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| By Claire F. |
Care Level: Beginner
Lifespan: 2-5 years
What you'll need:
Fish tank (at least 3 gallons)
Filter
Heater
Decor or Plants (live or fake) for hiding
Gravel
Betta fish are colorful fish with unique personalities. A little known fact is that they are smart enough to recognize the people who take care of them.
Betta fish are loners and should not be put in a tank with other bettas. While very territorial, male bettas can be put in larger aquariums with other fish as long as they have at least 3 gallons of space to themselves. Monitor your betta to make sure they aren't bullying your other fish. If they are, take them out and move them into a separate space.
Habitat
Bettas come from habitats filled with dense aquatic plants as colorful as they are. You can use real or fake plants to help your betta feel right at home. For Your flooring, you should use smaller gravel or sand. Food and waste can fall between larger gravel or rocks, harming not just the fish, but the whole aquarium.
Aquarium Maintenance
Maintaining safe levels of nitrate can be done through regular partial water changes. Never change more than a quarter of your tank's water at a time. You should do partial water changes once every week to 2 weeks.
Don't mess with your bio filter media or clean it in tap water that hasn't been dechlorinated. Keep the media submerged in aquarium water so you don't accidentally kill off the good bacteria helping make the aquarium habitable for your fish. Replace your filter cartridge every 2 to 4 weeks.
Water Maintenance
Betta fish need an aquarium with a filter and heater. Once the aquarium is set up, it's easy to maintain optimal water quality. You should test your water weekly to measure levels of ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, hardness, pH, alkaline, and chlorine. Locations like Petsmart offer free testing for your tank water.
Here is a list for your optimal water levels:
Temperature: 77-82° F (25-28° C)
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate <20ppm
pH: 6.8-8
General Hardness: 70-300ppm
Alkalinity: >80ppm
Feeding Your Betta
Bettas are carnivores and need a lot of protein in their diet. There are betta specific foods you can purchase at most pet stores. Follow the label of whatever food you get for your fish.
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