subject: Tips And Tricks On How To Take Care Of Betta Fish [print this page] If you have a busy lifestyle but wants to have a pet fish, a betta fish is ideal for you. Learning how to take care of betta fish can be quite easy. Once you have learned the basics, taking care of your bettas will be a lot easier and requires less maintenance too.
The most important material you will need for this is a tank, fish bowl or aquarium. In buying a tank, remember that you will need an individual tank for a single betta or a divided tank to accommodate several female or male bettas. Betta fish can be aggressive to other bettas and may kill them, so there is a need to separate them in the tank.
Make sure also that your tanks are covered with plastic or transparency paper to prevent bettas from jumping out of their containers. You should also keep the bowl or tank away from any appliance that produces heat.
Other useful things you will need on how to take care of betta fish include betta fish foods, water, container for water preparation, filters, heaters, water conditioners, aquarium thermometer, test kits and medications for betta fish care.
Pellet food made specifically for bettas are considered the most nutritious food for these fishes. However, you may also give freeze-dried foods, brine shrimps, bloodworms, or mosquito larvae to your bettas.
When your fish has already finished eating, remove all uneaten foods left in the fish tank or aquarium and another important reminder on how to take care of betta fish is not to over feed them.
When filling your fish tanks with water, you can use tap water, distilled water or bottled water. Any of these three options are good for betta care, just make sure that the water temperature is between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Aquarium heaters and filters are only needed for 5-gallon tanks or bigger. To ensure that the water temperature in your aquarium is safe, you will need an aquarium thermometer.
For decorating purposes, you may want to consider using aquarium gravel and live or plastic plants. Plants become an essential part on how to take care of betta fish because they keep the aquarium stress-free for the bettas and they provide a hiding place for female bettas as well. Most people use Lily roots to decorate their tanks. Aquarium gravel should not be substituted with ordinary rocks you can find in your backyard. Aquarium gems made of plastic are better than the rocks.
Another helpful tip on how to take care of betta fish is to use water conditioners to remove the chlorine found in tap water and sponge filters for minor filtration of the tanks. If you are using an unfiltered bowl, you need to change 25 percent of the water on it once a week. Changing water frequently and tank cycling are also good in keeping the water free from toxins.
Once in a while, you can put a mirror in front of the male bettas for entertainment but don't leave it there for long to avoid exhausting them because they might think that it's another betta.
You will also need test kits to ensure that the water in your aquarium is free from toxic substances like ammonia and nitrite. When cleaning your tanks or aquarium, do not use soap. Use an untreated abrasive brush and warm water instead.
