Betta Fish Facts

Bettas are also known as Siamese Fighting Fish, or Japanese Fighting fish. They are some of the most popular fish to own due to their ease of care as well as the many beautiful colors they can come in. People will often times spend time just watching them swim around their exotic tails flowing behind them.

Bettas are a freshwater fish found in the Mekong River basin in Southeast Asia. Due to selective breedng over the decades these fish have become very colorful although they "usually are not". There are just under fifty different known types of Bettas.

Bettas can live from 2-5 years. They can grow to be as big as 7 inches but most average 2.3 to 3.5 inches in length.

***A very uncommonly known Betta fish fact is that they can breath both through their gills as well as straight from the atmosphere via a tiny organ in their heads called a labyrinth organ.

Bettas have upturned mouths which in the wild allowed them to eat mosquitos and the like from the surface of the water.

The more variety of food in a Betta fish's diet, the healthier they tend to be.

Some great food for a them includes both fish pellets as well as live food such as blood worms or brine shrimp.

Another misconceived Betta fish fact: in the wild, these fish will fight each other when one comes near another's territory. They don't always fight to the death if the Bettas are able to escape. However, if you place two or more Bettas in a fish tank, there is sure to be a fight to the death. So, DO NOT do this.

1. How big of a bowl does my Betta Fish need?
The swimming environment for your Betta should be big enough to allow movement. The fins and tails should not hit the sides or bottom of your bowl or tank.

2. Do I need to cover my tank?
Yes you do! Bettas are known for trying to jump out of their bowls so be sure to cover them.

3. How often should I feed my fish?
You should feed your fish about 3 times a day, but only enough to satisfy your fish. If you see food floating on the surface since the last feeding, you might be over feeding.

4. How often should I clean the bowl?
This is going to depend on size. If your Betta has a mansion (big fishtank), then you will be able to last a few days or more before cleaning. If your Betta is in a very small bowl...only big enough for the fish, then you will need to change every 24hrs.

5. Can I add another Betta to the tank?
Not unless you want to see a fight...Do NOT add another Betta to your tank. You can however add guppies and algae feeder fish.

You can get more detailed Betta Fish Care Instructions from this Great Guide.

Betta Fish Care Secrets

When I decided to purchase my first Betta fish for my daughter, anxiety set in. There I was at the fish store, not knowing a lick about Bettas! All I knew is that she would love to have one.

Well, I bought the fish and some "How to book" about 20 pages long and headed home.

The Betta had the expected affect--my daughter was delighted to have a new "friend" and I was the hero..at least for that day.

Well, things went swimmingly until one day we noticed "Charlie" wasn't actually moving around like he normally was. Well, this distressed us all.

I started researching the Internet for FAQ's on what the problem might be.

After about an hour or so, I found Betta Fish Secrets

I reviewed Mike's website and decided his information sounded worth it. I downloaded the guide and after reading it for a few minutes, figured out what potentially "Charlie's" problem might be.

A day later, after changing his environment around some, we noticed ole "Charlie" having a great time in his bowl. He was swimming around and eating his food like nothing ever happened. "Dad" was a hero again.

If you are looking for a great Betta Fish Care Guide to have at a moments notice, then this one is it.