Setup Your Betta Aquarium
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Bettas. The Ideal Pet.
Bettas are among the most beautiful and interesting of all fish. Distinguished by their vibrant colors and graceful, flowing fins, they make a pretty decoration for any home or office. Bettas also have unique personalities, which makes them fun to watch. Bettas are also inexpensive and very easy to keep.
Bettas, also known as Siamese Fighting Fish, come in a variety of bright, iridescent colors, including red, purple and blue, or a mixture of colors. Because of their brilliant coloration and longer fins, male Bettas are more popular than females. You will find males sold individually in small containers. This is because male Bettas must be kept separate from other males, as they will fight each other if given the chance.
The Things You Need
While Bettas do not necessarily require much space, it’s best to keep them in a bowl or tank that holds at least one quart of water. Harmful waste will build up more quickly in a smaller container, creating an unhealthy and dangerous environment. So, small containers require more frequent maintenance. Plus, giving Bettas more living space will increase their activity level, promote better fin development and enhance their coloration.
You may want to decorate your Betta bowl with stones, gravel or ornaments. Always purchase these at a pet shop to be sure they will be safe for your fish. If you choose to decorate your Betta container with a live plant, it’s important to leave room for your fish to reach the water surface, since Bettas need to breathe air.
Setting Up
Never add Bettas to plain tap water. Tap water contains chemicals that are harmful to fish. It’s also a good idea to allow the water to reach room temperature before fish are added. The best way to do this is to prepare some water a day before you buy your Betta. First, fill your bowl with water and add Splendid Betta® Complete Water Conditioner to detoxify the tap water and make it safe for your fish. Then let the water sit for a day to reach room temperature.
Now you are ready to introduce your Betta to its new home. You need to let your Betta adjust to the water slowly, so add some of the water from the bowl into the container with your fish. Let that sit for 10 minutes. Next, gently scoop the Betta out with your hand or a net and place it into the bowl. Do not pour the water from the original container into the new bowl.
Good Food, the Recipe for Success
Bettas kept in bowls or vases containing live plants may nibble at the plant roots. However, Bettas are carnivores and need to be fed a proper diet. Aquarian® Betta Food is a complete, balanced diet specially formulated with all the nutrients that Bettas need. Its unique formulation brings out the Betta’s vibrant colors, increases energy and activity, and promotes better digestion. Better digestion reduces fish waste for clearer, cleaner water.
Feed Bettas twice a day, in the morning and in the evening. Only feed 3 or 4 pellets at a time and remove any uneaten pellets, as they will pollute the water.
Regular Care
Bettas require proper care to remain beautiful and healthy. Like all tropical fish, Bettas excrete ammonia, which is toxic to fish. So, if you keep your Betta in a small bowl, the water should be changed weekly to reduce the ammonia level.
It’s best to keep a supply of prepared water on hand to use for water changes. This assures that the water temperature will be the same as the temperature in the Betta bowl, and you will have the water ready just when you need it. You’ll want to put a lid on the container to keep dust out, but leave the lid loose to allow gasses to escape from the water.
To change the water in your Betta bowl, first remove the Betta with some of the bowl water and place him in a separate container. Then empty the water from the bowl and rinse the stones, gravel and ornaments with cool water. Do not use soap, as the residue may harm your fish. Wipe the inside of the bowl with a soft cloth or sponge.
Add the stored water to the bowl and treat with Splendid Betta® Complete Water Conditioner to make the tap water safe. Then place the Betta back into his freshly cleaned home.
Health Care
Bettas are very hardy fish, but, like any pet, they may sometimes get sick. So, be sure to watch for signs of illness. The more quickly a sick fish is treated, the better the chance for a speedy recovery. Some symptoms to look for are:
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of color
- White, cottony growth on scales
- Ragged or torn fins
- Slimy patches on body or eyes
These may be signs of a bacterial or fungal infection, and can be treated with Splendid Betta® BettaFix™ Remedy, an all-natural medication developed specifically for Bettas. Splendid Betta BettaFix also heals open wounds and tissue damaged by handling, netting and fighting.