbors look in and feed our fish. We set the house temperature at 65 degrees.

When we returned from the trip, our beautiful little betta was on the floor of his tank and appeared to be dead. The house temperature was 66 degrees. We both thought the little guy was a goner. We left him until we unpacked and the house warmed up. After about an hour he began to swim around and when the house temperature reached 75 degrees, he was swimming around in his normal manner.

It was at this point that the light came on for my wife and I. Maybe betta fish should not be in cold water. Remember, tropical fish!

My wife jumped on the internet and started doing some research. Sure enough, almost all the sights made it clear that bettas should be kept in tanks that were heated and kept around 80 degrees. I wonder how many poor little bettas have died from hypothemia when the waters in their tanks got very cold.

So what's the answer to this problem? and why don't the employees in the fish depratment at the pet store tell us about this? It's as simple as buying a tank heater for your betta's tank. Could it be any simpler than that! How many people have had their fish die and wonder what the cause might have been. A few words at the pet store would have taken care of the problem.

Many aquariums and fish tanks come equipped with tank heaters or can easily have one installed in the tank.
The SIZE of the heater will depend on the SIZE of your betta tank.

In my view, the smallest size for a betta should be a 2 gallon tank, which would require about a 10 watt heater.

It is best to get one that is fully submersible and is safe even if run while dry. A heater this size can raise the water temperature by approximately 5 degrees. Cost for one this size would be around $13.
As you get into the larger tanks, such as a 5 gallon, a 40 to 50 watt heater would be required. Price on one such as this would be about $25.

Now that you have decided to get a heater, the next question is, where do you get one? How about the pet store where you bought your fish. Most pet stores carry a variety of fish tanks and heaters. Many tanks come with heaters made especially for that size aquarium. If not, just go by the previous guidelines, ask the Department Manager for help and read the information on the heater packaging.

Don't forget that thing called the World Wide Web. There are hundreds of sites where you can purchase a betta tank heater.

One other thing you should consider getting, is a thermometer to test the temperature of the water. This is the only accurate way of knowing the actual temperature of your bettas water. The cost of a thermometer will be under $10.

Your betta fish will live a happy, healthy life (about 5 years) if you make a little effort to help it. One of the best things you can do, is to make certain that the water in their tank is kept at the correct temperature. A tank heater and a thermometer will make this a very easy task for you.

If you are a betta fish lover, who wants to keep their fish happy and healthy, then Robert D Schroeder, would like to invite 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.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_D_Schroeder

Sick Betta Fish - What Your Fish is Trying to Tell You

What to do what to do? Betta fish fall ill a surprising amount, especially when it can be hard to maintain the exact conditions that are ideal for them. If your Betta fish is acting weird, you may have no idea what's going on with it, but you know it needs help. Below you will find the signs to look out for and learn why they are frequently symptoms of a sick Betta fish. Additionally, you will also be given some great resources in regards to both curing a sick Betta fish as well as care in general.

Signs to look out for:

Before jumping straight to illness, you need to consider other external factors that might influence your fish's behavior.

Extreme Lethargy: Is your fish extremely sluggish or inactive? Bettas, especially during the day, are very active creatures. I can look over across my desk right now and see my fish happily flitting about his tank. Lethargy can be caused by a number of things, the most common being water temperature. Water that is too cold, such as that that drops well below 76°, will cause your pet to slow down. Alternatively, a slow-moving pet can also be a sign of poor water conditions, such as that of ammonia build up. Knowing whether lethargy indicates a sick Betta fish or not will depend on your examining of the factors at hand: If your temperature is where it should be, it's time to look into the ailments that your Betta might have. If it isn't, you've lucked out and got an easy fix on your hands.
Excessive Trips to the Surface: Because Betta fish have developed their own labyrinth organ, allowing them to breathe normal air as well as the oxygen and water, a fish that comes to the surface to breathe is not uncommon. A warning sign you should take note of, however, is a Betta fish that is taking extremely frequent and prolonged trips to the surface. This can be a sign that the oxygen content in your water is being depleted. Oxygen depletion can happen when the tank is too warm, or when your chemicals are too high (such as ammonia or nitrite).
Discoloration Around The Gills/Spots On Body or Fins: if you ever see obvious streets around the gills (usually reddish-brown) or discoloration/spots or fins and body; these are surefire signs that your Betta fish is in need of immediate help. These symptoms usually indicate that ammonia levels in your water are seriously skewed. Or, in the case of white spots, that your pet has acquired a parasite known as the "ich". Both of these conditions are potentially deadly and you need to begin treatment right away.

Knowing exactly what to do in a Betta fish emergency is key. To help others learn how to take care of Betta fish I now use my blog site as a way to review the care guides and products that I found most helpful.
If you think your fish might be sick, or just want to be able to prevent illness in the future, you will surely find a solution at http://www.how-to-take-care-of-a-betta-fish.info

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=T_L_Gallamore

Beta Fish - Care Tips and Suggestions

Beta fish make great pet companions. They are relatively easy to care for and you can easily spend hours just staring at them as they gracefully swim around in their fish tanks. If you're ready to purchase your first beta fish, then you should be well-versed on the best ways to take care of your new fish. Check below for some great tips and suggestions.

1. Before you purchase your beta, make sure you have all of the necessary supplies. You will need to invest in a high quality beta fish tank, some cool decorations such as rocks and water plants and some beta food.

2. Now you should choose your beta. Make sure that you are purchasing the fish from a reputable pet store. You want to make sure that it is healthy and happy. So make sure the pet store you choose is extremely clean and the staff is very knowledgeable.

3. Once you have all of your supplies and your beta fish, its time to prepare the new fish tank. Decoration is okay of course, but make sure that your beta still has plenty of room to swim around freely. If you plan to fill it with rocks, make sure that they do not take up more than one-eight of the tank. When placing the water plants into the tank, make sure not to bury the roots completely. Your beta fish will feed from the roots, so you will want them to be exposed.

4. Now it's time to fill the tank with water. Fill it up three-fourths of the way will room temperature tap water.

5. Now you can cautiously transport your new beta into the fish tank. Place the tank in a shaded area of your home. If the tank receives too much sunlight, it will alter the water temperature which could be very hazardous to your fish.

6. Feed your beta three pellets of beta fish food everyday and make sure to give it plenty of visual stimulation. You can do this by moving your finger around the outside of the tank every day.

Make sure you choose from the best betta fish tanks out there and your fish will be happy and healthy for a long time.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bree_Davis

Betta Fish Swollen Eye - Causes and Cures For Betta Fish Swollen Eye Syndrome

A common bacterial infection that afflicts betta fish, swollen eye syndrome, also commonly referred to as "pop-eye", can be a symptom of a more serious internal problem. Basically, it is caused by the accumulation of fluid either in the eye or behind the eye, in the socket, which cause the eye to bulge out. Among the many causes of betta fish swollen eye include:

- Bacterial infections
- Viruses
- Parasites
- Water nitrogen supersaturation (gas bubble disease)
- Poor water quality
- Tumors
- Internal (metabolic) disorders
- Nutritional deficiencies

To cure the infection:

1. Isolate your fish if in a community tank.
2. Thoroughly clean out your fish's tank, replace the plants and rocks if they are deteriorating.
3. Raise the water temperature to 82 degrees. This helps your fish's immune system.
4. Try giving your fish antibiotics. Two you can try include Kanacyn by Aquatronics and Maracyn 2 by Mardel.
5. Make sure you are using a good quality aquarium salt as this helps "wash" the eyes.

Fortunately, betta fish swollen eye is curable with a little bit of effort, within a few days.
The worst mistake would be to simply "wait it out" to see if the problem goes away by itself. If you see obvious signs of a swollen eye, make sure you take action right away.

If left untreated, your betta fish could go blind. Worse yet, the infected eye could bulge out to the point where it literally falls out of its socket completely!

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 fish swollen eye with this companion guide that is a MUST for every betta fish owner.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erica_Bowman

The Goldfish Versus The Beta

Both the goldfish and the beta are popular choices for pets, and both are believed to be a low maintenance pet. So, which makes the better pet?

The goldfish is the most common pet in the world. It requires a tank, but never a just a small goldfish bowl or small container. Like all other fish, it requires oxygen, and the goldfish gathers oxygen from the surface of its home. Surface area is the important thing in providing enough oxygen for your goldfish.

Measure surface area by multiplying a tank's length by its depth. For every inch of fish, you should have at least 30 square inches of surface area, and also take into consideration the fact that you're fish will grow. Make sure to have plenty of room and surface area for your pet goldfish.

Goldfish commonly live at least ten years if cared for properly. They are omnivorous and will eat almost anything. It is recommended to stick with prepackaged fish foods, though. Feed the goldfish no more than it will eat in a few minutes. Leftovers pollute the tank, so it should be removed after feeding. Feed the fish several times per day instead of one big meal.

The ideal water temperature for a goldfish is anywhere from 50 degrees to 68 degrees Fahrenheit, so generally water at room temperature is fine. Tap water is also fine for goldfish, but be sure to let it sit over night so that the chlorine evaporates from it.

In summary, goldfish will be fine in a large, filterless tank with room temperature, de-chlorinated tap water.
Betas are a very common fish kept as pets. The males are the more colorful ones, but never place more than one male in one tank. Betas are also referred to as "Siamese Fighting Fish," and males will fight one another if kept in the same tank.

The lifespan of the beta is only two to three years, and as they are originally from a tropical climate, Betas need warmer water, preferably in the 80s. They will become listless when water temperature falls below 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The water should also be neutral to slightly acidic pH, so be sure to check the pH regularly, and treat the water as needed.

Just like goldfish, Betas require plenty of surface area for oxygen. They have special respiration systems that require them to get oxygen from the surface, so be sure to house them in a large tank.
To sum up, Betas require special attention to their water. They're okay in a filterless tank, but the water may need to be heated and treated for pH.

Bottom line - Both fish do not need filters for their tanks, though they do require plenty of surface area for oxygen. Goldfish are generally less maintenance as they require only room temperature, de-chlorinated tap water. Betas require additional heating in most cases, and may also require regular treatments of the water for the required pH level.

Overall, goldfish are the hardier, lower maintenance pet that live a lot longer.

This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for Pets.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tonia_Jordan

Basic Betta Fish Care Tips

Bettas, especially for their size, are one of the most interactive and fun to own fishes out there. My Betta, Gilbert, now happily jumps up to get his food and swims to the side of the tank to greet me when I enter the room. When I first got my fish I had a whole barrage of questions to ask experts or to post on various forums. Below I have compiled some simple tips for basic Beta fish care.

Water temperature should be kept around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Anywhere from 74 to 86 degrees should be fine, but a nice balmy 80 to 82 is ideal. Usually your fish will be healthier, happier, and its colors more vibrant when your water temperature is kept consistent, so wherever your temperature usually is, try to keep it there!

Tank setup is fairly simple. You'll want to make sure you either use distilled water or use drops found at your pet store to remove the chlorine from your tap water. A tank heater (to maintain aforementioned temperature) and a filter are also highly recommended. The filter not only helps cleanup harmful waste but actually, through packets you buy for it, helps to increase the growth of helpful algae and bacteria. As far as other decorations go, rocks at the bottom are recommended, as are live plants. Things like fake plants, plastic caves, buildings and ships are also welcome as Betas love to explore, just make sure to clean and rinse them well first!

Food for Beta fishes comes in many forms, I recommend pellets for two reasons. The first is that, like flake food, pellets offer a well rounded diet to your fish. The second is that, unlike flakes, pellets are roughly the same size meaning it's easier to monitor your pet's food intake. Be sure to note that your fish will not starve as long as it gets a couple pellets each day (I actually tend to give mine two in the morning and two at night), over-feeding is much more dangerous than missing a meal. Be sure that if you can't remember if you've fed your Beta for the evening it's better to just wait until tomorrow, he won't starve overnight on you!

Good luck to all of you Beta owners out there, hope this helped!

Most deadly Betta mistakes occur without the owner even knowing what's going on. Avoid these mistakes and give your Betta fish the best life possible. I found my "salvation" so-to-speak in Caring For Betta Fish In just a few minutes I learned a whole lot about little things I was doing that were harming my fish. Some of the most noteworthy topics included were:
-How to maintain proper water conditions
-When and when not to use a filter
-How to correctly setup a Betta tank and the 5-part checklist
-What to do if your Betta won't eat
-Caring for Betta fish that are ill, how to diagnose and cure every Betta sickness
-Step by step instructions for breeding bettas
-Heaters and thermometers? How to get your temperature right!
-Why the wrong type of lighting can kill your Betta
Everything you need to know at http://BettaCareMadeEasy.info

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=T_L_Gallamore

The Joys of Beta Fish Breeding

There are educational values as well as many joys to be found when dealing with any type of animals. Betta fish are certainly no exception. You can breed Betta fish in your own home with your children, or in a classroom as a science project.

Either way, children will be able to learn a lot about the care and breeding of the fish throughout the process, and many of the lessons learned will stay with them and can be applied to their own lives in the future.

When beginning your project, make sure that you keep the male and female Betta fish in separate tanks, or if you only have a single tank be sure to place a clear separator between them in it, so that the male does not get too aggressive towards the female early on. Once the male and female Betta fish get used to each other you can put them together to begin the mating process in your breeding tank. The optimal breeding tank conditions are five inches of water depth, which should be kept at about 80 to 82 degrees.

After a short courtship process they will mate and once the eggs are safely in the male Betta's bubble nest, take the female out of the tank. The male will take care of the eggs until they hatch and at that point you will need to also remove the male so he does not eat the baby fish.

You should now have at least several hundred fish! You can begin moving them into separate tanks after about two weeks and if you choose to sell them, you can begin sending them to new homes as well! Make sure you watch the fish closely for aggressiveness until they've been separated, and enjoy your new Betta fish!

Chris Kerr runs The Betta Fish Page providing in-depth information on breeding Betta fish for fun and profits.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Kerr

History And Background Of Betta Fish

Historically speaking, Betta Fish are said to have gotten their name from an ancient clan of Asian warriors called the "Bettah." They were given these warriors' names because about 150 years ago people enjoyed participating in a popular sport that involved the fighting of two of these warrior fish. (In fact, the sport was so popular that it was regulated - and taxed - by the King of Siam!)

One interesting note about Betta fish fighting is that, unlike cock or dog fighting in the west, at Siamese fighting fish tournaments, the actual fight was more to test the bravery of the fish, rather than a fight to see how much damage would be inflicted, or a death match.

Spectators bet on how long a particular fish would fight, and which one would give up first. (In fact, most fish would only fight once or twice, and then live out the remainder of their lives being pampered and used for breeding.)

Natural Habitat

A Betta fish's natural habitat is in shallow, tropical water. This is because they need to be able to surface frequently, in order to breathe air. They can be found in nature in rice paddies, drainage ditches, slow moving streams and fresh water ponds. Betta fish have even been known thrive in large puddles! Their natural food source is insects and mosquito larvae.

How Breeding Began

According to historical accounts, a close friend of the King of Siam, Dr. Theodore Cantor received a pair of breeding Bettas from the king in 1840. The doctor bred them and studied them for several years, and then wrote a scientific paper about them, giving them a Latin name of "Macropodus Pugnax." However, shortly after his paper was published, Dr. Cantor discovered that a species by that name already existed, and so the fish were renamed "Betta Splendens."

Several breeding pairs of Bettas where sent to Germany in 1896 and then in 1910, Mr. Frank Locke of San Francisco California imported several Bettas to the U.S.A.

One of the fish that he received had unusual red fins - and he excitedly thought he had discovered a new species, and named it "Betta Cambodia." In reality, he had one of the first of the Betta splendens that had naturally developed new colors and characteristics through breeding.

Since that time, breeders have been able to develop Bettas with all of the vibrant coloring and varied fin shapes that we find today. Betta breeding has become a profitable and ongoing passion for many people today, many of whom started with just one or two Bettas in a small aquarium.

Mike owns Betta Fish Expert which helps people learn about betta fish care

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Worthington

Beta Fish Care - What You Need to Know to Have Beautiful and Healthy Beta Fish

Knowing the proper beta fish care principles are essential to keeping a beautiful and healthy beta fish. beta fish can be wonderful pets. They have personalities, can get depressed, can be active or lethargic, and will let you know when they are sick. But you have to know how to care for them.

Tank Size: Contrary to popular beliefs, betas shouldn't be kept in small bowls. In their natural habitat in Asia, they live in rice paddies, and areas of slow moving water. They don't live in small mudholes. The minimum tank size should be at least 5 gallons. You can get away with a smaller tank, but you'll have to change the water more often and the temperature will be subject to more variation. A good comfortable size is 10 gallons.

Filters: The tank should have a filter, but it needs to be one that doesn't cause a lot of rapid water flow. Remember, betas live in slow moving water. Also a beta fish has a labyrinth organ that requires him to be able to go to the surface to breathe. If the water is turbulent, he won't be able to do that.

Plants: Either live or artificial plants can be used. Live plants help control water quality by oxygenation, reducing carbon dioxide, and controlling nitrates. Artificial plants can be used but be sure they don't have sharp or rough edges. This can damage the fins of the beta.

Food: For the best beta fish care, the food should be mosquito larvae, live worms, and live brine shrimp. Unfortunately, all of these are impractical for the normal beta fish owner. The more practical alternative is to use freeze dried live food. These come mainly in two types: freeze dried bloodworms and freeze dried brine shrimp. This type of food is also sterile and is less likely to bring any diseases or parasites into your tank.

Water: Tap water is best when treated with a chlorine remover. Let the water sit for about three days to be sure all of the chlorine has evaporated.

These are just a few of the things you need to know for proper beta fish care. Other considerations are maintaining proper pH levels, lighting, gravel, and also how to add other community fish with your beta fish.
Do you want to take really good care of your beta? It's not hard, but it would be wise to learn about the proper beta fish care. Visit this website to learn more and for links to other detailed information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J._Woodruff

How to Diagnose and Treat Fin Rot in Your Betta Fish

Imagine for a second that you didn't have a toilet in your home and were forced to use the bathroom in your bedroom. Do you think that, over time, you would eventually contract some sort of bacterial infection? Well, this is what most betta fish have to deal with and the reason why fin rot is a problem in some betta fish pets. Here are some ways to diagnose and treat Fin Rot.

First of all, Fin rot is a bacterial infection. It is most likely contracted if the water in your aquarium is not changed on a regular basis. When a fish bowl is not changed and there isn't a filter, a lot of times, your betta fish pet is forced to swim in water that is contaminated by its own feces which can produce a toxic level of ammonia. If you over feed your fish, then it is also likely that the fish bowl will have excess food granules at the bottom of the tank as well, which will help the bacteria grow.

How to diagnose Fin Rot

Just because your Betta's fins are deteriorating does not necessarily mean that your fish automatically has fin rot, although it is the most likely culprit. In order to accurately diagnose the problem, you will need to test the water for ammonia. Even small amounts of ammonia in the water can stress your betta out enough to cause a bacterial infection to grow. You can purchase a pH kit at your local pet store.

Once Fin Rot is diagnosed, what to do next

If you caught the onset of Fin Rot quickly, it could be as easy a fix as simply changing out the water and gravel. A lot of times that is all that is necessary. However, if your betta is in a more advanced stage of fin rot, then there is a process that you will need to go through.

Here are the steps:

Replace your fish tank with fresh water
Clean any items that you may have in your aquarium..replace gravel if you have it.
Apply some form of fungus eliminator to the water.
Add some aquarium salt to make the environment not so "bacteria friendly".

That is essentially all there is to treat and prevent fin rot.

For more information about Fin Rot, including recommended doses of aquarium salt and fungus eliminators, please visit my site which discusses How to Treat Fin Rot as well as other useful information on caring for your Siamese Fighting Fish.

Leo strongly recommends the beta fish guide [http://bettafishguide.net] on keeping your betta happy and healthy. It is a comprehensive guide to all things tropical fish.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leo_Dimilo

How to Take Care of a Beta Fish - 8 Questions You Must Ask Yourself BEFORE Taking Care of Beta Fish

It wasn't too long ago that I had absolutely no clue how to take care of a beta fish.
Thanks to my limited exposure to pets growing up, I had the naively simplistic view that all you had to do for fish was change their water once weekly and feed them twice daily.

But boy did I sure learn the hard way!

My beta fish would get sick and some would even die very easily. Now that I have finally learned my lessons, and now that I know better how to take care of a beta fish, I have managed to successfully raise and breed several of them, some of them even exceeding their expected lifespans!

Here are some helpful questions to help you to start thinking about how to take care of our little marine friends:

Are you feeding your beta fish the proper diet with the right amount and the right types of food that it likes?
Do you plan on keeping your fish in isolation or do you want to socialize it with other fish?
How active is your fish? Is your fish getting enough exercise?
How is the quality of quality, quantity, and temperature of the water in your tank?
What kind of rocks or plants in your fish's habitat?
How often do you change the water in the tank? Are you using a filtration system?
Is your fish's general appearance healthy, colorful, and vibrant?
Have you noticed any discoloration or damage to the fish's body?

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 how to take care of a beta fish with this companion guide that is a MUST for every betta fish owner.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erica_Bowman

Beta Fish Care - How To Care For Your Beta Fish

Beta Fish, also known as the Siamese fighting fish, are a splendid looking fish that are very popular among pet owners.

They are wonderful fish to have however without the right care your Beta fish wont thrive and can have some real problems.

Beta fish are popular for their bright colors, decorative fins and their active lifestyles. They are amazing fish but you need to keep in mind that Betta fish tend to be very delicate and without proper care they can be prone to diseases such as fin rot.

If you already own a Betta fish or are wanting to get one you will need to know how to care for
it so that it lives a long happy life. You don't ever want your Betta fish to develop fin rot and take
away those beautiful fins they are popular for.

Beta fish care isn't hard when you know how to care for them. Below are 3 tips to help you take the best care of your Beta fish.

1/ Tank size, For your Beta fish to remain healthy and happy it needs to be in a big enough fish tank.
With those beautiful long fins they need space where their fins won't get caught and break. Also don't use rocks or other decorations that your fish may get its fins caught on.

2/ Clean Water, although you don't need to have a water pump system you do need to keep the water clean. This can be done by replacing 1/3 of the water every 2-3 days. Also it is best to clean the tank with a turkey baster. This will pick up all the small uneaten food or debris particles from the bottom of the tank.

3/ Don't use soap, when you clean any plants, rocks or decorations you may have in the tank do not use soap. This irritates your beta fish and can lead to problems.

For Betta fish to thrive and have a long happy life you need to know how to take good care of them. The 3 tips above will help you start caring for your fish properly but theses are just a start. Beta fish are very particular and there is more you will need to know to ensure your fish has the best care.

Darryl has a keen interest in fish and fish care. If you want to find out how to care for your Beta Fish properly and learn how to avoid things like fin rot Visit http://careforbetafish.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darryl_Hunter

4 Ways to Keep Your Betta Fish Happy

As someone who really appreciates caring for Betta fish, I have come to a point in my life where I think it necessary to share some of my experiences. As well as give you some tips that you can use to keep your own Betta happy and healthy. Here are four things that you must always do for your pet fish:

First, you need to make it your priority to provide them with a nice home. Something that really bugs me is that people will put their Betta in a small bowl, and never interact or care for them. This is really something that you should never do. In order for your Betta to be happy, they need a larger tank. A five gallon tank will provide them with enough room to explore and have fun. It will also increase the amount of years they live.

Second, always give them quality food. This is something that must be addressed. These fish are used to tropical climates where there is an abundance of food. If you hope to create the best living space for your fish, you need to give them only the best in terms of nutrition. So before you stuff them full of additives and preservatives, do your research on the best food for Betta fish. The amount of food that you feed them at any given moment is also important. These fish will only require small amounts of food. Some will tell you to feed them every day. This is not the best choice. Feed them four times a week. This will keep them strong, and decrease their chances of Betta diseases.

Third, provide some additional items to keep them busy. If you were stuck in a fish tank, would you be OK with just a bunch of water? I know I wouldn't. Be sure to locate and purchase the best decorations and toys for your fish tank. Plants make it more fun for your Betta to explore their environment. Make sure that you avoid any plants that can be harmful to your Betta. Beta fish are also very interested in having company. If you don't have another Betta fish, you can add a mirror to mimic one. Your Beta will look at themselves in the mirror, and puff up in an attempt to intimidate the reflection. This is very funny to watch if you are interested in that sort of thing.

Finally, make sure that the water temperature in their tank is at around seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit. This will help create the best environment for your fish. They come from a warmer climate, so this will help them be comfortable and live longer.

Use these tips every day. It is important to keep up with the current information so that your fish is the healthiest it can be. I hope that you have found this information to be of value to you. And I hope that you enjoy your new friend for many years to come.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Conar

The Origin of Betta Fish and Their Breed Variations Explained

The beautiful colors of Betta Fish that catch our eye did not exist when the species was first discovered. Due to the fact that the Siamese people were solely interested in their fighting ability, breeding practices concentrated more on building endurance, strength, and the typical aggressive attitude that they posses. Most of the Betta Fish in those days were short-finned, so as to give their opponents less to grab on to, and had a greenish-brown color.

In 1840, when the King of Siam made a gift to Cantor, most Betta Fish colors very plain. By the time the Betta Fish began appearing up in North America, some had begun to develop rounded tails and longer fins. Some also developed specks of bright colors.

There are seems to be basic color genes either present or missing in the Beta Fish. The Base color is yellow, which is followed by black, red and then blue. There are also sub colors. The blue gene, for example, can be represented by royal blue, metallic blue, or bluish green. The beautiful royal blue is really a mixture of the other blues.

If you spend some time with Betta Fish experts and you will hear terms like "Veil Tail," "Delta Tail," "Crown Tail," and "Half Moon" hearing all of this you might become confused. So we will give you a quick introduction to the various lines of the glorious Betta Splendens. Actually, the basic difference among the types of Bettas has to do with their tail.

Veil Tail - About 80% of Betta Fish sold in pet stores are typically VT males. Veil Tail's are characterized by the bottom fin rays being a bit longer than the top rays. What are Rays? Rays are the little "spines" you see in the fins. With the fins flared out, VT Betta Fish look a bit rectangular or even diamond shaped. Most breeders and Betta care show enthusiasts frown on the VT Betta as an inferior breed. I believe that they are incorrect because I think that the VT Betta Fishs multiple colors and wavy fins are one of the true miracles of creation.

Round Tail - The tail is round in appearance. The circular shape originates from the middle ray of the tail being the longest, with the remaining rays being progressively shorter away from the middle.
Delta Tail - The tail has a triangular shape, which emanates from the outermost rays on the tail being equal in length as the middle ray. In Betta Fish circles the widest tailed of the delta tails are the most desired.
Half Moons - A Delta Tail's tail can be so wide that it seems to form a half circle, or half moon shape. At this point it becomes known as the Half Moon Betta Fish. Half Moons Betta Fish are popular among hard-core Betta enthusiasts.

Double Tails - These cute little fish have their tail divide into two halves. Double Tails are genetic rarities that you probably will never find at a pet store.

Crown Tails - With this Betta the rays of the tail actually extend well past the webbing, this gives the tail a spiky appearance. The Crown Tails are the most common among the single rayed. After this breeders bred double rayed Crown Tails which then had tail rays branching off. Since then breeders have developed "double double rays" and "double double double ray" Crown Tails, which are the scarcest and costliest Betta Fishes you can buy.

We hope that this information was of help to you and that it will be beneficial for your Betta Fish Care needs.

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Betta Fish Care - 5 Common Myths

Despite the popularity of beta fish in US offices and households, there still many misleading misconceptions about these creatures. They are vibrant and it is fun to care for them, but betta lovers can enjoy them only when they know how to care for a beta fish.

And this is where myths continue to grow and spread like fire.
In this article, I aim to dispel some of the most common myths related to betta fish care.

Myth #1: bettas love small containers like bowls.
Probably this myth comes from the fact that in pet stores we see bettas kept in bowls, thus we get the idea that this is the right home for them. Actually, this is wrong. Bowls are not preferred; remember that in the wild betta fish are not limited in space. So a 3-gallon tank is highly recommended. Ideally, you should consider a 5-gallon home for your betta if you want to make them really happy.

Myth #2: two male bettas will fight to death.
While bettas tend to protect there territory from invaders, much depends on the size of the container. If you keep two males in a small bowl, they're likely to fight. But providing they live in a tank with enough space, they may share the territory pretty peacefully. Bettas are not used to cruel fighting; like other species in the wild, they show their superior position by demonstration, and not fight.

Myth #3: you should feed betta fish as much as he can eat.
Betta owners should know that in the wild bettas are carnivores. That is, they tend to eat as much as they can catch when there's food. A Betta can live up to a month without food, and that's why he eats up all the meal. Domesticated creatures should be fed in small portions to avoid any betta fish diseases like constipation and Swim bladder disease.

Myth 4: Betta fish tank doesn't need any heating.
Bettas come from Asia, where temperatures in the wild are higher than temperature of the outside air in the US. Bettas are tropical fish and need their water heated to the 79F - 85F degree range. Low water temperatures stress out the betta fish, lower their immune system and lead to diseases.

Myth 5: Bettas prefer to eat plants, not meat.
Betta fish are not herbivores! They are carnivores, that is meat eaters. While it may sound strange because of the size of bettas, plants are not suitable food for them. If you see a betta fish eating roots of some plant, then it's because he is starving! The most preferred food for them would be frozen bloodworms or flakes from local pet store.

Of course, there are more myths about betta fish care you should be aware of if you want to learn how to be a happy owner of these fancy freshwater creatures. You're welcome to my blog for more useful tips on how to care for betta fish.

Head over to Betta Fish Care Guide for advice on how to properly breed and feed bettas, or read more myths about these tropical fish.
Alberta Glamerheim is co-writer and consultant in fish breeding and care in domestic conditions.

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Betta Fish Facts - Facts You Thought You Know But Never Knew

Bright and vivid colors, gorgeous fins and interactive personality make betta fish the most wonderful fish in the world. It is no wonder that these fish are finding a place in many homes and offices as a loved and admired pet.

B.Splendens are called as betta or beta in the USA. They are native to the wild fields of Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. Known for their fighting qualities, these fish are used for gambling. Two male fish are let to fight each other and large sums of money are placed as bet on the winning fish. One fish is almost always killed in such fights. It is because of their aggressive nature that the beta fish are always kept single.

The beautiful colors and fins that are associated with these fish are the result of breeding by expert breeders around the world. The males appear more beautiful than their female counterparts. Male have longer fins and display more vibrant colors. The females wear stripes on their body. The average size of a beta fish is 2.3 inches to 3.5inches and its life span is between 3 and 5 years. Given some care, these fish can live an extended span of life.

In the wild bettas feed on mosquito larvae and other tiny insects. In tanks, these fish feed on live and frozen brine shrimps and blood worms. They can also be fed with fish pellets and flakes. Betta fish tend to eat without limit. The wastes that they produce can contaminate the tanks and can be a cause for diseases. Feeding them once a day is sufficient. These fish can go without food for days.

These fish get sick easily but most diseases of betta fish can be easily cured. Keeping the tanks clean and changing the water at least twice a week can prevent most betta diseases. The water in the tanks should be treated for chlorine presence. Detergents and soaps which can contain harmful chemicals should not be used for cleaning the tanks. Betas originate from tropical climates and as such can thrive in warm temperatures of 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

Bettas can often be found on the water surface. They breathe direct from the atmosphere using a unique organ called labyrinthe. Shallow tanks having a larger surface space are the best to house bettas. Deep tanks would make the fish waste a lot of energy swimming from bottom to the water surface for breathing. Tanks that can hold eight to ten gallons of water are considered ideal.

Beta fish make fine pets. They recognize their owners much more than other specie of fish do. Spending a few moments with the betta, on returning home after a hard day's work, will relax your mind.

Talking on betta fish facts a betta fish expert suggests simple and easy methods of caring for a happy, healthy and vibrant betta fish. At http://www.bettafishfacts.org, he reveals a proven system for raising a happy and healthy betta. His system makes caring for betta fish easy and fun.

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