Welcome to Betta Fish World!
I gotta admit, I love these fiesty little betta fish and all that goes into betta fish care. What I'm doing with this lens is putting up a central spot for talking about bettas, their selection, and their care.
Hopefully I can convince some of you to try these great little pets!
Why Betta Fish Make Great Pets
A pet can go a long way towards improving the quality of your life. Pet ownership has been proven to relieve boredom and stress, decrease blood pressure, improve mood, and provide a purpose in life. Human beings are social animals and by their nature enjoy having something to care for.Unfortunately, our modern life doesn't always make keeping a traditional pet easy. Dogs and cats are great but there's a lot that goes with them. They need to be exercised, cleaned up after daily, take up a fair amount of space, and eat a lot of food. A great lower-maintenance pet choice is a reptile or fish.
The problem with reptiles is that they just aren't much fun. For the most part they lie around and don't really interact with you at all. They also usually require expensive heating components and can smell bad if not taken care of frequently.
Fish combine the low maintenance of reptiles but can add so much more to your life. They're bright, colorful, and are moving around all of the time. A beautiful fish can be like a permanent flower in your home.
Even with the ease of fish many require big, complicated tank set-ups. That's one of the great things about the Betta, or Siamese Fighting Fish. In addition to being beautiful, bettas are fairly hardy fish that don't need a large space or water flow.
Some great features about the betta are:
-They come in a variety of vibrant colors and fin shapes. They are a beautiful fish sure to captivate your attention.
-They survive well in captivity. With proper care a betta will be just fine. Some fish are very difficult to keep healthy, but not the betta.
-Bettas don't need nearly as much space as other fish. Since they're comfortable in stagnant water, a small tank with a bit of airflow will be fine for them. I do recommend a small tank over the tiny bowl they come in so you don't have to change their water daily, but the tank can still be a lot smaller than what other fish need.
-They're amazingly friendly and animated. Bettas will soon learn to recognize their handler and "dance" around when they see you. They're happy to follow your finger around and play games for you.
When you look at the small cost of the fish, food, and set-up along with the bright colors, ease of care, and great interaction they make the perfect first pet for children. Kids love the pretty, animated betta fish and can learn responsibility while caring for them.
The photo above was taken by Daniella Vereeken
Great Betta Resources!
- Betta Fish Care
- Here's my blog covering different aspects of betta fish selection and care. Check it out today!
- Betta Lover's Guide
- Marcus Song has written a fantastic book covering betta care, breeding, and lots of secret information. This guy has been breeding bettas for a long time and knows a lot of great tricks for keeping happy fish!
Should I Keep My Betta in a Tank or Bowl?
A lot of people like to keep them in bowls on their desks or around the room. There's something to be said for that but you need to be very consistant with your tank cleaning and water changing. Just because they can live in stagnant water doesn't mean it's good for them.
What I recommend for betta fish is to get a small aquarium. Usually 1-5 gallons is plenty for a single fish. This allows you to set up a pump and filter system to keep the water fresh. It also gives the betta a little more room to move around and let's you put some plants or features in the tank.
These small tanks are very inexpensive and easy to set up. Usually you can get the whole shebang for less than $20 or so. They also don't take up much more room than the bowl you were planning to use.
Go ahead and set up a small betta aquarium. You'll have a happier, healthier pet for very little effort. You'll also spend a lot less time changing water and cleaning aquariums, and we all know that's a plus!
Good Aquarium Supplies
Signs of a Healthy Betta
Does your betta swim easily? Your betta should swim around naturally. If the fish looks like it's having a hard time moving through the water then probably it's not doing so well.
Bettas are eaters! They don't pound down food all of the time, of course, but your fish should eat regularly. If your fish has been off of its feed for a while then something might be up.
Does your betta respond to you outside of the tank? What about following your finger around or flaring up at it? A healthy betta fish keeps a close eye on its surroundings.
What do your betta's fins look like? A betta's fins should be smooth and flowing whether it's male or female. Males tend to have bigger fins, of course. If the fins are torn, hanging, or have stuff on them then your betta is unhealthy.
Whatever color your betta is should be clear. A betta that looks dull or drab isn't doing well.
Your betta should be streamlined and healthy looking. If the scales appear ruffled or there are growths and sores on the body then treatment may be necessary.
Regularly inspect your betta to make sure that it's doing well. Your fish will be a lot happier and live a lot longer.
Help! My Betta Fish Is Covered With Little White Spots!
Ick Care For Betta Fish
It can be fatal, but there are some good methods to treat it out there. Check them out here!
Picture courtesy of eric.petfish.net
Tell Me About Your Betta!
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snig2
Jan 21, 2012 @ 3:43 pm | delete
- Hi, I am Shannon. I just got my Betta ( Charlie), a few days ago. So I was just checking on line for tips on how to care for him. So anyone who has any tips or advice it would be welcome. I want Charlie to be healthy and happy.
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jessluvdogz
Dec 25, 2011 @ 5:18 pm | delete
- Hi, im jess :-) I just got a baby betta for Christmas, my cousin has them and I fell in love with the colorful fish. But, I want to know if they get their colors wen they grow up? Or will Fluffy ( yep, I'm 13 and I named my betta fluffy) be white forever? Fluffy has small fons right now but they are a reddish color, is that he I know? Also, I got a starter kit and it said to feed him 4 tiiiiiiny pelets about four times a day, is this right
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IWilkins
Dec 26, 2011 @ 2:49 pm | delete
- Hi Jess! Hope you enjoy the bettas!
I assume you got the betta from a pet store? If so, then it will probably stay the same color in general. Fluffy's fins might grow out a bit and have some color to them, especially if they do now.
Yep, feed him just a little bit at a time. As he gets bigger you can feed him a little more, but since bettas don't move a whole lot and they have stagnant water, you need to be careful about overfeeding him!
Enjoy your new pet!
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claughlin21
May 1, 2011 @ 8:17 pm | delete
- if anyone tells you that your betta fish will kill other fish, don't listen to them. i have mine with like 8 other fish and he is fine.
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Johnny
Jan 21, 2010 @ 8:02 pm | delete
- My betta is a crown tail betta fish, and is navy blue.
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by IWilkins
IWilkins
In addition to my other pursuits I love pets, especially fish. Back in college I had to take care of my ex-girlfriend's 20+ bettas over school breaks... more »
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