How To Manage Your Betta Fish? (Complete Guide)

Known for their brilliant, gorgeous coloring and complex fin displays, betta fish, more officially termed “Siamese fighting fish,” are a typical family pet. These tiny beauties need particular care to ensure that they remain happy and healthy.

Betta fish (also known as “Siamese fighting fish”) are battling for their lives in the brutal pet trade, which exploits them. Pet shops, bargain superstores, florists, and even the internet sell Bettas fish, where they live in tiny cups, small bowls, and even flower vases due to their size.

Many individuals who purchase these fish on a whim are unaware of the complexities and costs associated with appropriate betta care, which is more involved and costly than they may assume.

Here you’ll find out why you should never purchase bettas (or any other animal) from a pet shop (or any other source). If you already have a betta fish partner, we’ll teach you how to provide the most pleasing possible environment for that animal’s well-being.

What Is A Betta Fish?

Betta splendens is the scientific name for this fish species, sometimes referred to as “Siamese fighting fish” or “labyrinth fish” in popular culture.

The fact remains that these fish are sensitive and sophisticated creatures that suffer when abused in the pet trade, regardless of what they are named.

Betta splendens typically grow to a length of 6–8 cm (2.4–3.1 in), depending on the species. In contrast to the bright colors and huge, flowing fins of aquarium individuals, the natural coloring of B. splendens is often green, brown, and green.

Wild fish only display bright colors when they are disturbed; the fins of wild fish are short and slender. Thanks to decades of selective breeding, a brilliant assortment of colors and tail kinds have been successfully developed into Siamese fighting fish in captivity.

However, bettas can live momentarily at water temperatures ranging from 56°F (13°C) to 95°F (35°C). Betta fish are Asian natives that thrive in marshes, ponds, and slow-moving streams.

Male bettas are protective dads that make bubble nests for their offspring with their jaws. Betta fish are diurnal like humans. They are active throughout the day and slumber at night, needing darkness to sleep.

How Do Betta Fish Breed? Where Do Betta Fish Live?

The Betta fish is said to have originated in Asia, where they flourish in marshy ponds and slow-moving streams. When not at work, male bettas vigorously defend their young from predators.

Betta Fish Breeding

If you don’t do this correctly, you’ll have dead Bettas and/or ill fry. Not to mention the money squandered. However, there is a common approach to ensure success.

This section will teach you how to properly breed attractive and healthy Betta fish without endangering their health.

Preparation of Permanent Betta Tanks

• Set up permanent habitats for your male and female Betta first.
• 10 gallon empty with lid: Allows your Bettas to hide if needed, but not too much that they can’t locate each other. No substrate because it hinders male egg retrieval and may entangle fry.
• 25-watt submersible heater Obtains the optimal water temperature.
• It cleans the water and doesn’t produce too much current to disperse eggs.
• Your sponge filter will utilize an air pump to suck water into it.
• Find out how to build up the ideal Betta fish aquarium here.
• After purchasing and setting up your equipment, you must cycle both tanks before buying fish.
• You can find a full tutorial on how to cycle your aquarium here.

Betta Breeding Tank Setup Step 2 (Buying Your Equipment)

• The worst breeding Betta blunder is breeding them in the male’s current tank–don’t.
• A breeding tank is required because the fry is delicate and needs clean water.
• Male Bettas only care about their fry until they swim independently in the wild.
• Christmas moss: Get loads of it for your Bettas.
• It softens the water and gives a spot for the male to create his bubble nest.
• Above-tank LED lighting You’ll need to regulate the lighting.
• Open top glass hurricane globe or tank divider: This allows you to introduce your pair safely.

Related readings:

• How often do you feed a betta fish? (Complete diet chart)
• What is a Minnow fish? and discover how to identify them?

What are the different kinds of betta fish?

Less experienced aquarists often use Betta (Siamese fighting fish) fish. Miniature fish with distinct characteristics.

Years of cross-breeding have produced stunning colorations and tail variances. They are low maintenance, and their physiology and behavior are fascinating.

This fish can know its owners and makes bubble nests. They can breathe the air because their gills cannot always receive enough oxygen from the surrounding waters.

Bettas may classify by their tail form, pattern, and eventually color depending on the following factors.

• Tails may be extended and flowing or short and tidy. Body designs range from multi-colored to single-body patterns.
• Their color is the most noticeable feature. Betta fish come in every hue of the rainbow.
• There are hundreds of Betta kinds available, each with its tail form, color, and pattern.

Tails:

The tail is one of the most charming betta features. The tail of your betta fish is typical to identify. Many tail varieties have vibrant hues, from small and spiky to enormous and majestic. The names generally describe the tail form, such as veiltail, crowntail, and Halfmoon.

There are numerous varieties and colors as choices. A popular freshwater fish is a crowntail betta. Ahmad Yusuf initially produced this species in Indonesia roughly 25 years ago.

This species’ fins have a long spikey crown, but if the webbing extends more than 2/3 up the tail, it is categorized as a Combtail Betta.

Males have bright colors and large fins and tails, whereas females are much different. Females usually have softer colors, a shorter tail, and a less magnificent aspect.

Betta’s Veil:

It is another frequently accessible version of the tail type. This male has a long, sweeping tail. It comes in a variety of colors and has a stunning look. As a result, it is one of the simplest tail types to reproduce in Betta fish.

The female is also unique. She lacks the male’s striking features but has vibrant hues at times. Females have softer shades and shorter fins and tails.

Beta Plakat:

Plakat bettas have short, spherical tails, unlike other bettas. They are nearly unique. Like different varieties, their fins are relatively straightforward. Still, the fish is stunning; this betta type is one of the wild forms.

How Do I Identify My Betta Fish?

Betta fish, commonly known as Siamese fighting fish, is one of the most popular aquarium pets and can be found in almost every tank. They are physically attractive but curious and friendly animals when housed in a group.

Having a better understanding of the physical qualities of Betta fish may make seeing them in their natural surroundings that much more pleasurable.

There are approximately 30,000 different Betta fish varieties, but just a handful of them are good pet fish in the United States. It might be tough to tell the difference between a male and a female Betta.

It is normal to have difficulty differentiating between a male and female Betta. Do not get disheartened. Male fighter fish often have a giant head than female fighter fish, so keep this in mind when choosing your species.

Betta Fish Care

• Bettas are tropical fish that need warm water (74-82°F).
• Choose a 5-watt aquarium heater for every gallon of water. In a giant aquarium, both ends may require heaters.
• After 15 minutes, switch on the heating.
• Place the heater near the filter to warm the water.
• After 24 hours, check the water temperature and adjust the heater if required.
• Aquarium heaters
• Aquaria thermometers
• Aquarium Lights

Bring your new betta home straight away. Put it in the tank for 15 minutes to become acclimated to the new water temperature. Next, net the Betta into your tank—no bag water in your aquarium.

Your aquarium’s chemical balance will shift with each new fish, so monitor pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels often. Feed flakes or pellets 1-2 times daily. Bettas are carnivores, so feed them frozen brine shrimp or tubifex worms.

If your bettas show any of these signs of disease or distress, see a PetSmart associate or a fish-friendly veterinarian:

• Appetite loss
• Side fins
• scrubbing rock body
• tummy ache
• Inflamed skin or fins

#1- How To Keep A Betta Fish Happy?

Bettas have a life span of up to 3 years. Bettas may coexist peacefully with other community fish in specific circumstances.

However, only one male or female betta should be in a tank without dividers. You should remove the Betta if it begins to act aggressively against other fish in the aquarium.

Bettas suck in aerated water from the surface of their aquarium. Bettas need at least a three-gallon aquarium with a filter. Set up their new house at least one day before they come to ensure that everything runs well.

The number of fish determines the minimum aquarium size. A betta requires a tank of at least 3 gallons; if you want to have a significant fish population, double the tank’s size by 1 gallon for each inch of fully developed fish.

#2- How To Care For A Pregnant Betta Fish?

Betta fish do not experience pregnancy throughout their life cycles. They reproduce. Females swim up to a male who builds a bubble nest and deposits their eggs. Only one female is involved.

The male fertilizes the eggs as they are deposited, but there is no intercourse. Until the fry hatch, the male defends the bubble nest.

He will, after that, protect hatchlings but may also consume them. After spawning, fish breeders remove the male.

Swollen belly in Betta fish is a typical health concern. Bloat suggests infection, constipation needs a mashed boiled shelled pea followed by a 24-hour fast. It might be a parasite from eating live food.

Bloat is the most difficult to cure if your fish’s scales stick up, giving it a spiky look. Water medication is expensive and seldom practical. I like methylene blue.

Suggested reading:

• How to manage your axolotls? (habitat, diet, and fun facts)
• Goldfish 101: Care guide, fun facts & full diet plan

#3- How To Set Up A Betta Fish Tank?

Betta fish are unique, and they need a habitat that enables them to thrive and enjoy a healthy life.

A Betta’s Tank: Size Matters! Sadly, many bettas are kept in small plastic containers. As a consequence, bettas become ill and have a terrible life.

Bettas from shallow streams cannot be maintained in little bowls or tanks. Bettas originate from calm waters, but you must filter them.

A filter keeps your tank clean and reduces hazardous germs that might cause sickness. Bettas’ long, flowing fins make swimming in strong currents challenging. So get a ‘gentle’ filter.

Verify that your selected aquarium has a filter. If not, get one that fits your tank. Look for a filter with variable flow. So you can build ideal currents.

TIP

Use a filter with a GPH 4 times your tank’s size for the most excellent filtering. In gallons, that’s how much water it can filter in an hour. A 5-gallon tank would be a 20 GPH filter. Yes, a heater is required since Bettas are from Thailand’s tropical seas.

You should choose an utterly submersible heater that maintains 78-80°F. A temperature monitor is also required. Too low a temperature invites illnesses like Ich. Too high, and your Betta will age faster.

What Are Some Interesting Facts About Betta Fish?

• “BETTA” IS THE NAME OF MORE THAN 70 SPECIES OF FISH.

Betta is the name of a fish genus that contains hundreds of different kinds of fish. Betta splendens, often known as the Siamese fighting fish, are the most popular species.

• THE TERM “FIGHTING FISH” IS CORRECT.

Betta splendens is a kind of fighting fish known as a Siamese fighting fish. Bettas have a strong sense of belonging. Women are less violent than men, yet any betta will fight any other betta without hesitation, whether they are male or female.

The reflection may induce the antagonism of a betta in its own eyes. Even while fighting does not always result in death, it may result in severe injuries that need medical attention.

• DO NOT CONSUME BETTAS.

Bettas are carnivores, which means they eat meat. Pets are often given freeze-dried bloodworms, easy to obtain and administer. Bettas consume bloodworms, shrimp, crickets, flies, and even grasshoppers in their natural habitat.

• Bettas’ tails come in a variety of shapes.

Bettas are available in a variety of shapes and colors. Their tails, in particular, are almost infinite. Betta splendens tail morphologies include the pear, rose, round, spade, and comb shapes. Here is a list of the most often encountered types and subtypes.

What Do Betta Fish Eat? How To Feed Your Betta Fish?

Betta fish are predators that live in the wild on insects and insect larvae. Understanding your Betta’s standard eating patterns can help you feed him properly.

Betta fish diet Betta fish are natural carnivores and need a high protein diet. Some say bettas can live in a tiny tank by eating plant roots. This is false and may hurt your betta fish.

It’s best to feed your Betta high-protein betta pellets from the supermarket. It’s vital to use a betta-specific pellet recipe.

Those made for tropical fish won’t be healthy. Authentic betta pellets and flakes provide the right amount of nutrition. They are simple to portion to avoid overfeeding and underfeeding.

Your betta fish will love high protein freeze-dried and frozen meals. Brine shrimp and bloodworms are examples. These snacks should not be your Betta’s primary food source. Moderately feed them to your Betta.

Feed your betta fish two to four pellets once or twice daily. The pellets expand in water and fill your betta fish up. 1–2 days a week, freeze-dried or fresh food can replace their pellet diet.

Experts advise removing any leftover food from your betta fish’s aquarium. If not removed, this food will impair water quality.

How Long Can Betta Fish Go Without Food?

As I’ve just said, betta fish can live between 10-14 days without food. You should consider several vital variables before letting your betta fish unsupervised for an extended length of time.

Leave your betta fish in an aquarium that it is already acclimated to if you want to return to a pet fish that is not too anxious when you return from your vacation.

If hiring a fish sitter is out of the question and you’re planning a trip that will last longer than 3-4 days, there are several important actions you should do before you leave your aquarium.

While betta fish can easily survive on their own for 3-4 days, being left unattended for 10-14 days might have some concerning side effects.

Why Do Betta Fish Fight?

Female bettas seldom fight among themselves. Individual female bettas may be more or less aggressive than others in a group, leading to an established hierarchy.

Adding additional females to the harem may enhance conflict when a new order is created. Female bettas are typically maintained in aquariums with other little fish.

Male bettas cannot be maintained with other bettas but may be kept with other non-aggressive fish species. Female bettas may be kept alongside other fish. Some betta fish are hostile towards other fish in the same tank, especially if they have flowing fins.

In your aquarium, you must include peaceful, non-aggressive fish. Your Betta’s personality will decide whether they may be maintained alongside other species.

Other fish cannot be kept with certain bettas. It is advisable to introduce betta fish last to avoid hostile encounters.

Why Are Betta Fishes So Popular?

People worldwide have tanks with fish called Betta, but they aren’t the only ones. The fish became popular in the pet trade because they are easy to care for and come in various colors.

They can be bought for as little as $2.49. Earth.com says that most of the bettas in the pet trade come from captive populations, not from the wild.

One reason Bettas are easy to care for is that they live in warm water between 24 and 27 Celsius. They also don’t need other fish to live with them, so they don’t need much space. The labyrinth organ looks like a lung and lets Bettas get oxygen from the air and water.