The Betta fish is a very popular fish to breed among fish enthusiasts because of its bright vibrant colors and also the fact that it is relatively easy to care for. The Betta originates from Southeast Asia, where it is also known as the Siamese Fighting Fish, due to its aggressive and territorial nature these fish are used to fight each other. In their natural environment, Betta fish live in small muddy puddles, making them among some of the hardiest fish.
The first thing to consider is the fish tank that you want to keep your Betta in. It is a known fact that Betta fish are so easy to keep that you could breed them in a bowl of water. However, if you do want to keep them healthy and vibrant, prepare a nice sized tank for your fish, a half gallon tank would be fine for an individual male. Betta fish are extremely territorial so never have two males in the same tank no matter how large or they will tear each other to pieces.
It is fine to use tap water for the Betta but it is always best to leave the tap water for 24 hours before introducing the fish into it in order to remove any excess chlorine. Try not to use bottled water and avoid distilled water altogether. The pH of the water should be as close to neutral as possible.
Temperature is one of the most important considerations as Betta fish come from a tropical climate. The ideal temperature for Betta fish is between 72 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Too cold and the fish will become sluggish and too hot will make the fish hyperactive.
Plants provide your Betta with an ideal cover which it will love and will reduce the amount of stress it feels. Get the leafy kind to provide it with good cover. For the gravel, you can either use natural gravel or even the artificial colorful kind, both are fine for Betta fish.
If your tank is less than five gallons, then you will not need a fish tank filter. Just do a weekly water change of about half the tank water and always remove the excess food. Use a siphon to vacuum the gravel but do not rinse it as it will have colonies of beneficial bacteria performing biological filtration. Since the natural environment of a Betta fish is a muddy pond, you will not need to provide aeration as it will get its air from the surface of the water.
Adult Bettas should be fed once a day. You can choose to feed your fish with Betta fish food which you can buy from the pet shop but it would be great if you could also include live or at least freeze dried food. Mosquito larvae are the Betta’s natural food so try to see if you could get your hands on some freeze dried bloodworms.