betta fish care instructions

Entailed among the beautiful, lovely, very little care requiring fishes, the betta fish or more commonly touted as Siamese fighting fishes are the best alternative for all those individuals who are starting with their very first aquarium. Although requiring very little care as compared to all other species but one very common care taking entails keeping just one male fish in one fish tank. For being aggressive and possessing a fighting nature keeping two male betta fish as companions or keeping them with fishes that are aggressive can be very fatal for the life of those fishes that are usually less in power as compared to the other more dominating ones.

The care that betta fish owners must follow is that the tank capacity should be apt to help these lively fish enjoy easy swimming and activity without getting injured due to the hurdles in the tank. These fishes can be raised both in a dedicated or “only betta” tank and can even keep them in a community tank but with fishes that are not aggressive and docile to help in a harmless and friendly, docile living for all.

The ideal tank capacity for one male and three female betta fish is 8-10 gallons. Also, the temperature should be maintained at 77-80 degree Fahrenheit for the betta fishes require warmer temperature in comparison to fishes of other species. The tank can be usually filled with sand and gravel to add that decorative touch to the aquarium and the living plants that should be ideally used in a betta fish tanks consist of plants of the species Cabomba caroliniana or the floating aquatic plants like Pistia stratiotes.

Putting in plastic plants or any such artificial decorative items should be avoided as it can damage the fins of the male betta fishes when moving in the water. There should be enough hiding space for the female betta fishes in the tank. Also when ill or sick the betta fishes can be treated with medications that are easily available under the category of antibacterial, antifungal or anti-parasitic in nature.

Keeping the tank as clean as possible by changing the water regularly can help these fish live healthily for they love to swim and live in clean water. The usual feeding habits of the betta fish entails giving them 3 flakes or pellets once every day or 1 flake or pellet twice daily.

The bottom line is that caring for betta fish is not that tough and when these recognize their owners they can easily learn to play games and become friendly with them making them get stress free by watching the fishes playing and swimming.