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The RIGHT Way to Care for Betta Fish

And What You're Doing Wrong

By Hannah MontelloPublished 6 years ago 3 min read
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Ah, the betta fish; the fish that everyone seems to have but no one seems to be able to take care of properly. Known as “hardy” and “easy to take care of,” they are quickly becoming the more popular choice of an easy fish now that most people are aware that goldfish should not last two weeks but rather 25 years.

You may often see bettas in a small glass vase or bowl, maybe even with a plant. There are many things wrong with this scenario, because though these fish tend to be hardier than others, they are not resilient to everything we may throw their way.

Living Space

Firstly, betta fish should not be kept in tiny glass bowls or vases. Because bettas live in rice paddies and swamps in South East Asia, people tend to assume that they can live in very tiny and dirty spaces—which is absolutely not the case at all. Though these swamps are swallow, they are miles and miles long. A betta will swim for miles a day. The minimum size tank these fish should be kept in is 2.5 gallons. Bettas also enjoy a resting place or a “hideout,” so it is always a good idea to add one of these in your tank. They often come in cute ideas like treasure chests, skulls, and castles.

Feeding

Many will often place plants in the bowl they keep their betta in because it is rumoured that the fish will feed on the leaves and the roots of the plant and then their waste will further strengthen the plant in return. Lots of people see this as a convenient cycle, but what they do not know is that bettas are strictly carnivorous in the wild. Their digestive systems are not designed for plants. Alternatives for feeding your betta are: pellets, dry food, live foods and frozen foods. The stomach of the betta fish is about the size of their eyes, so only feed them the size of on of their eyes a day. It is very common for these types of fish to overeat, resulting in death.

Water Conditions

Another myth about bettas is that they do not need a filter and are perfectly OK living in dirty water because they are “hardy” fish, but that really is not the case. Your betta should have a filter in their tank because doing daily water changes will stress your pet out and there are many dangerous illnesses that fish can develop caused by stress. The best thing to do is to buy a filter that has low flow because they are not the best swimmers and change about 15 percent to 25 percent of the water every four or five days. Also, do not forget to buy a water conditioner because bettas are susceptible to tap water, and it is not safe for them.

Your betta fish needs a heater. The bettas you buy in pet stores will most likely be wild caught because of the troubles with breeding them. So, this means your betta is accustomed to the warm tropical waters they were born in. The ideal water temperature for them is around 76–82 degrees (with a survival range of around 72–86), and unless you live in an extremely hot climate area, this will demand a heater. Many owners believe that bettas are a lazy fish, but they are actually fairly active. It is just that when they are living in cooler waters they become lethargic and sluggish, which may come across as lazy.

Unfortunately, betta fish are not the simple fish everyone believes them to be. Just like any other animal, they require a set way of life to insure a long (3–5 years) and a happy life. Though they may not be as easy as you may originally thought, they are an magnificent and beautiful fish and they really do make great pets.

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About the Creator

Hannah Montello

I am a huge animal lover and I will probably be writing about topics such as animal care guides, social justice issues, book reviews and maybe a few short stories.

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