Betta fish tanks

Those who keep Betta in small bowls must first understand its geography of habitat and related aspects, Betta is also known as Siamese fighting fish. This is because it was first reported from Siam or what is known as Thailand today. Naturally, a fish growing in tropical climate requires heat to live a fit life. If temperature drops below 25 degree Celsius, Betta finds it quite hard to adjust. This argument completely defeats the notion that Betta can be kept in a tiny bowl that is not temperature-controlled ideally they should be kept in a betta fish tanks.

Bettas should be kept in tanks where water is roughly neutral. In fact, the tanks should have a small tilt towards acidity. Measuring pH value for betta fish tanks thus becomes a very important part of its caring process. Also, it is worth noting that Betta finds fluent water movement to be a hindrance.

This can again be traced back to its natural habitat. Betta does best in shallow ponds and very slow moving rivulets. Obviously, it finds its existence hampered by those collectors who use power heads and strong filters for their water tanks. Ideally, one must try and keep water movement to the minimum inside betta fish tanks

It is not conducive to keep the male Bettas together in one single aquarium. However, the female specie is not a big troublemaker and can live cordially together in one tank. Generally, Betta is kept in a tank all by itself. About a couple of gallons of water is considered enough for keeping a single fish hale and hearty. If your Betta has suffered from ICK syndrome in the past, it is prudent to remove any rock that you might have kept inside a betta fish tank earlier.

Betta Fish are one of the most popular fish available in North America. People who are new to the world of tropical fish are frequently attracted to bettas because they do not involve a lot of care. They are often displayed, in stores in extremely small containers. Bettas can live in these conditions, but if you want your fish to be happy and to live a long life there are a number of things that you need to know.

Betta fish are commonly referred to as Siamese Fighting fish. These beautiful fish have been bred in Asia for hundreds of years. They were bred for both their color and for their fighting ability. Wild betta fights will normally end when one of the fish backs away. These matches usually last only a couple of minutes before one of the males acknowledges the other’s superiority. In captivity these bouts will go on for much longer. This fighting became a popular pastime where spectators could wager on the outcome of the match. It was this activity that inspired people in Asia to develop detailed breeding programs.

There are several breeds of bettas that you can obtain at most pet stores. There are Halfmoons, Veils, Comb and Crowns and about ten other breeds. The color and breed will affect the price of the fish. Bettas that are sold in pet stores usually sell for between 2 and 10 dollars. The more exotic and rare breeds will fetch hundreds of dollars.

The average betta fish life span in captivity is two to three years. Although, this is the general rule, some fish have been known to live over seven years. When you buy a betta chances are that he is at least six months old if not older. Another betta fish facts is that bettas do not require a heater in the tank. They are happy to live in water that is between 75 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit.  This temperature can be maintained in normal household conditions. However, be certain that the fish’s home is not close to either a window or an outside door. Either one of these elements can cause changes in the water temperature.

You can easily tell a male betta from a female. Males have longer tales and fins. Some people claim that the female colors are much more muted than males. This is not true. You can get females which have very dark and vibrant colors.

You should not keep male bettas in the same tank. Another Betta Fish Facts;Bettas can and do fight. Males living in the same tank will almost certainly have a dispute over territory. This fighting will lead to one of the fish being either hurt or killed. It is possible to keep males and females in the same tank. If you plan on doing this it is recommended that you have at least two females. A single female in a tank with a male may be subjected to constant harassment from the male. This constant stress may have a serious affect on the female. Males will nip and bite the female in an effort to attract her. This aggressive behavior can cause serious damage to the female’s fins. This situation may lead to the death of the female.

Bettas are quite happy to live on their own. However, you can keep a betta in a community tank. If you plan on doing this you must be careful. Bettas can be aggressive. They can also be the target of other fish living in the community. Many species of tropical fish will attack bettas and damage their long fins.

You have to make certain that you keep the water clean. Regular water maintenance is essential. You should change at least one third of the water every week. If you live in the city you should not add water directly from the tap. City water frequently contains a number of different chemicals that can cause harm to the fish. You should treat any water that you intend to introduce into the tank.

One of the things that every fish owner should have is a water testing kit. These kits are very similar to the ones that are used in pools and hot tubs.  You want to be able to test for pH levels and water hardness. You can get more elaborate kits that will check the water for various other conditions and elements in the water.

Bettas are truly beautiful fish.  If you do plan to buy one of these fish you should, as a responsible pet owner do more than just give your betta a place to live. Its a Betta Fish facts, that you should provide him an environment, where he can thrive as it will extend the life span.

Betta fish care is a little bit trickier than caring for other sorts of pet fish. Betta fish, also known as Siamese fighting fish, are a special breed. They can be finicky about their food supply sometimes. They are also quite aggressive.  Keeping them in an aquarium with other fish is not recommended, especially if it’s a male betta fish. The male of species often attack and even kill other fish with which they share close quarters, female betta fish are not so intolerant.

Betta Fish Diseases and Illnesses

These fish are pretty tough but you should keep an eye on them anyway and observe them regularly for any signs of Betta fish diseases or illnesses. These maladies may arise from your feeding habits or the quality of the water. In some cases, fish just get sick and the best Betta fish care in the world will not prevent it. Some of the possible health problems your fish may experience are described below:

•             Constipation – This is usually a result of overfeeding.

•             Dropsy – If your Betta is bloated, it may suffer from dropsy. This is probably due to bacteria issues.

•             Fin rot – A betta fish diseases where the fins will become tattered.

•             Parasites – When your fish seems to itch itself against the side of the tank, it may have parasites.

•             Ich – Small white spots appear on the body and on the fins.

•             Septicimia – Lethargy, refusal to eat and red streaks on the body are signs of this serious Betta fish disease.

•             Tuberculosis – If your fish’s color seems duller than usual and it swims with its fins held close and tight to its body, it may have tuberculosis.

Initial Betta Care

The first element in providing Betta fish care is the type of supplies you will need. Most of the supplies will be one-time purchases because these fish are fairly self-sufficient. Outside of providing regular meals, you will not have to actually do much for them as long as you follow a few simple rules about their care. Still, as with other fish you will need certain items:

*One aquarium

*One aquarium heater

*One aquarium filter

*One aquarium thermometer

*Several rocks to provide substrate at the bottom of the aquarium

*Food pellets or flakes

*Drops to de-chlorinate the water in the aquarium

Betta Fish Tanks

Some stores will sell tiny spaces as fish habitats, even for exotic fish such as Bettas. However, if you really want to provide good Betta fish care, you should provide an aquarium that holds at least 5 gallons of water. More would be better, especially if you are thinking about finding other companions to live in the tank with your Betta. They will need that space to avoid each other.

Once you have the aquarium, line the bottom with the rocks that you have purchased as substrate. Attach the filter to the side interior of the tank and attach the thermometer as well. Connect the heater. Pour water into the aquarium until the surface of the water is about two inches away from the rim of the aquarium. This should prevent the Betta from jumping out. Read the instructions on your de-chlorination bottle and add as many drops as recommended for your aquarium size. Do not put the Betta in yet. Instead, wait about an hour.

Water Temperature and Quality

One of the difficult aspects of Betta fish care is maintaining the right water temperature. Betta fish were originally bred in rice paddies on the Siamese Peninsula. Therefore, they need water of a higher temperature than other fish that you might have raised. Typically, these fish survive best in water that is kept between 78 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything below 72 degrees will put your fish in serious danger of illness. Turn on the heater and wait until the water reaches at least 78 degrees. Then wait another half hour to ensure that the temperature is uniform throughout the tank. You can also use this opportunity to ensure that the heater is functioning correctly and will be able to maintain this temperature consistently.

Now you can add your fish to the aquarium. Proper betta fish care involves changing the water in the aquarium every week. When you change the water, do not clean the sides of the tank. Simply remove about a quarter of the water and pour in fresh, de-chlorinated water from the tap. Actual cleaning should occur more rarely, because the bacteria cultures growing on the glass are actually good for your fish. This method also causes less stress for your betta fish, which are sensitive to severe changes.

Betta Fish Food

Feed your Betta just once per day. Overfeeding is one of the most common mistakes made in Betta fish care. Pellets or flakes are both fine.  If you properly feed this fish, it should reach a length of about 5cm. The Betta fish life span of a properly fed specimen is anywhere from two to five years.

This is actually not as intimidating as some of these lists might make it seem. As long as you feed it properly and keep the water at the right temperature, your tough little Betta will probably live a long and happy life. With a little bit of betta fish care your pet will live have a happy life.