S
sourAPPLExo
Guest
i'm a first-time betta fish owner and i was wondering if anyone had any helpful tips to help me out
ANY tips are greatly appreciated!!!
thanks!
ANY tips are greatly appreciated!!!
thanks!
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1. Make sure the betta is in a decent environment - enough to allow a couple of plants and some roaming room. 1 gallon is an absolute minimum, 2.5 gallons is a better minimum. Some might say 5 or even 10 gallons, but this is overboard unless you plan on keeping other fish as well.
2. As mentioned, plants. Betta's are plant dwellers by nature and a betta should always be kept with them. Fake is good, real is fantastic.
3. Betta's are tropical fish. They can live in room temperature water, but if you want to see it thrive and be active, 78 degrees is optimum. In other words - heaters are good.
4. Filters are also a good idea. You can certainly keep him without one, but a filter will keep the water clear, provide a place for the biological filter to thrive, and lessen the frequensy of water changes, which should still be done bi-weekly.
5. Feed the betta just once per day, what it can eat in only a minute. Fish need very little and most people actually overfeed. If you leave for the weekend, leave him without any food - it's the healthiest option for the fish.
6. The best way to change the water is by leaving the fish in the tank and syphoning out about 1/3 of the water and replacing it with treated fresh water. Changing all the water at once is actually stressful to the fish. While syphoning is a good time to do a gravel vacuum as well.
Keep in mind the false myths about these fish (no doubt you will hear some of it here, and even at the fish store):
1. They are killer fish and must be kept alone. Truth: They are territorial and can be kept with many types of peaceful fish if the tank is big enough (minimum 8 gallons). My current betta resides alone in a 2.5 gallon, but my last one (deceased at 5.5 years old) was in a 15 gallon with corydora cats, cardinal tetras, and otto cats.
2. They will drown if they can't get to the top/in deep tanks. Truth: They have gills like any fish and only need to breath from the air in oxygen depleted water, like in those tiny cups and bowls too many people use.
3. They live for 1-2 years. Truth: Potential lifespan is 4-5 years or even more when they are kept properly.
4. Keep them in a bowl because they like small spaces. Truth: Betta's do indeed like small spaces, but they like to swim too. The real way to keep them is in a bigger tank, and with the use of plants to close in the space while still allowing lots of room.
5. Betta's are find in dirty water because they breath from the top. Truth: Betta's do better than many fish in dirty water for that very reason, but a long lived and healthy betta will be in a clean, oxygen rich tank and won't need to get to the top to breath.
2. As mentioned, plants. Betta's are plant dwellers by nature and a betta should always be kept with them. Fake is good, real is fantastic.
3. Betta's are tropical fish. They can live in room temperature water, but if you want to see it thrive and be active, 78 degrees is optimum. In other words - heaters are good.
4. Filters are also a good idea. You can certainly keep him without one, but a filter will keep the water clear, provide a place for the biological filter to thrive, and lessen the frequensy of water changes, which should still be done bi-weekly.
5. Feed the betta just once per day, what it can eat in only a minute. Fish need very little and most people actually overfeed. If you leave for the weekend, leave him without any food - it's the healthiest option for the fish.
6. The best way to change the water is by leaving the fish in the tank and syphoning out about 1/3 of the water and replacing it with treated fresh water. Changing all the water at once is actually stressful to the fish. While syphoning is a good time to do a gravel vacuum as well.
Keep in mind the false myths about these fish (no doubt you will hear some of it here, and even at the fish store):
1. They are killer fish and must be kept alone. Truth: They are territorial and can be kept with many types of peaceful fish if the tank is big enough (minimum 8 gallons). My current betta resides alone in a 2.5 gallon, but my last one (deceased at 5.5 years old) was in a 15 gallon with corydora cats, cardinal tetras, and otto cats.
2. They will drown if they can't get to the top/in deep tanks. Truth: They have gills like any fish and only need to breath from the air in oxygen depleted water, like in those tiny cups and bowls too many people use.
3. They live for 1-2 years. Truth: Potential lifespan is 4-5 years or even more when they are kept properly.
4. Keep them in a bowl because they like small spaces. Truth: Betta's do indeed like small spaces, but they like to swim too. The real way to keep them is in a bigger tank, and with the use of plants to close in the space while still allowing lots of room.
5. Betta's are find in dirty water because they breath from the top. Truth: Betta's do better than many fish in dirty water for that very reason, but a long lived and healthy betta will be in a clean, oxygen rich tank and won't need to get to the top to breath.
TwilghtPeople
New member
Don't put the Betta with other fish because they re known as, "Chinese fighting fish." Feed them only Betta food, because if they eat goldfish food they will end up dieing earlier than the average life span, Try to put Rocks, Decorations and etc. Because they love to hide. That's about it! Have fun!