Starting A Betta Fish Care For Beginners

If you just starting a betta fish care, in my opinion there is no need to buy something fancy with your aquarium fish tank with all sophisticated equipment and, if you can’t afford that a true betta fanatic, start with smaller betta fish tank or anything from the following list will do the work.

Eclipse System Three
This Eclipse System Three is one of the best homes possible for betta fish. It provides filtration, lighting, and a lot of space for the fish. These are a little more expensive than your typical bowels, but they are definitely the best way to go.

Mini Aquarium
Mini Aquarium This is really a great tank to show off the beauty of your betta fish. They are available in all sizes and usually come with a startup kit.

Tank Heater
Of course, bettas thrive in warm water. If your fish love doesn’t already have one, get him a 25 or 50 watt  fish tank heater for his aquarium tank. The fish will become much healthier, and it will show.

Betta Bio-Gold
Bettas live on a very special diet. Their natural diet consists of wild insects and larvae. If they are not provided with enough protein, they will easily catch diseases and die fairly early. Bio-Gold gives betta fish just what they need to be happy and healthy.

Bloodworms
Betta fish love bloodworms, very few owners actually have a constant supply of these. This is a great gift idea.

Betta Book
If you are a first time betta owner you could get some reference material to read. “The Betta Reference Book” is a great resource for new owners.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Live Plants in a Betta Fish Aquarium Tank

If you want too add any plants in your Betta fish aquarium, you'll probably have to decide between live or artificial ones. As you can see in my last post, live plants have a number of advantages  as their provide aesthetic look of your aquarium fish tank. But the live plant does have several disadvantages when compared to artificial ones. This post will discover some of these advantages and disadvantages of live plants.

Advantages

Live plants provide many benefits to your aquarium. While reducing carbon dioxide levels in the water, they also add extra oxygen. The plants also help lower the nitrate level in the tank.

Algae can become a problem if you don't keep it in check. Plants release chemicals in the water that help prevent algae from growing. They can also serve as a source of food for your fish. However, you should make sure that your betta fish don't bite them too much, or they can start to harm your plant.

If you aren't an expert Betta caregiver, something could go wrong with your water conditions. If you have a live plant, it will be one of the first signals that something is wrong. Whenever water conditions get bad, your plants will start dying so you can fix the problem before your fish are harmed.

Disadvantages

While these advantages are good, live plants also have a few disadvantages in a betta fish aquarium. You already have to take care of your fish. With a real plant, you will also have something else to take care of. You have to trim decayed or dead parts to keep the plant in optimal health. This requires extra knowledge besides caring for your fish.

Another potential problem caused by real plants is the potential for pests. When you buy them from a store, it's possible that intruders can come along with them and be introduced in your aquarium. This includes unwanted fish, hydras, and snails.

Beginners Guide to Setup Betta Fish Tanks

So, have you thinking about buying a betta? Well, but  first you should get an aquarium or at least a fish bowl for your betta fish. If you're new to the whole process, there are a few things you should know about setting up betta fish tanks. Here's a few tips to get you started.



Fish Tank Size

One of the first things you need to think about when getting a tank is its size. If you'll only have one fish, a three to five gallon tank will be sufficient. Multiple fish will do best in a 9 gallon aquarium tank since they'll need a lot of space to swim around freely.

Filtration

You will also need to get a filtration system. If you don't keep the water clean, your fish will become sick very quickly. Make sure the filter's strength is suitable for the tank's size. If it's too strong, the water current will make it difficult for your fish to swim around easily. Even with a filtration system, you need to be prepared to do 10-15% manual water changes on a weekly basis.

Cover

Did you know that bettas love to jump? Well they do! One of the most common causes of death of these fish is jumping out of their tanks or bowls to their death. Therefore, make sure you get a cover for the aquarium tank.

Decorations

Now for the fun part. If you don't want your little buddy swimming around in plain water, you should look into adding some decorations to the tank. There are a variety of decorations you can add to betta fish tanks such as buildings, figurines, plants and rocks. Be careful not to put rocks in that have sharp edges. Your fish can rub against it and harm himself.

Things to Consider when Choosing A Fish Bowl For Betta

One of the main concerns when buying a betta fish is where you will keep it and what kind a fish tank should I choose. Your options basically boil down to an aquarium or bowl. There are various reasons why you should consider betta fish bowls, but also a few reasons you shouldn't. So, this time we will discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages when you finally choosing the Bowl for you lovely betta.

Advantages

One of the first benefits of going with a fish bowl is that it's the much cheaper option. The least expensive aquarium will generally cost much more than the largest bowl you can buy. Most beginners go with this  easy option for this very reason.

Beginners will also enjoy the next advantage of betta fish bowls. They are very simple. You just put your fish in the water and you're all setup. This is far from the case with common an aquarium. fish tank. At the very least, you have to put in gravel and a filtration system.

A bowl's size can also be considered an advantage. Since they're generally smaller, you should have no problem finding room for your new buddy. With an aquarium, you'll need to find a space large enough to fit it.

Smaller size also means less weight. Even filled completely, a bowl shouldn't weigh that much more than an empty aquarium. You shouldn't even bother trying to lift an aquarium when it's filled up with water. Therefore, you'll need to bring a water source for changes. You can take a bowl wherever you want to change the water.

Disadvantages

Now that you know some of the advantages of betta fish bowls, how about  the disadvantages. As mentioned earlier, size can be considered a benefit. However, since they're so small, they're only suitable for younger fish. As your fish grows, he'll run out of space and you'll need to buy something bigger.

Remember how easy bowls are to setup? Well, since you won't be installing a filtration system, you'll need to do water changes manually. The water can become toxic in such a small environment pretty quickly, so this should be done very frequently.

Four Common Diseases in Betta Fish

There are several diseases that can affect your betta. The majority of diseases and illness that you will encounter commonly are caused by poor water quality and living conditions, so basically, you can prevent many by keeping the water clean. Nevertheless, these is some of the most common illnesses include fin rot, velvet, and popeye.


Fin Rot

Fin rot is one of the most common diseases. If you keep a betta long enough, you will probably have to deal with it at least once. This condition is characterized by the tail or fins rotting away. It can quickly become a problem if you allow the water to stay unclean too long. Although the tail or fins will grow back once treatment begins, it will take some time.

Pop-eye

Pop-eye is also one of the most common betta fish diseases. Like fin rot, it's caused by unclean water which leads to a bacterial infection. This condition is quite easy to spot as your fish's eyes will literally bulge out of his head. It can be disgusting the first time you see it. Popeye needs to be treated with antibiotics and frequent water changes.

Velvet

Unlike the two aforementioned diseases, velvet is caused by a parasite. It is highly contagious and can quickly spread to other fish in the tank. Affected fish will attempt to get rid of the parasite by rubbing themselves against hard objects. Other signs of velvet include rapid gill movement, weight loss, loss of appetite, and lethargy.

This illness presents a problem because it's usually diagnosed in an advanced stage. Therefore, you would need to start treatment as quickly as possible. TO treat this condition, you will need to dim the lights, add copper sulphate to the water, and raise the temperature to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Your fish may also have a hard time breathing. Aquarium salt will help remedy this.

Dropsy

Dropsy is one of the most serious betta fish diseases. It is usually fatal. This illness results from kidney failure which causes fluid to build-up inside your fish. You can easily spot his swollen belly. If he also has raised scales, it's a pretty safe bet that he has dropsy. Unfortunately, there is no cure and most bettas die within a couple of weeks.

Having said that, if you do a proper fish tank or bowl setup, water treatments and decent temperature, keep a strict cleaning as well as proper feeding schedule, hopefully you won't encounter any disease and you betta fish will thrive and flourish.

These are some of the most common betta fish diseases. If you're new to caring for bettas, there are many more things you need to learn. So, click here to learn everything you need to know like dealing with bloated betta fish.

Safety Tips for Feeding Betta Fish

As you might know, there are a few things you should know about feeding  your betta fish, especially if you don't want a sick fish on your hands. In order to feed your new fish , you will obviously need some type of food. Here's some of the tips.

Bettas like other types of foods. For instance, you can buy flakes and pellets that were specifically made for betta's to eat. These two are the most common foods used by owners.You also can try giving your fish brine shrimp, fruit flies, and blood worms. They will definitely like it too.



One things to remember is never to overfeed him. These fish have very small stomachs. They're about the same size as one of their eye. So, it's very easy on overfeed him. Doing so can cause constipation, swim bladder disease, GI obstruction, and death. Only give him enough food that he can eat in two to three minutes.

After feeding betta fish, you should never let the food left in the fish tank for too long. If you let uneaten food sit in the tank, it will start to rot quickly. Rotted food will quickly diminish the quality of water in your betta's tank. Therefore, make sure you scoop out any food that he doesn't eat.

If you plan on breeding your bettas, then you will need to feed the male and female very well before putting them together. You should begin feeding them high-quality foods about two weeks before you put them together. Good foods to feed include mosquito larvae, frozen blood worms, and fruit flies.

Sick Betta Fish - How To Diagnose Them

If you're going to care for bettas, then you should be prepared for them to get sick every so often. You should know some of the symptoms of common diseases so that you will have no trouble diagnosing a sick betta fish. We will discuss some of the things you should look for.

Appetite

Bettas commonly eat everyday. If he shows no interest in food, then there may be something wrong with him. Sometimes, they'll just be reluctant to eat but will finally do so. Your fish may also spit the food back out after eating it if he's sick.



Behavior

Watching their behavior is another way to tell if you have a sick betta fish. They're usually very active, but will become lethargic when something is wrong. He may stay in a corner or at the bottom of the tank and only come up for air.

Another behavioral change to lookout for is rubbing up against hard objects. If you notice your fish doing this, then it's likely he has been infected with a parasite.

Appearance

Sick betta fish may also have a change in appearance. Some illnesses cause your fish to develop patches of color changes. Fungal infections are a common cause of this. Bacterial infections can also lead to fin or tail rot, which may cause blackening of the fins.

Another common betta disease is velvet. In addition to other symptoms, it causes your fish to develop a rust-colored film on the skin. Other diseases can cause open or red sores to appear.

These are a few tips for diagnosing a sick betta fish. However, there are many other things you need to learn about caring for bettas. So, come learn everything you need to know like how to properly setup betta tanks

Simple Tips To Care Your Betta Fish

Basically, betta fish are very easy to care for and this makes them a great choice for people who wish to keep nice pet fish. Below are seven simple tips to keep your Betta fish in a happy and healthy condition.

Simple Monitoring

After you've had your Betta fish for a while you will soon recognize their behaviors and activities. You will soon be able to see if your they are in strange behavior. If your fish seem lethargic measure the temperature of the water. Too cold and your fish will seem listless. The ideal water temperature should be about 28 degrees centigrade (approximately 82 Fahrenheit).

Keep The Water Clean

This may sound obvious to some but your Betta fish need clean water. You shouldn't need a water filter but try to change at least a quarter of the tanks water twice a week. This will insure that it stays nice and clean and will help to keep away any infections. Try not to use water straight out of the cold tap but leave it out for a day at least to let it settle. Be sure to use a PH testing kit (you can get these from your favorite pet store) and try to keep the PH at around 7.0.

Happy Place

When choosing an aquarium tank make sure it will be large enough for  fish to swim around comfortably. A 20 litre tank is ideal for Betta. Sharp rocks and stones should be avoided. You don't want your pride and joy to rip or tear any of his/her fins.

Keep A Lid On It

Betta fish like to jump! Knowing this try to keep the water level approximately 6 centimetres below the top of your tank. This, along with the lid, should stop your fish flipping themselves onto the table for your cat to find. DO NOT use an air tight lid! Bettas can take oxygen direct from the waters surface so make sure there are good air holes in the lid.



Fish Need Friends Too

It is a wise idea never to keep other Betta fish in the same tank. They are not called Siamese fighting fish for nothing! Try not to keep mirrors or shiny surfaces near the tank as they will flare up at the slightest sign of another Betta, even if it's themselves. Male Bettas tend to be the worst for this type of behavior. It may be fun to watch but all you will do is stress your fish and decrease its lifespan. You can keep other fish with your Bettas. Loaches, platies (or moons) and Cory catfish are ideal tankmates.

Cleaning

Never (and we mean never) use soap or detergents to clean out your fish tank. Simply use a plastic brush and warm water to scrub any rocks or decorations you may have. To remove any old food from the bottom of the tank try using a pipette or a kitchen baster. This will ensure your tank stays nice and fresh and doesn't smell.

Food

Your Betta fish will absolutely love live food such as brine shrimp or bloodworms. Feeding them live food will keep them active and it is great fun to watch them gobbling them all up. For variety try feeding them on thinly chopped vegetables like broccoli, carrots and soybeans. They will enjoy these just as much as live food. Feeding your Bettas on a wider range of food will help them to live longer.

Eventually, you want him to be as happy and healthy as possible. To do this, make sure that you know what you need to about betta fish care.

That's it.

The Essentials of Proper Betta Fish Care

Some believe that Bettas cannot be kept with other fish. This is not true. Multiple male Bettas is a precondition for battle. Bettas with other fish around will still display and flare their fins, but won’t see this as a mortal insult. They should not be kept in a tank with fish that are aggressive or that nip fins, and only one male should be present. Female Bettas can usually play well with others, and there are cages to be used to separate male Bettas if they are kept in the same tank. These should prevent the fish from seeing each other.

Betta Fish can handle a surprising range of water conditions, but the water should be changed once a week or so, more often if the fish is kept in a small container. They can be fed once a day, or twice if you desire, and aren’t especially fussy about their food. There is specially formulated Betta food on the market. In the wild, Bettas eat live food, insects and their larvae, and like it in fish tanks, but they will eat flakes and frozen food as well. Do not overfeed as this will require cleaning the tank more often. When changing the water, remember to let the water sit for a day before using it in the tank with the fish to allow the chlorine to evaporate. Good choices for Betta food are brine shrimp, Daphnia, plankton, tubifex, glassworms, and beef heart, and may be used frozen or freeze dried. Flakes should be supplemented with other foods from the list.

Many note the odd bubble structures that male Betta Fish build in the water tank. This is perfectly normal. The male is building a nest in which to place eggs, once he successfully impresses a female.

Bettas prefer a pH between 6.8 and 7.4 and a hardness less than 20 dGH. The temperature should be between 75 and 86 degrees, or twenty-four to thirty for those who prefer Celsius. In the wild, they live in rice paddies, ponds and slow moving streams, and are most comfortable near the surface. One of the main arguments about the minimum size for the fish’s tank is heat. Below 75 degrees, the fish are increasingly listless and it is much easier to keep a larger tank at a stable temperature. Bettas also require access to the surface, and will drown without it. There is a special organ, the labyrinth organ, allowing and requiring them to take oxygen from the air. Because they live in still waters, power filters and power heads are not suitable.

Betta Fish are known for their lovely colors and fins, with a wide range of colors available. Blue to red with white are normal, and more spectacular colors like yellow and orange exist.

Metal poisoning easily kills betta fish, and exposed metal should not be used in decorations within the tank. Decorations are important as they allow the fish places to hide, and a layer of gravel helps to provide surface area to grow nitrifying bacteria. Decorations must be smooth and lack sharp points that can tear fins. Silk is preferred to plastic for artificial plants for this reason.

Sarah Munn is an animal lover, and currently own 7 pets (including her Betta fish, Margo). Sarah is a freelance author and editor, most recently editing the popular e-Book. "Betta Care Made Easy." Sarah would like to recommend the Betta Fish Care Newsletter as the best place to learn more about betta fish care.

The Reasons Why Not To Use a Betta Fish Vase

Have you ever seen a betta fish vase? It's basically a large flower vase filled with water and maybe a live plant. There are quite a few good reasons why you shouldn't put your betta in there.Now we will take a look at some of these reasons..

Room space?

The main reason why you shouldn't use one of these vases is the lack of space. Although there are relatively large designs, most don't provide enough space for your fish. Without enough space to swim around freely and exercise, your betta will be unhappy and less healthy.

Not Enough Air?

Did you know that bettas have a special organ on top of their head? It called a labyrinth organ, it allows fish to breathe oxygen from the air in addition to getting it from water. A betta fish vase with a large plant inside may prevent your buddy from getting the air that he needs. Without enough space to come up for air, he'll die.

Live Plant

Even if you do house your betta in a vase, you should avoid putting a live plant in there. A plant will only take up more room, which is already an issue with such a small amount to begin with. The plant also produces waste that will eventually cause health problems with your betta.


A common plant found in a betta fish vase is the peace lily. Some new owners believe that their betta can eat the plant and survive for a while. However, these fish are meat eaters. Although they may nibble on the plant occasionally, they need real food.Water

Bettas are tropical fish, so they like warmer temperatures. Do you think you could easily regulate the water temperature in a betta fish vase? I think not. Also, the water will get dirty from waste produced by your fish and the plant if you have one in there. The vase will be too small to have a filtration system, so you'll have to change the water frequently.

These are some of the best reasons not to put your pet in a betta fish vase. You want him to be as happy and healthy as possible. To do this, make sure that you know what you need to about betta fish care. Come learn things like how to recognize when you have a sick betta fish on your hands.

Tips to Have Healthy and Beautiful Betta Fishes

Betta Fishes are a very popular type of fish that are found in many homes across the globe. It is therefore important that to know the art of "Betta fish care". These fishes are so beautiful, and their vibrant color never seize to attract persons, even those who have never had to care for fish before. If you follow this article, then caring for Betta fishes should be quite simple as it will provide some stunning tips to help you to maintain an aquarium filled with healthy bettas.

If you have just taken home some Bettas, the first thing you want to do is to get familiar with their actions and Betta fish behavioral patterns. Doing this will help you to spot changes in the future. You will have an idea if they are not healthy or if their surrounding is not at optimum conditions. For example, changes in the temperature of their water.

1. The size of the aquarium or container that you keep your betta fishes in is very important. Your Bettas should be able to swim around without tearing their fins or shedding their scales.

2. Try your best to keep the water clean as your Bettas will strive in the cleanest water possible. To ensure that the water is clean, you can take out about 1/3 of the volume every 3 days and refill then tank with water that has been set out for at least 24 hours.

3. Betta strive in neutral water conditions. This means that their surrounding water should not be acidic nor basic. The pH should be around 7.0 You can get pH testers at your pet store as well as solutions to help you keep the water at a neutral pH.

4. Keep your betta container covered. Bettas love to jump and so you don't want to find your Betta fish on the surrounding table top. To reduce this problem, you may keep the water in the container at least two inches from the top.

That's it! These tips for caring for your Betta fish will have you well on your way to keeping a healthy fish.

What Kind of Water to use for Betta Fish

 So, you decided to buy your first betta fish at a pet store of some kind, when you got home and got a good smell of the water your betta was in, you decided to change the water out.

You may be inclined to think that any water will do. Most clean water looks, smells and tastes the same, unless it came out of a toilet bowl or something like that, right? Seriously though, different sources of water produce water that has many different characteristics. There are many invisible, and hard to distinguish factors that can have a bad effect on your betta. These invisible things could actually kill your betta.

Here are a couple of water parameters that you should keep in mind when taking care of your betta:

Water pH.

Without getting into a chemistry conversation, pH is a measure of the acidity of the water. If you think about what acid does, you'll understand the importance of keeping an eye on this measure. The range goes from 0-14 and the lower the number, the higher the acidity. A pH of 7 is a neutral reading, meaning that the water is neither acidic nor basic.

The thing with the pH level of water, is that it's tied closely to the source of the water.

Typically speaking, if your water comes from an underground source and has been seeped through lots of different rocks, it probably has a lot of dissolved minerals in it. Water with a lot of minerals dissolved in it is called "hard water". Water from lakes or ponds, where maybe there was a lot of decaying materials etc. usually has more acidity to it but is called "soft water." In some places, the rain water collects so many chemicals as it makes its way through the atmosphere that by the time it reaches the ground it's called "acid rain."

Lots of mineral in suspension = hard water = high pH. The opposite is also true, less minerals = soft water = low pH.

The only way to tell if your water has high or low pH is to measure it with a pH test kit. The test kits are cheap, but you must have one in order to test the acidity of the water. Most water in the US will test between 6-8, but hardly any water will test at the magical 7 without being treated.

Most tropical fish, such as bettas need water that has a neutral pH, meaning the water should test at a 7. To adjust the pH of the water, you need to add "pH up" or "pH down" depending on the case to the water, until it tests at a 7.

VERY IMPORTANT

Any adjustments to the pH must be done gradually. Bettas, like most fish, are very sensitive to sudden fluctuations in their water environment. Only add a few drops at a time of either solution to keep the change as gradual as possible.

Water Temperature

Fish are very sensitive to the temperature of their water.

Tropical fish like water temperatures between 75F and 82F. You may need to get a heater to keep the water within that temperature range, specially if you have a large tank. When it comes to water heaters for your fish tank, you really do get what you pay for, so get the best quality heater that you can afford. You do not need a heater if your tank is smaller than 5 gallons since you may end up cooking your fish.

Regardless of the size of your tank water temperature, is something that you can't see, so you'll need to have a thermometer for your tank. Just use one of those that stick to the side of the tank and you should be fine.

This post originally written by a friend of mine Rafael, If you'd like to learn more about what kind of water to use and learn more tips about betta fish care, feel free visit his site for more information.

Betta Fish Water Temperature and Conditioning

Although is okay to use regular tap water to fill your bowl or tank. But doing so requires you to treat the water to get the chlorines and heavy metals out of it. Not doing so will result in a sick fish, and more likely, a dead fish. You can get water treatment products from your local pet store.

Water is measured in pH, which depends on the sourness. Again, it depends on the type of fish you have. But in this case, expert said that the water temperature for betta fish should be between 75 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit (24-30C). Some people would argue that Bettas can live in colder waters, but they will become very lethargic or fatigue. The general consensus is keeping the temperature at about 75F.

If your using a fish bowl, make sure to place you Betta where these temperatures can be attained. Don't put by a window where it can catch a cold draft. On the other hand, don't place it by a heat register or in direct sunlight. If your water temperature fluctuates to much, it will make you fish sick, and possible kill it. There are many diseases that are brought on by fluctuating water temperatures.

You want to monitor the pH measurements of water; since the higher the water is measured the more ammonia is produced. PH levels for your Betta should ideally be 6.7 - 7.4. You can test your waters PH levels by purchasing testing strips. As well you can buy the necessary treatment to bring your PH levels within the boundaries.

Cleaning Up Your Betta Fish Tank or Bowl

Like any other living thing that eats, your Betta Fish will also produce waste. An excess of waste in your tank or bowl will cause a toxic build up, that in time, will harm your fish. So it is imperative to develop and maintain a strict cleaning schedule, to aid in a healthier fish. Not doing so will most certainly result in a sick fish, which eventually, will lead to their death.

The smaller the tank or bowl, the more frequent the cleaning will have to be, so as not to have a build up of deadly toxins. But it's not that hard and it should only take 15 or 20 minutes a cleaning.

Cleaning the Bowl

If you're using a bowl that does not use a filtration system, you'll want to clean it about once a week. You need to replace 10-20% of the water each time. Simply use a siphon to drain the required amount. Replace the water you removed with treated water (the same treatments when first setting up your bowl to remove the chlorines and other toxins).

Make sure it is within 1-3 degrees of the existing water in their bowl. Because if the water you're adding is to cold, or to hot, it could cause you Betta to develop disease. It's not recommended you replace all the water; doing so can have a stressful effect on your Betta.

If you have rocks, artificial plants or other decorations in the bowl, it's not recommended that you remove and clean them along with your regular cleaning schedule. There are beneficial bacteria that will grow on your plants or decorations that are vital in assisting with a natural biological filter and part of the eco system that is created within your bowl or tank. If there is a build up algae, simply use an aquarium scraper before you clean, and then remove the debris by sucking it out with an aquarium vacuum or large turkey baster.

Tanks with Filtration

If you're using a tank, whether it's 5, 10, or 20 gallons that uses a filtration system, you will want to clean it about 1 time per month. If your filtration is working properly, it will remove much of the waste from the tank, but you still need to clean it. This is a problem I don't think most new Betta owners are aware of. They think that since they have a filtered system working, that it takes care of everything. Wrong. You still need to stay on a regular cleaning schedule to maintain an optimal living environment.

When using an under gravel filtration system, make sure to clean the gravel with your aquarium vacuum. If you find your tank getting cloudy or bleary frequently, check to make sure you filtering system is working.