Betta - The Siamese Fighting Fish
84Siamese Fighting Fish
Commonly known as Bettas, Siamese Fighting Fish are incredibly beautiful and sturdy fish, and Bettas are one of only a handful of freshwater fish having the same vibrant coloring as saltwater fish.
Not only are they beautiful while swimming gracefully through the bowl, they are also easy pets to take care of. Bettas are the fish that you see sitting up on shelves in the tiny plastic containers at your pet store---testimonial to how durable these fish are. That, and the fact that they don't need tons of water or a fancy filtration system in order to thrive; just clean water, restrained feeding, and a somewhat regulated temperature. All three are easy once you know what the rules are.
Now, believe me, if caring for a Betta involved anything approaching chemistry, calculus, or geometry or if it were a colossal hemorrhoid, I would not do it. I'm all about big reward for little effort, and as far as I'm concerned, these fish are it.
Male Betta
Shopping List
- 1.5 gallon clear glass bowl (betta bowl) with a non-rusting lid and a wide mouth. This is really the miniumum size container you should have for a Betta. Also be sure to get one with a lid because they do jump out on occasion.
- Enough aquarium rock to cover the bottom about 1" thick. Make sure you rinse them when you first purchase them, and every time you do your water change out.
- 1 Fake aquarium plant. This gives him a place to hide when he doesn't feel sociable. They also rest in the plants.
- Container of flake Betta food.The one I use is primarily a flake food with a little bit of freeze dried Brine Shrimp; remember that Bettas are carnivorous so they are going to enjoy a good steak once in awhile. I'm k-i-i-i-i-ding! About the steak, not the carnivorous part, so they will like the shrimp. The reason it's important that the food you use is mostly flake is that it floats; It doesn't sink to the bottom and start turning into bacteria. This is one of the secrets to keeping the water clean and healthy.
- Container of good quality water conditioner.You will use this when you set up the aquarium and every time you change out the water.
- Eyedropperto measure the water conditioner with
- 2 gallons of room temperature bottled or filtered tap water.Remember, you want clean water with as few chemicals as possible in it.
- The original container that the fish was purchased in.You'll use this to keep the fish in while you're doing water change outs.
- Fish net
- An old 1 cup measuring cup, dedicated solely to changing out the fish water.
- A strainer for rinsing out the rocks during water change-outs. I use a strainer instead of a colander pan because some of the rocks are small enough to get through the holes in the colander where they go straight into the plumbing p-trap... something that irritates my husband, the plumber, no end.
- I keep the two extra gallons of water, along with all of the paraphernalia (stored in a plastic Tupperware) under the sink in the bathroom. Ready to go.
Betta Fish Care - Setting Up Your Betta Bowl
I've made a shopping list for you to the right.
Once you have purchased everything needed to care for your betta, you are ready to get started.
- Always rinse any new aquarium items (rocks, betta-bowl, and plants) really well using lukewarm water, before placing them the aquarium.
- Add the water conditioner to both bottles of water (you need to read the instructions carefully to find out how much conditioner to put in). Shake them well, then pour the conditioned water into the canister, leaving enough room for the water that the Betta came in and a couple of inches of airspace.
- Let the temperature of the water in his container acclimate to the water in his new home, as temperature fluctuations can cause illness. Do this by placing his original container inside the new container and let him float around in there for several hours. Remember, the fish needs access to air, so you need to make sure that the container does not sink and fill with water, trapping him in there. The irony here is that your fish will drown if he doesn't have access to air.
Remember, it is imperative that the water that the fish is swimming in becomes part of the new environment because it contains essential bacteria that the fish needs. This is one of the secrets to keeping your betta healthy, first when you set up the aquarium, and later when you do water change-outs.
Water Changes
- Change the water every two weeks. As you can imagine, this is a fairly traumatic thing for the betta, so I've regulated the food so that it doesn't have to be done very often. I try to work it out so that the betta's feeding schedule matches his water change schedule so that I can feed him right after I change the water. This tends to take a little bit of the edge off of his grumpy-water-change mood. Other than that, it's no big deal.
- Fill the container you purchased him in with the old water.
- Then remove the plant and catch him (gently) with the net and put him into his original container and set him aside. Be careful here, as you don't want to injure your Betta.
- Next, scoop out another cup of the original water and set it aside, then I add water conditioner (according to the manufacturer's label) to the room temperature tap water you've been storing in 1 gallon bottles.
- Next, pour out the remaining water and rinse the rocks using the strainer and tepid water - remember, hot or cold water can heat or cool the rocks.
- Then, put the rocks and plant back into the canister along with the original water you reserved (which contains necessary bacteria) and the conditioned water, leaving a couple of inches of airspace at the top.
- Last, slowly tip the plastic container so the Betta (and his water) can swim free. And that's it.
Betta Fish Food
Feeding Bettas
The first rule for feeding is don't over do it.
Now, I don't know about you, but that kind of thing always bothers me. I mean, it falls into the land of 'don't over-tighten, don't over-mix, or use sparingly. I mean, how do you know if you've crossed the line between the dreaded 'over' and 'just right,' if you don't know where the line is? It always seems somewhat subjective, doesn't it? Well, I'm going to demonstrate 'just right' for you here. Here goes. Just right is the amount in the picture.
That is how much I give my fish every day. The weird looking white thing is a piece of freeze-dried brine shrimp---the apparent triple-fudge-brownie in a Betta's food lexicon. Now remember, their stomachs are approximately the same size as one of their eyes which makes it easy to overfeed them and cause injury to their swim bladder. Uneaten food also causes bacteria build up in the aquarium which can lead to skin diseases.
Water Temperature
The thing to remember about these fish is that they are accustomed to tropical temperatures, so they will enjoy water that is about 75 to 80 degrees.
They also don't like temperature fluctuations, therefore I keep the betta tank away from windows, sunny or otherwise, to avoid too much direct heat or cold, and definitely don't keep it anywhere near any central heat and air registers where the water can get too cold or too hot.
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There is a Reason They're Called Fighting Fish
My last piece of advice is to resist the temptation to get your Betta a 'friend,' real or imagined.
I did read somewhere that although Bettas don't really want other fish in the tank with them (it is no kuh-winky-dink that they are named 'fighting fish') they do get lonely on occassion.
In the article I read, the author suggested propping a mirror next to the bowl so the Betta can see himself, and in so doing, he will believe he's having company.
The one (and only) time I ever tried this, my Betta swam over to the mirror and puffed himself up huge, with his gills sticking out every which way. No kidding, he looked really mad. It was when he started saying stuff like "Yo, Fishstick, you want a piece of me?" that I yanked the mirror away and never did it again. Okay- I'm kidding about the Fishstick part, but the rest is true.
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CommentsLoading...
Thanks. I just love these fish. I noticed that you joined Hubpages... can't wait to read your posts!
We were given a Beta yesterday so your hub is most useful, thank you!
Gypsy Willow, Thank you, and have fun! PS. Love your profile photo. ;)
I just got a female Betta today and this helped very much. Thank you. I didn't really know how female bettas work, but this still helped for her. When we had just gotten our FIRST fish, it was a betta... and we named it Blueberry. It ended up living for 3+ years. Thank you :D
Trip, Thank you so much for your comments, and I am really glad you found it helpful. 3 years is a long time for a Betta. You must take really good care of your friends. =)
I love Beta fish. Great site. There are lots of good tips I didn't know before.
Thank you, Tamarind, and welcome to Hubpages. I see we share an interest in freshwater fish. PS. Nice work on the Ramshorn Snail hub! Thanks for stopping by!
Great hub. I love these little guys. I am amazed at the varieties these days.
Thank you sooner than later, and welcome to Hubpages! Thanks for reading!
very cool fish
"Kuh-winky-dink"... :) What a great term!
I never knew they were also know as Siamese Fighting Fish. I've had three Bettas, traveled with them and so on, and yes, they're quite strong and adaptable!
I like the way your brain thinks, makes me feel alive listening to what your thinking, very cool...Keep it up ...PS Now I Know Why I bookmarked your page ;-) ...Hope you are doing well,
Hello Linda Myshrall,
I am a fish lover also and fighting fish is one of my favorite fish... I just want to ask you if you successfully breed this fighting fish.
Thanks...
Hi jahnbar, Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Unfortunately, I have not tried to breed these fish yet. It is quite intersting, I understand. Apparently the male is very instrumental in the process by supplying the 'bubble-nest' and squeezing the eggs (yuk) from the female--a process that can be quite violent. Also, because they are carnivorous, I'm told that you need to be watchful so the adults don't eat all of the young... yuk again. I just can't seem to work up the nerve... Hopefully you will... :)
Thanks alot, this really helped with my betta fish, named "Hope".
He is doing great and is recovering from his fin rot. ;)
Wish him luck!
Hey Fish Guy, Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I'm glad you found something that would help Hope out. Best to you both, :)
Great article Linda, Love the photos, did you take them? I just bought a betta for my grandson about 2 weeks ago. I will be sure to share this hub with my daughter. Great job,
Sage
Hi Sage, Thanks for stopping in and commenting. I'm glad you liked the article. I'm getting ready to amend the article to include another product I've begun using. It's something like artificial slime--the essential bacteria I keep harping about that is found in artificial tanks. It's found in every fishstore and should be added with every water change. I hope your grandson enjoys his new betta.
Oh my!~ I am seeing it for the first time. It's beautiful.
Hi Anamika S, They are indeed lovely! Thank you stopping in and commenting. Have I convinced you to try your hand at keeping bettas? ;)
where can i get a betta
Hi Josh, Thank you for stopping in and commenting. I'm glad you are considering a betta. I have kept them for many years and they really are great pets. You can purchase them at fish stores, pet stores, and even Wal-Mart carries them. I would love to hear from you again after you get your betta!
this website is amazing. i learn lots of things of my pet fish.
Hi najeebah, I'm glad you found the article helpful! Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. Very Best, Linda
Thanks so much as i am looking to get one i need as much info as i can get and this is great thanks so much
Hi Jess burman, I'm glad you found the article helpful. Good luck with your new betta, and please stop in and let me know how he's doing!
This info was very interesting and helpful. my betta is named jumpy because he jumped out of the tank more than once!!
Hi Zefish, I'm glad you found the article helpful. Be sure and keep Jumpy's bowl covered in case he jumps when your not around... or you could have brakes installed on him :) Thanks for stopping in and commenting. Best, Linda
wow nice i got a fish like 2 days ago and my sis have a male and i dont know if they r in love or some thing cuz people says when they blow bubbles on the top it means they want to mate but im not sure but my fish is so cute and there is tons of bubbles on my bowl and my sis bowl and i dont know wat to do if they have babies :(
Hi karmen, congratulations on your new fish. Yes, the male betta does blow bubbles as part of mating. It's actually a nest for the baby fish. Curiously, the males will blow a bubble nest even if there isn't a female anywhere nearby. If you don't want babies, you may want to separate the male and female. Thanks for taking the time to comment, and good luck with your new betta!
does beta fish still need those bubbling machine? i dont know the right term for that coz im still a green horn when it comes to aquatic stuff thanks...
Hi chino gomez, Thanks for the question. Betta fish have the unique ability to take oxygen both through the gills and from the water surface, so they do not need the bubbler (called a filter). That's why bettas tend to hang out at the top of the tank; to give them easy access to air. Thanks for reading, Linda
hi Linda thanks for the handy list. I asked for Betta for Christmas, so I am going to print this out and leave it strategically around the house ;)
Are they really such loners? I mean I kinda wanted to get some neon tetra friends for my future betta. That would also require a filtered tank, is that a bad idea? thx I love your hubs!
Oh one more question:
I am pretty sure my apt fluctuates in temperature quite a bit. Should I get a heater thingy?
Hi the fix, What a great choice for a Christmas gift!
And a great question too. Yes, the bettas really are loners. They are members of the gourami family which are an aggressive bunch. Having said that, you will occassionally get a betta that does ok with other fish, but you need to be careful in your choice of fish, and there still isn't a guarantee that it will work out...
If you're going to try this, make sure you have plenty of room in your tank because they are extremely territorial. Also, don't pick a fish that is similar in coloring or one with lots of fin. Also, make sure the fish you choose isn't a fin nipper---some tetras are famous for that. Neons, because of their size, tend to be pretty docile and quick so they might be ok. Remember about the space requirement though... don't overcrowd.
You are also 100% right about temperature fluctuations. Fish are extremely susceptible to them, so if the tank is at risk of anything more than a few degrees, you'll need a heater.
Also, it is okay to keep your betta in a filtered tank. They don't need the oxygen the filtration system pushes because they can breathe from the surface, but they will enjoy the less frequent water changes required with a filtered aquarium.
I'm glad you found the hub useful. I have another one on water change outs for bettas that you might find useful. Here's the link:
http://hubpages.com/_1ytxfrkov8shp/hub/Siamese-Fig
Hope this helps, Linda
ps. I appreciate the comment and I hope you get your betta for Christmas!
My friend's Beta (whom I am fish sitting) is very sick right now. Is there any way I can revive him?
It is fairly cool in our home and I think he may be too cold. I have put him under an incandecent light bulb. Will this help? I have fed him the prescribed abount. He was given to me in a small globe shaped bowl. There is no plant in it. I cleaned him yesterday and was left water out over night to allow it to become the same temperature as the fish bowl. He did jump out of the bowl as I was changing him over and fell into the sink drain. I rescued him with a small spoon and placed him in his bowl. I only got him 2 days ago and he hasn't been doing very well ever since I got him. Please help me out. I don't want him to die.
Hi Liz,
There is a lot going on for your betta right now! First things first- Stress will cause him to behave like he is sick, and there are a lot things in his environment right now that would cause stress: a move, temperature fluctuations, a water change, and, of course, the trip into the drain.
Just moving him from your friends house to yours is enought stress.
Let's take them one at a time:
Before you try and raise the water temperature with the incandescent bulb, you need to get your hands on a thermometer and check the water temperature. You will be surprised how quickly the heat from that bulb will make the water too hot! If the temperature is below the 75 to 80 degree range, consider purchasing a small aquarium heater because you will have trouble regulating the temperature with the incandescent bulb---with that, you are likely to get dangerous heat fluctuations.
Next, hopefully the globe you are keeping him in is at least 1.5 gallons? I wouldn't risk another water change right now, but I would put him in something bigger next time you change the water. If the globe is small, change the water in about a week. The larger the aquarium, the less often you need to change the water---something that is very stressful.
The jump into the drain is scary. There are usually all kinds of chemicals in a drain, and fish have absolutely no tolerance for them... We will have to wait and see on that.
It's ok that there isn't a plant in there right now - don't stress him out further by trying to add something to the small bowl.
Hope this helps and good luck,
Linda
Too cute to be a fighter fish. Cool hub about Siamese fish.
Koolkool 2 years ago
Great work.....