If you're serious about your betta fish care then it's important to set up a great betta aquarium. While your fish can live in a small bowl or jar it will do better and be happier with more space. The problem with setting up a fish tank is that a lot of people think that it's a hard or expensive process. Luckily for you the betta fish that you're getting is pretty easy to take care of. Here's the stuff that you're going to need to make a happy betta home!
1. Get a small aquarium. They don't need much space; so don't worry about getting a big, expensive aquarium that's going to take up your entire counter. A single betta will be perfectly happy in a 1-5 gallon aquarium, which can usually be purchased for $10.00 or so and are no bigger than a shoebox. Make sure you rinse your aquarium before setting it up. Department stores can be dusty! Don't worry about using soap unless there's an obvious reason to. If you do then really be sure that you've rinsed it all out before your betta fish goes in. They don't like living in soap!
2. Install your filtration system. On a small tank like this there doesn't need to be a big filter, so make sure you check it out before you buy it. There should be a tank size recommendation on the package, so make sure they match up. A proper filter will help keep your water aerated and clean so that you don't need to change the water nearly as often. Don't get too big a filter as it can keep your betta from swimming properly, which will stress them out.
3. Get some clean gravel. If you know what color betta you plan to get then you can coordinate your gravel color with your fish color! Avoid sharp, jagged gravel, as bettas will spend some time near the bottom. The sharp gravel will really tear at their fins. You'll want about one pound of gravel per gallon-sized tank. It doesn't hurt to rinse the gravel, either.
4. Add plants. There are all kinds of options as far as real, plastic, or silk plants. As long as you clean the plants and they are soft then all of those are fine. Make sure you get soft plants without jagged edges as the plants just like the gravel can damage the betta’s fins. Real plants obviously take more care, but can be beautiful.
5. Add distilled, treated water. Tap water can be full of all kinds of chemicals that can be harmful to your fish. By getting distilled water and then conditioning it (get some water conditioner from your pet store) you'll be giving your fish a much healthier environment.
6. Let the tank run for a couple of weeks. This step is optional, but it helps the tank get going. When you have a new tank the helpful microorganisms that build up in the gravel and filter aren't there. They take a while to get going. Until they get a foothold the tank won't filter as well as a mature tank will. Letting the tank go for a couple of weeks without putting your betta in will help ensure a nice home for your betta.
There are six easy steps to building a low-cost, happy home for your betta fish that doesn't have to take over the whole room. With a little bit of preplanning you can give your betta a pleasant place to call home, for both them and you.
Showing posts with label Betta Tanks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Betta Tanks. Show all posts
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Video of Three Betta Tank Designs
Check out these three great betta tank designs I found on YouTube. They're simple, clean, and make nice homes for your betta. Take some ideas and give them a try!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Betta Fish FAQ: Five Questions On Betta Fish and Their Care
Betta Fish FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQ) about keeping betta fish!
Q: How do you tell the gender of a betta?
A: Check out the fins. Male bettas have been bred to have long, flowing fins while the females have smaller fins tighter to their body.
Q: I hear that you can't keep two male bettas in the same tank. Is that true?
A: Generally that's true. Bettas are often called Siamese Fighting Fish and it's because the males are fiercely territorial. Usually they won't actually kill each other as many people seem to think, but they'll chew the heck out of each other's fins and sides which can result in a stressed out or dead betta. Once in a great while you hear about multiple males being kept in the same big tank, but I wouldn't recommend it for the casual betta owner.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Editor's Note: To really learn what you need to know about betta care
check out Marcus Song's great book The Betta Lover's Guide.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Q: How long do betta fish live?
A: A healthy betta usually will live somewhere between 2-5 years. It's important to keep the betta's home clean, the water changed, and the temperature close to optimal. If any of these factors is off it can shorten the lifespan of your betta.
Q: What kind of plants should I put in my betta's tank?
A: Bettas love plants. It gives them something to hide in and hang out around. Most any aquarium plant is fine, whether it's natural, silk, or plastic. The only thing to look out for with plastic plants is to make sure that the edges aren't hard and sharp. Sharp plastic plants can tear a betta's fragile fins.
Q: I've heard that bettas will jump out of a tank if the cover isn't on. Is this true?
A: Absolutely! You need to keep a cover on their tank because they're notorious for jumping out. My ex-girlfriend used to have a betta that would jump out at your finger if you held it over the tank. While this was a cute trick the fish would get totally out of the water and could have hit the floor if she wasn't careful.
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQ) about keeping betta fish!
Q: How do you tell the gender of a betta?
A: Check out the fins. Male bettas have been bred to have long, flowing fins while the females have smaller fins tighter to their body.
Q: I hear that you can't keep two male bettas in the same tank. Is that true?
A: Generally that's true. Bettas are often called Siamese Fighting Fish and it's because the males are fiercely territorial. Usually they won't actually kill each other as many people seem to think, but they'll chew the heck out of each other's fins and sides which can result in a stressed out or dead betta. Once in a great while you hear about multiple males being kept in the same big tank, but I wouldn't recommend it for the casual betta owner.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Editor's Note: To really learn what you need to know about betta care
check out Marcus Song's great book The Betta Lover's Guide.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Q: How long do betta fish live?
A: A healthy betta usually will live somewhere between 2-5 years. It's important to keep the betta's home clean, the water changed, and the temperature close to optimal. If any of these factors is off it can shorten the lifespan of your betta.
Q: What kind of plants should I put in my betta's tank?
A: Bettas love plants. It gives them something to hide in and hang out around. Most any aquarium plant is fine, whether it's natural, silk, or plastic. The only thing to look out for with plastic plants is to make sure that the edges aren't hard and sharp. Sharp plastic plants can tear a betta's fragile fins.
Q: I've heard that bettas will jump out of a tank if the cover isn't on. Is this true?
A: Absolutely! You need to keep a cover on their tank because they're notorious for jumping out. My ex-girlfriend used to have a betta that would jump out at your finger if you held it over the tank. While this was a cute trick the fish would get totally out of the water and could have hit the floor if she wasn't careful.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
The First Step of Betta Care: Set Up a Great Home
Ok, so you've bought a betta, and now you need to know how to care for it! Let's start by setting up a great home for the betta.
In the wild the betta, or Siamese Fighting Fish as you'll see them called sometimes live in rice bogs in Thailand. These bogs are pretty choked by rice plants and don't have a lot of moving water. This makes the betta able to live in pretty small places, as you see by the little cups they're sold in!
It's a good idea to give your betta a bit bigger tank, though. This will help keep the tank from getting choked with waste so fast. A five-gallon tank is great for a betta and still pretty small. If you go bigger then you might want to pick up another kind of fish to share the space with your betta. We'll go over what types of fish make good tank mates later.
One of the cool things about bettas is that they can pull oxygen both from the air and the water. Since they can do that you don't need to worry about an extensive filter system or live plants in the tank. The betta can breathe off of the top. If you're putting in other kinds of fish then pay attention to what their needs are.
Put some colored gravel, fake plants, tank decorations, and a small cave structure in the tank. Bettas like to hide on occasion and they'll appreciate having something to duck under. Be careful to avoid jagged rocks on the bottom, though. Bettas' fins are sensitive and sharp rocks will cut them up. Avoid hard plastic plants for the same reason.
When you add the water make sure to treat any water you take from the tap. Get a water conditioner at your local pet store. This will take the chlorine and heavy metals out of the water, as they're not good for your betta. Even if you let the water stand for a period of time as is often recommended it's still a good idea to use a water conditioner. That will make sure that everything is cleared out.
Add some aquarium salt (different from table salt!) and/or some fish destressing conditioner to the water. This will provide a tonic effect for your betta and help the fish settle in to its new tank. Travel and transferring locations is stressful on your fish. A little preparation on your part can help your fish live much longer.
Find a cover for your tank or only fill it 75%-80% full. Bettas are famous jumpers, which is exciting but means that they could hit the floor if you don't do something to keep them in. You can even cover the top with some plastic wrap in a pinch, but make sure to punch some holes in it to allow air transfer.
As far as water temperature goes you're going to be looking for a range of 75-81 degrees Fahrenheit. If you can't maintain a temperature that high then purchase a small heater for the tank. It's important to keep the water a consistent temperature, and if you live in anywhere colder than Thailand the room temperature may be too cold for your betta.
Before putting the betta into the tank make sure to keep it in the bag you brought it home in and float that in the aquarium for 20 minutes or so. This allows the temperature to equalize so it's not so shocking to the betta. After the bag sits for the 20 minutes pour a little bit of aquarium water into it every ten minutes or so. This will help the betta adjust to the change in water.
Finally you're ready to add your betta to the tank! Just make sure that you DON'T put the water from the bag into the tank. Pet store water is notorious for being full of all kinds of nasty stuff that can contaminate your tank. Instead scoop your betta out carefully with a small net. Be careful not to damage its fins and place it in the tank. Allow it to swim out of the net with a little shake and your fish has a new home!
Bettas are great pets and with a little bit of care they can enjoy a long life!
In the wild the betta, or Siamese Fighting Fish as you'll see them called sometimes live in rice bogs in Thailand. These bogs are pretty choked by rice plants and don't have a lot of moving water. This makes the betta able to live in pretty small places, as you see by the little cups they're sold in!
It's a good idea to give your betta a bit bigger tank, though. This will help keep the tank from getting choked with waste so fast. A five-gallon tank is great for a betta and still pretty small. If you go bigger then you might want to pick up another kind of fish to share the space with your betta. We'll go over what types of fish make good tank mates later.
One of the cool things about bettas is that they can pull oxygen both from the air and the water. Since they can do that you don't need to worry about an extensive filter system or live plants in the tank. The betta can breathe off of the top. If you're putting in other kinds of fish then pay attention to what their needs are.
Put some colored gravel, fake plants, tank decorations, and a small cave structure in the tank. Bettas like to hide on occasion and they'll appreciate having something to duck under. Be careful to avoid jagged rocks on the bottom, though. Bettas' fins are sensitive and sharp rocks will cut them up. Avoid hard plastic plants for the same reason.
When you add the water make sure to treat any water you take from the tap. Get a water conditioner at your local pet store. This will take the chlorine and heavy metals out of the water, as they're not good for your betta. Even if you let the water stand for a period of time as is often recommended it's still a good idea to use a water conditioner. That will make sure that everything is cleared out.
Add some aquarium salt (different from table salt!) and/or some fish destressing conditioner to the water. This will provide a tonic effect for your betta and help the fish settle in to its new tank. Travel and transferring locations is stressful on your fish. A little preparation on your part can help your fish live much longer.
Find a cover for your tank or only fill it 75%-80% full. Bettas are famous jumpers, which is exciting but means that they could hit the floor if you don't do something to keep them in. You can even cover the top with some plastic wrap in a pinch, but make sure to punch some holes in it to allow air transfer.
As far as water temperature goes you're going to be looking for a range of 75-81 degrees Fahrenheit. If you can't maintain a temperature that high then purchase a small heater for the tank. It's important to keep the water a consistent temperature, and if you live in anywhere colder than Thailand the room temperature may be too cold for your betta.
Before putting the betta into the tank make sure to keep it in the bag you brought it home in and float that in the aquarium for 20 minutes or so. This allows the temperature to equalize so it's not so shocking to the betta. After the bag sits for the 20 minutes pour a little bit of aquarium water into it every ten minutes or so. This will help the betta adjust to the change in water.
Finally you're ready to add your betta to the tank! Just make sure that you DON'T put the water from the bag into the tank. Pet store water is notorious for being full of all kinds of nasty stuff that can contaminate your tank. Instead scoop your betta out carefully with a small net. Be careful not to damage its fins and place it in the tank. Allow it to swim out of the net with a little shake and your fish has a new home!
Bettas are great pets and with a little bit of care they can enjoy a long life!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
