Betta fish and their care: A complete guide
The Betta Fish
(also known as Siamese fighting fish) is a prevalent freshwater fish whose
beautiful and vividly colored tails can be found elegantly swimming in
aquariums worldwide.
Most people go
out and buy betta fish but don't know how to take proper care of them. Here
we'll discuss all the steps of taking adequate care of your betta fish.
1.
Temperature
Temperature is
the main thing needed to take proper care of your Betta. They are oriented from
the warm region. They cannot survive in cold water. They require tropical
climate water between 75 – 80 degrees. Some betta fishes die early due to not
being at their optimum temperature.
2.
Diet
Diet plays the
leading role in taking care of your betta fish. Betta fish are carnivores and
eat a protein-rich diet. Don’t feed them flakes.
3.
Lifespan
The lifespan of
a Betta fish can reach up to 10 years, despite the average being 3-5. If you
look after your fish, they will be around for a long time.
4.
Tank setup
The most
important part of looking after a Betta fish is to set up its tank correctly. Things
like temperature, water parameters, filtration, lighting, and diet must be
consistent and natural for your fish.
If you are
serious about caring for your Betta fish, the size of your tank should be one
of your most significant considerations. The minimum tank size for a betta fish
is at least 10 gallons, but that’s a bare minimum. More is always better.
Hailing from the
tropical waters of Thailand, it is CRUCIAL not to have your water too cold when
keeping Bettas. A low temperature of 75 – 80 degrees is optimal.
5.
Distilled water
Can you use distilled
water for betta fish? No. It should
not be used in betta habitats without proper treatment to add nutrients and
control pH levels—Betta fish living in untreated distilled water lack many of
the minerals they need to survive.
6.
Heater
Choose a heater
with a built-in thermometer. This makes life so much easier. The heater
maintains the optimum temperature needed for your betta fish to survive.
7.
Space
Bettas are
labyrinth fish, meaning they can breathe oxygen from the water's surface. Because
of this, you should aim to leave some space at the top of the tank for your
Betta fish to breathe.
The Labyrinth
bladder that allows them to breathe at the surface requires frequent use for
the fish to be healthy, so it's an essential factor to consider.
8.
Filter
In their natural
habitat, Betta fish live in shallow, slow-flowing rivers and beds of water.
They aren't equipped with the strength to constantly tackle the fast-flowing
current that some other fish are, hence why it's so important to choose a filter
with a low flow rate.
9.
Changing water
Changing too
much water at once can disrupt the balance of your aquarium and cause stress to
your Betta fish. Changing 25% of the water is recommended once per week.
Conclusion
King
betta vs giant Betta, who's harder
to take care of? They both require the same care. If you want to increase the
life span of both specie, taking the best care of them is necessary.
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