Betta fish care sheet |Pet MD

Overview of betta fish species

Bettas are a great first pet for anyone. They are gentle, slow-moving fish that don’t require space like many other fish.

Here’s everything you need to know about caring for your new betta fish.

Characteristics of betta

betta fish feeding checklist

Keep these basic supplies on hand to keep your betta happy and healthy.

• decoration

• water quality test paper

• water conditioner

• net

• freshwater sediment

Betta fish habitat

betta fish tank

Betta fish should be kept in an aquarium with a capacity of at least 1 gallon. Bettas need to be able to breathe from the surface of the water. Keep in mind that betta fish like to jump out of their tanks, so there needs to be space under the lid at the top of the tank for them to surface and breathe.

What fish can coexist with bettas?

Male bettas must be kept individually and do best in habitats larger than 1 gallon. Male bettas can do well in community aquariums with tanks larger than 10 gallons.
There are no aggressive fish species or fish (such as flashy guppies) that can make your betta aggressive.

Female bettas can be kept with other schooling fish or other female bettas of similar size. If you keep female bettas in small groups, make sure the tank has a capacity of at least 15 gallons (depending on the number of fish) and provide plenty of hiding places in their habitat.

tank filter

Do betta fish need filters? Even in small aquariums, betta fish can benefit from adding a filtration system to their habitat. Filters not only keep your aquarium clean, but they also remove harmful toxins like ammonia from your aquarium water and add oxygen to the water so your fish can breathe.

Aquarium filters must be powerful enough to process all the water in the tank at least four times per hour. For example, a 5-gallon aquarium requires an aquarium filter with a flow rate of at least 20 gallons per hour (GPH). If only 10 or 30 GPH filters are available, purchase the 30 GPH option.

Bettas don’t like a lot of movement in their environment, so look for a filter that allows you to control the flow rate so you can keep the flow rate low in the aquarium.

betta fish water quality

Aquarium water should be tested regularly to ensure that pH, ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite levels are stable and within safe limits. Aquarium test kits allow you to quickly and accurately measure key water parameters.

betta fish water temperature

To keep your betta fish healthy, maintain water temperature between 72 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

Do betta fish need a heater?

A submersible heater should be installed in the aquarium to ensure that the water temperature remains within the ideal range and does not fluctuate more than +/- 2 F during the day. A heater and thermostat should be combined to regulate the temperature of the aquarium and prevent the water from rising above the ideal range.

Check the water temperature in your aquarium daily using an aquarium thermometer.

decorations and accessories

The bottom of your betta fish tank should have at least 1 to 2 inches of freshwater substrate.

Aquariums require about 1 1/2 pounds of substrate per gallon of water in the tank. For example, it takes about 15 pounds of substrate to create a 1-2 inch layer in a 10-gallon tank.

Be sure to rinse the material under clean running water before adding it to your tank.

hiding places and caves

Bettas are territorial, so provide them with hiding places and caves in the tank. All decorations should be thoroughly washed before being added to the tank.

Betta cleaning and maintenance

Pet parents can maintain the health of their betta’s tank by performing regular water changes (no more than 10-25% of the tank’s total water volume) every 2-4 weeks. Avoid draining and replacing all the water. Removing all the water also removes the beneficial bacteria in the tank that helps keep the habitat’s ecosystem healthy.

Most aquariums require a thorough cleaning once a month, depending on the number of fish in the tank. To thoroughly clean your aquarium, follow these steps:

1. Before cleaning or maintaining your aquarium, wash your hands thoroughly to remove any traces of lotions, perfumes, or other toxic chemicals that may harm your fish. Do not remove the fish from the tank as this will stress the fish and may cause injury.

2. Scrub the inside walls of the aquarium using a soft sponge or scrubber. To prevent unsightly scuffs and scratches, clean acrylic aquariums only with specialized cleaning tools designed for acrylic aquariums. API Extra Long Algae Scraper for Acrylic Aquarium or API Acrylic Aquarium Algae Pad.

3. Remove any aquarium accessories or artificial plants that have significant algae growth. Use an algae pad and hot water to scrub away any buildup or debris.

4. If the decoration is still visibly dirty after scrubbing, use a 3% bleach solution to remove stubborn build-up. Soak accessories in a diluted bleach solution for 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly under running water until no bleach odor remains. After cleaning, allow the accessories to air dry.

5. Inspect your aquarium filter to make sure it’s working properly and doesn’t have algae buildup. If you need to clean the filter, follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

6. Use a siphon vacuum to remove waste and old food from the bottom of the tank. This step also drains the water from the tank and prepares the aquarium for a water change.

7. After vacuuming the aquarium’s gravel, check the cleaned decorations to make sure all furniture is completely dry and free of any bleach-like odors before placing it back in the aquarium.

8. Replace the water that was sucked out by adding fresh dechlorinated water to the tank. New water must be detoxified with a water filter to remove toxic chemicals such as chlorine, chloramines, and heavy metals. The water added must be at the same temperature as the existing water in the tank.

9. Use an aquarium-safe cleaner to clean the outside walls of your aquarium. Avoid using household cleaners as they often contain ammonia and other chemicals that are toxic to fish.

betta fish food

Betta fish tend to become obese and bloated, so feed them only once a day. Overfeeding can also cause your aquarium water to become cloudy and dirty (especially if you have a small, unfiltered aquarium). Uneaten food should be removed to prevent excess nitrite and ammonia in the water.

A balanced betta fish diet includes:

• A variety of meat-based fish foods including flakes, pellets, freeze-dried bloodworms, daphnia, and frozen foods.

Treats such as frozen/thawed bloodworms and live bloodworms and brine shrimp will be available in limited quantities. Give treats in moderation to prevent obesity.

betta fish care

Change 10-25% of the total water every 2-4 weeks, or more often as needed. Test your aquarium’s water quality at least once a week for two months (when new fish, plants, or equipment is introduced), and then monthly thereafter for pH, nitrites, nitrates, ammonia, carbonates, and general hardness levels. must be checked.

Before adding it to your aquarium, the water should be treated with a water conditioner to remove toxic chemicals such as chlorine, chloramines, and heavy metals. The water added must be at the same temperature as the existing water in the tank.

Check your aquarium’s filter, water temperature, and other equipment daily to make sure it’s working properly.
Depending on water conditions and the number of fish in the tank, the filter media should be replaced monthly or flushed when changing the tank. Check your aquarium’s filter, water temperature, and other equipment daily to make sure it’s working properly.

Depending on water conditions and the number of fish in the tank, the filter media should be replaced monthly or flushed when changing the tank.

betta fish health

annual care

You can test the water quality and change the water weekly yourself, and only take your betta to a veterinarian if there is a problem. Almost all bettas that are first introduced into your home are likely to have at least one health problem, so have your betta and its setup checked by your veterinarian within the first week of bringing it into your home. I recommend that you get it.

If your fish was moved from an isolation tank to a larger tank with other fish, your veterinarian will evaluate it. Although you can take your betta to the vet, we recommend finding an aquatic veterinarian who can make house calls or chat with you via telemedicine.

Signs of a healthy betta fish

• bright color

• Full range of fin movement, equal on both sides

• The fins are intact with no discoloration all the way to the edges.

• Regular and active swimming pattern

• Good appetite

When to contact your veterinarian

• Color change in solid fish: dulling, focus of change, striped or banded color change

• Fish swim lethargic when they are circling, leaning to the side, or staying at the top or bottom of the tank.

• The edges of the fins recede, with and without discoloration on the edges.

• Loss of appetite for more than 1 day

• itch

• Breathing may be rapid and the gills may be expanding.

• gill color change

• Presence of lumps/bumps/mass

• White tumors/spots of any kind

common betta diseases

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