Pets Information
Google
 

Ten Tips for Caring for Your Betta Fish


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.


MORE RESOURCES:

Pets Drive Gift Giving Trends This Holiday Season
MarketWatch - 1 hour ago
GREENWICH, Conn., Oct 13, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- More than half of all dog and cat owners will be buying gifts for their pets this holiday season- about 83 ...


BBC News

Call for ban on primates as pets
BBC News, UK - 40 minutes ago
By Mark Kinver A loophole in animal welfare laws that allows primates to be kept as household pets should be closed, an MP has urged. ...


California Animal Rehabilitation program helps dogs, cats and ...
Daily Breeze, CA - 27 minutes ago
Waldman, who worked as a doctor at several traditional animal hospitals before founding CARE, said she couldn't stand seeing otherwise healthy pets be ...
Tips to help with your pet's mobility Pasadena Star-News
all 3 news articles


ITN

Pets suffer from stress of marriage break-ups
Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom - 20 hours ago
Family pets are suffering from obsessive compulsive disorders caused by the stress of marriage break-downs, an animal charity has claimed. ...
Pets get stressed by couples break-ups NewsLite
DIVORCE IS TOUGH FOR PETS UK Express
Break-up couples 'cause pet stress' The Press Association
Aberdeen Press and Journal - Glasgow Daily Record
all 11 news articles


Day care centers, cremation services now offered for your pets
ABS CBN News, Philippines - 18 hours ago
With their busy schedules and nobody to watch over their dogs and cats, pet owners can now leave their "babies" at Pooch Park Doggie Day Care . ...


Settlement to be argued in big pet food case
BusinessWeek - 18 minutes ago
By GEOFF MULVIHILL On Tuesday, a federal judge will hear oral arguments on a proposal that would bring to $32 million the amount pet food makers and ...


Exotic pets, young kids a bad mix
Wahoo Newspaper, NE - 5 hours ago
In addition to evidence that they can carry dangerous germs, exotic pets may be more prone than cats or dogs to bite, scratch and claw -- putting children ...


Exotic pets pose a health risk to kids
New Straits Times, Malaysia - 22 hours ago
However, if you are the owner of exotic pets like iguanas or hedgehogs, it might be wiser to find out what really happened. If the injury was a result of an ...


KPCnews.com

Shelter staff, pets visit preschool
KPCnews.com, IN - 4 hours ago
Ms. Goetz and Ms. Ulaszek talked with the class about kindness, responsible pet ownership and dog safety. The children will be collecting donated items for ...


'Earthlings' Special Extended DVD Edition Released Today
MarketWatch - 6 hours ago
In 1999, writer/director Shaun Monson began work on a series of PSAs about spaying and neutering pets. The footage he shot at animal shelters around Los ...

Pets - Google News

Français Español 日本語 [أربيك] Italiano Deutsch 汉语 漢語 Nederlands 한국어 PortРусско
Ελληνικά Swedish Indo Romanian Polish Norwegian Hindi Finnish Danish Czech Croatian Bulgarian English - Original language website translator

home | site map
Directory Seo Supreme
© 2006