subject: Struggling With Betta Fish Care? [print this page] Betas are fantastic petsBetas are fantastic pets. They are possibly the most aesthetically pleasing pet, which is why so many people are attracted to them and decide to buy them and keep them as pets; the only problem is that they require a lot more care and attention than almost any other type of pet fish.
This can put many people off, and perhaps it is beginning to put you off the prospect of buying a betta, however I urge you to reconsider, especially if thoughts of caring for the betas have put you off. Betta fish care is actually quite simple when you break it down into smaller sub-topics, such as diet, choosing the right tank, maintaining the tank and co-habitation.
Diet
Betas need to be fed on a regular basis just like any other pet you've had. The only difference is, the amount you feed them needs to be exactly the right amount, otherwise your betta will be at great risk of dying, not from overeating, but from the bacteria that forms on the leftover food in the tank.
Betta fish can eat a number of different foods, and varying their diet will help improve their lifespan. I always try to feed my betta a combination of different betta pellets, which helps to vary their diet and also provide all of the necessary nutrition that they need to stay alive.
Choosing and Maintaining a tank
The tank that you buy needs to be at least a 10 gallon tank. Do not put lots of extra things in the tank such as gravel or toy accessories, as this can lead to pollution of the water. Make sure that you allow the filter on the tank to run through on complete cycle before you put the betta in, otherwise there is a good chance the betta fish will get ammonium poisoning. Try to maintain the water temperature at around 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Co-habitation
Co-habitation is not a good idea for siamese fighting fish. Betas are also known as Siamese Fighting Fish, and for good reason too! If you put two betas in the same tank, they will fight to the death. Unfortunately, this is a fact of the betas existence and although it can be tempting, you must never put two betas in the same tank, otherwise chaos will ensue!
The only exception is of coure breeding! You need to be very careful when breeding, as once the male is finished with the female betta fish, he will begin to attack her and if he is not removed, he will kill her. This is the main reason why betta fish breeding is so hard.
Hopefully this article has helped you understand some of the fundamental aspects of betta fish care.
