How to take care of your betta fish?
Betta fish are known to all those who love fish and have knowledge about it. Bettas are known for their spectacular fins and bright colors. So, having them in your aquarium you’ll want to know some things about bettas. If you learn HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR BETTA FISH you’ll give your betta a long and happy life. By reviewing the information below you’ll have the basics covered.
TAKE CARE OF DIET
Bettas are carnivorous and they need food that is rich in protein. In the wild, bettas eat bloodworms, mosquito larvae, small worms, daphnia, and other fish. These things can be feed when you have kept in a large aquarium. But for smaller aquariums, you’ll need to buy frozen food that’s meant especially for bettas. Do not use flakes meant for other fish like goldfish.
Do not overfeed bettas. It may cause disease and the aquarium will require more frequent cleaning. Of course, having proper filtration in the aquarium is always important.
Keep the feeding window to 1 to 3 minutes. Any excess food should be removed to keep contamination at a minimum. You might need to cut pellets in half if they are too large for your betta. They have small mouths. A little experimentation may be needed.
RIGHT HOUSING
For bettas, the size of the aquarium is very important. You can choose 2 gallons, 3 gallons, or 5 gallons aquarium for your betta fish. Anything less than 2 gallons is normally not recommended.
Ensure that there is a proper lid or screen on top as these are great jumpers. Be sure to leave an air gap since bettas need to breathe air.
It’s not advised to have two male bettas in one aquarium. Male bettas will attack each other, though in larger aquariums if they have room, they’ll keep to their own territory.
Male bettas will attack their own image when seen in the mirror. It’s not a good idea to have reflective material in the aquarium to cause undue stress to the betta.
You don’t want to keep one male and one female betta in an aquarium unless it is for mating and while under supervision. You can keep females together as they are not as aggressive as male bettas and do not tend to harm each other.
WATER TEMPERATURE
Bettas can handle a wide range of temperatures. The ideal temperature should be around 78 degrees F.
If the water is cooler, you’ll need to get a water heater. Generally, 5 watts per gallon works well.
Avoid having the aquarium in direct sunlight or in an area that is drafty to minimize temperature changes.
FILTERS
Larger aquariums will need a good quality filter. Try to select the one that suits your tank or aquarium and is of the right size.
Betta fish normally live in calm, still waters. Look for filters made with lower flows in mind.
Aquarium filters will keep the water clean for your betta fish. Depending on the aquarium size, you will need to do a partial water rotation every few weeks.
DECORATIONS
Betta fish like to hide. If your aquarium has room, add a place for your betta to feel safe.
Don’t add things from the beach or yard, since that will affect the pH of the aquarium. You want to look for ceramic or items specifically made that will not leach into the water. Avoid anything with metal or cloth.
Decorating the aquarium gives a homely feel for your betta.
When adding plants and other items keep in mind their delicate skin. Make sure the material is of good quality and no sharp edges for their fins to get caught on. Buy items specifically for freshwater aquariums.
SCHEDULE FOR MAINTENANCE
For daily, weekly, and monthly schedules to maintain your aquarium.
Daily: Feed within a one-to-3 minute window, once a day.
Check the filter, heater, and other decorative items in the aquarium for signs of algae.
Look for damaged fins or odd behavior of your betta.
Have a thermometer to easily visible to check the water temp.
Vacuum any uneaten food after feeding.
Weekly: Cycle the water in your aquarium based on size. If the tank is small, less than 2 gallons, you’ll want to change all the water.
Larger aquariums with a filtration system, replace 30% to 40% of the water weekly. Aquariums with no filtration, replace 90% of the water.
Once a week, to help prevent digestive issues from cropping up, it’s ok to skip feeding your betta fish. Even betta fish are doing the whole intermittent fasting thing these days.
Test the water for ammonia, nitrite, and pH levels.
Monthly: Check the filter is functioning properly and replace it if needed.
Check any items in the tank are algae-free inside the aquarium.
Also, double-check the water quality and pH levels.
If you keep these points in mind, you should have fewer problems with your betta fish.
If you haven’t checked out my Beginner Betta Fish Care Guide, click here…
Or for more advanced information on caring for Betta Fish, my friend Marcus Song has an eBook called Caring For Betta Fish: An Insider’s Guide For Betta Lovers
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