How to take care of a betta fish

Betta fish are beautiful creatures, being selectively bred for their long, flowing tails and brilliant colors. Betta fish were once one of the fish that were cared for by Chinese royalty, though their appearance has evolved significantly over the decades. Caring for a betta fish is thought to be relatively simple, since betta fish are very tolerant of changes in their environment. Most betta fish are kept in small one gallon fishbowls, without any filtration equipment. While this is a common practice, keeping your betta fish alive for an extended period of time requires that you have a general knowledge of the proper fish care required for betta fish.

SELECTING A BETTA FISH

Choosing a betta fish at the pet store can be difficult, since many of them sport brilliant, aesthetically appealing colors. However, though it may be tempting, it’s not advised that you purchase two betta fish with the intention of putting them in the same small bowl. This is especially true of male betta fish, which may become very aggressive if kept in close quarters with another male betta fish. If you have a larger fish tank, try selecting two fish of opposite genders, or two female betta fish. Be sure to choose a betta fish that is alert, unblemished and energetic. Since betta fish are prone to certain fungal and bacterial infections, it’s important to thoroughly inspect a betta fish before bringing them home with you.

FEEDING A BETTA FISH

Betta fish are primarily carnivorous fish, which means that they will best respond to a diet that is high in fresh or frozen organisms. In the wild, most betta fish feed on insect larvae (flies, grasshoppers, crickets, etc) and zooplankton. If you feed your betta fish a wide variety of foods, most pet care specialists agree that this will allow your betta fish to enjoy a much longer, disease- free life. In addition to this, well-fed betta fish tend to have brighter color patterns, and will heal any damage to their fins at a much faster rate. Betta fish are not able to live off of the traditional flaked food that is appropriate for many other species of fish, since it does not satisfy their carnivorous requirements.

BETTA FISH WITH OTHER SPECIES

Though betta fish are known for being aggressive, it is possible to keep a betta fish in a fish tank with other species of fish. There are certain types of fish species that have proven to be compatible with betta fish, though it is still not recommended that you put a male betta fish in a tank with several other male fish. Some of the species that may be kept with betta fish include loaches, corydoras catfish and platies fish. In general, betta fish tend to be very aggressive towards fish with long fins, such as guppies. It’s also not recommended that you put a betta fish in a tank with very small fish (less than one inch in length). Due to a betta fish’s carnivorous nature, they may eat these smaller fish to supplement their diet.