How To Take Care Of A Betta Fish

Betta fish, more popularly known as ‘betta’ or ‘Siamese fighting fish’, is a small and colorful fish. Betta fish are attractive to look at, but also come with the added duty of maintenance. However, keeping in mind all parameters, maintaining betta fish cannot really be too much of a bother. You can look at this way—you want a really classy car and when you get the money to buy one, you do just that. It however does not stop at buying the car; the cycle also extends to maintaining the machine and ensuring that it is in running condition. The same principle can be applied to the betta fish. You want one, you get yourself one, but you don’t stop at the acquisition. You also take care! Take the time and read on for simple yet extremely important instructions on how exactly to take care of a betta fish. Remember, a betta fish is just not any other fish. It is one of the most exotic ‘creatures’ that grace aquariums across living rooms all over the world today.

Taking Care Of A Betta Fish 

• As far as food goes, nothing beats pellets. Pellets are really the best a betta fish can get. The conclusion has been arrived at mostly because of two foremost reasons. The first reason revolves around the fact that pellets contain everything that a betta fish needs. The second reason revolves around the fact that the pellets are approximately the same size, which makes it easy for you to determine the portions of the same that the fish should be consuming.
• Ideally, pellets should be given to betta fish keeping well in mind the numbers that determine optimal nutrition. Two pellets in the morning and two pellets in the night make for just the amount of nutrition that is needed by a betta fish. Anything in excess or anything in deficiency can create nutritional imbalances in the fish and that is not something you would want.  
• Man cannot live by bread alone and betta fish cannot live by pellets alone. For that variety in the diet of a betta fish, you can occasionally feed it live foods. Live foods can include brine worms, blood worms or frozen brine shrimp. You will however have to make it a point to ensure that betta fish gets live treats as rarely as possible. This is because live treats or worms are high in proteins and fats and almost devoid of other nutrients.
• Everyone likes to live in comfort and sometimes even luxury, so there’s really no reason why a fish shouldn’t. Betta fish, contrary to popular belief, cannot make themselves comfortable in a small bowl. What’s really needed for a betta fish or two or three of them is a large tank that can hold around five to ten gallons of water. Remember, betta fish do not come from small ponds. They are after all a breed of fish that call vast expanses of wetlands home. So confining a betta fish to a one gallon bowl is definitely not a good idea. Also, the chances of a betta surviving for a longer time in a large tank are so much higher than the chances of their survival in a small tank.
• The temperature of the water in the tank of a betta fish is best when maintained at a constant. For a betta fish, ideal temperatures range from anywhere between 76 degrees Fahrenheit to 84 degrees Fahrenheit. It is also advisable to maintain constant water temperature for a betta.
• Make it a point to ensure that the water in the tank of the betta fish and the tank itself is clean. Change the water as often as possible, preferably once in two days. Clean the tank using warm water only. Soap is simply not allowed. Say no to decorations and gravel, Betta fish are particularly not too fond of the same. It is also advisable to cover the tank as opposed to not covering the same.