Betta fish, also called Siamese fighting fish are one of the most popular types of fish found in homes across the world. Their vibrant color and active lifestyle seems to draw in fish fanatics as well as those who have never had fish before. Betta's are relatively easy to care for and their low maintenance is particularly appealing to people who would like to have fish but don't have a lot of time to care for them.
Once you bring your Betta's home you should begin to familiarize yourself with their movements and typical behavior patterns. When you look at your fish after you've had them for awhile you'll know if something is wrong, if they are not feeling well, or if the water in their bowl is not in the best condition simply by being observant.
1. Make sure the jar or bowl that you keep your Betta in is big enough so that he can swim around and not bump or tear his fins or scales. Also be sure there is plenty of surface area so that he can get enough oxygen.
2. Your Betta will thrive in the cleanest water that you can provide for him. He does not require a filtration system, but you should change out a third of his water every three days so it stays fresh and clean and keeps your finned friend from getting bacterial or fungal infections. Aged water (water that has set out for twenty four hours) is what should be used to replace the old water.
3. Do not put your Betta fish with other Betta's. They are called Siamese fighting fish because they are, in fact, fighting fish. They will tear at one another, often causing the death of at least one fish before they stop. Betta's can be coupled with algae eaters, guppies, or corydorus catfish safely.
4. Use a turkey baster to clean small particles of uneaten food or debris from the bottom of the bowl or jar. Allowing this debris to sit at the bottom of the jar will cause the water to become cloudy, unsanitary, and to smell awful.
5. The PH of your tank should be at exactly 7.0. You can get a PH testing kit at your pet store along with solutions to minimize or increase the PH of your water.
6. When you clean the plants, rocks, or decorations in the bowl you should never use soap on them. It's very hard to completely rinse all soap from these items and the soap residue can harm or even kill your Betta. Instead, use warm water and an abrasive brush to clean his things.
7. Keep your Betta tank, jar, or bowl covered! Your Beta will jump and you don't want him to end up flopping on the tabletop! Keeping the water level at least two inches from the top of the tank should also cut down on this problem.
8. Your Betta is a meat eater and likes live foods, such as brine shrimp the best. Frozen bloodworms are also a good choice for your meat eater. Most Betta fish will happily eat the Betta pellets sold at most pet stores. For a special treat every now and again you should offer some live food! You'll have fun watching him eat it up!
9. Do not decorate your Betta bowl with rocks or marbles that may cause your Betta to get stuck between or under them. Be sure that they are a flat smooth surface that provides no risk to the health of your fish.
10. Remember that your fish is a living, breathing responsibility. You need to feed, clean, and care for your Betta just like you would any other pet. If he's sick take him to the vet, if he's hungry feed him, if his home is dirty, clean it.
That's it! These ten tips for caring for your Betta fish will have you well on your way to keeping a healthy fish. Internet Betta Groups or library books can be a great source of information should you want to learn more about your finned friend!
Adam Short is the owner of Betta Fish Center and co-wrote the above article with Amanda Fenton. Amanda has been caring for Betta fish for over 25 years. She is a contributing writer to http://www.bettafishcenter.com - site providing information and tips on betta fish care.
reliable maid service Highland Park ..The best thing to do is to start training your... Read More
Training your dog can be time consuming and frustrating at... Read More
Training Tips for a Happy and Healthy Relationship with Your... Read More
Has your pet recently been coughing, eating less, or being... Read More
Small dog breeds are great pets, but since their personalities... Read More
A pet can be as important a member of the... Read More
Although many horsemen and trainers extol the virtues of the... Read More
The teaching and training of dog tricks while not a... Read More
My name is Shadrach, and I am a dog -... Read More
Fleas are wingless, blood-sucking insects that feed on dog, cats,... Read More
I would like to address some of the statements I... Read More
Dogs mature and age at much different rates, usually according... Read More
If you're contemplating the idea of starting a home-based business... Read More
Congratulations. You've decided to buy a bird, and you even... Read More
Just say the word cancer and any of a host... Read More
Dog training is not rocket science and is not as... Read More
According to the American Humane Society, just 15% of dogs... Read More
Dogs need mental and physical stimulation. They're also very inquisitive... Read More
Do you have a puppy that jumps on you, company... Read More
Tired of cleaning the cat box? Here are some tips... Read More
Why paint your cat? After all cats are beautiful creatures... Read More
Even a cat that compulsively cleans itself can benefit from... Read More
IntroductionA long time ago, before evolution turned the primate into... Read More
So, you've got yourself a pregnant cat.Was it a stray... Read More
Dogs make great loyal pets and are always pleased to... Read More
house cleaning company Lincolnshire ..The pet food industry, a billion-dollar, unregulated operation, feeds on... Read More
Whoever coined the phrase, "It's a Dog's Life" wasn't familiar... Read More
Dog flea control and management requires an integrated approach. For... Read More
If your kids have been begging you to get a... Read More
Yes! We love our wonderful and dear Pooches! We care... Read More
Here are 5 things to do to put the odds... Read More
It was the Saturday morning of August 20, 2004 and... Read More
Interacting with a pet bird outside of it's cage is... Read More
Many people feel that taking the time to train their... Read More
There are plenty of reasons why your cat loves you.... Read More
What is Separation Anxiety?When you leave the house, it is... Read More
Most pet owners have become very educated about their pet... Read More
Talk to the animals?Yes.And what's more, they talk to us!If... Read More
There are lots of ways a horse can go lame.... Read More
You may have heard that pets have been scientifically proven... Read More
Was he the world's greatest horse trainer of all time?... Read More
Settling a puppy into a new home successful is often... Read More
Nutrition and Your Dog's Behavior Proper nutrition is the fundamental... Read More
Twenty-six percent of the dogs at the six Los Angeles... Read More
I am a dog lover by nature. I have just... Read More
Pug puppies make wonderful pets. Pugs are very affectionate and... Read More
Picture this. You're late for work one day. You look... Read More
When you take into account that there are over 68,000,000... Read More
Here's a simple way... to help your horse learn twice... Read More
There are many places to find Westie merchandise, but before... Read More
Pet |