The Siamese fighting fish is also known as the betta fish. They have become famous aquarium fish because of their elaborate fins and beauty. So many people keep them as pets, but most of them lack knowledge about betta fish care. So let’s see how to care for a betta fish.
You Need to Consider 3 Factors When Betta Fish Care.
- Clean water
- A high temperature (25-28°C)
- High-quality and varied foods
If you can provide these three things, then you can keep bettas. You may be thinking about how it can be so easy, I’m oversimplifying the problems. So let me guide you through the betta fish caring
Betta fish care
Clean Water
Clean water is a must for betta fish care. 90% of the time if your fish doesn’t do well; the most common problem can be water chemistry. Two things can be considered in the matter of water chemistry. The first is that fish from various parts of the world generally require water that is chemically similar to water in their native habitat. Luckily for us, betta fish that we have been bred in captivity for many years can overcome a broader range of water parameters when compared with wild-caught bettas. Modern bettas can overcome household water supply because most of this is around pH 7
What are the other aspects of water chemistry in betta fish care?
The main thing is Any chemical present in higher concentrations can be poisonous to fish and damage the immune system of fish. A good example is ammonia poisoning, which is produced by natural the process known as the nitrogen cycle. The Siamese fighting fish excrete waste in the form of ammonia, which is highly toxic to fish in higher concentrations. In nature, nitrifying bacteria are commonly present in water that feeds on this ammonia and converts it to nitrites.
NH3 + O2 → NO2- + 3H+ + 2e
Nitrites are also can be toxic to fish in high concentrations. Luckily water also contains denitrifying bacteria, which feed on nitrites and convert them to far less toxic nitrates.
NO2- + H2O → NO3- + 2H+ + 2e
It is thanks to these two types of bacteria and their role in the nitrogen cycle that our streams, rivers, and lakes can support large numbers of fish. Without them, the fish would soon succumb to poisoning. But in our small tanks, there are no sufficient nitrogen-fixing bacteria to prevent chemical poisoning from ammonia and nitrites in the long term.
Even if there were enough bacteria to convert, All the ammonia to nitrites and all the nitrites into nitrates. But it will cause to increase in the concentration of nitrates. Still, it ultimately can be poisonous to the Siamese fighting fish. So frequent water changes are recommended for small tanks. Usually, the water change interval depends on the size of the betta fish tank.
Also, Stress caused by small amounts of dissolved ammonia, nitrites, or nitrates in the water can permanently harm the immune system of betta. Making them more vulnerable to water-borne diseases. It can be advised to use a quick test kit to find toxic chemical levels in your fish tank.
An Optimum Temperature (25-28°C) For Betta.
The temperature is a key factor in betta fish care. They are adapted to live in relatively shallow water with high temperatures. This is something we need to imitate in captivity. The method for achieving proper temperature depends on where you live and the size of the container or betta tank you have chosen. If your ambient air temperature is 26 ° C or higher, then you are lucky.
Those who live in a cold environment must use artificial heating to keep the optimum water temperature. The best method is to buy an aquarium heater small enough to fit into your container. Heaters like that have been around for decades and are available from the store. The heater must be set to the correct temperature (anywhere between 26 and 28 ° C is excellent) and oriented in aquariums according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Also, keep in mind that Siamese fighting fish can survive temperatures outside of the above range for short periods.
High Quality And Varied Foods
- Bettas in captivity must be fed twice a day, using various types of food on different days, or change the type of food between morning meals and dinner. Suitable commercial foods include flakes, granules, pellets, and freeze-dried live food.
- Basically, bettas will eat any commercial fish food, provided that it has relatively high in protein and correct particle size.
- Also, you can look for red-colored pellets that contain carotene, which is an organic pigment that increases the red color and increases the immune system response.
- Most organisms cannot synthesize their own carotenoids, so they must obtain them from their diet. Red granules provide an easy way to improve your health and the color of your bettas.
- The Wild betta’s diet is entire of water crustaceans insect larvae. There are a few ways to imitate this diet in captivity. The first is to buy frozen form (either cuboid or slab) from your local fish shop.
- It is the best way to introduce its verity into your betta’s diet. The following types of frozen foods are suitable for betta fish caring.
E.g., Adult brine shrimp (Artemia), Glassworm, Black mosquito larvae, Blood worms, TubifexDaphnia, White mosquito larvae, Misis shrimp, Beef Liver, Cyclops.
- The second method is to buy a living bagged organism from your local fish shop. The two most commonly available are blood worms and daphnia, but other types are available from time to time. Buying live food bags can be more expensive than buying frozen food. Mainly because most fish shops will offer some sort of discount if you purchase large quantities of frozen food. Also, frozen food lasts longer than that live food.
- Another method is to collect it yourself. Many suitable food species are available in water bodies throughout the world (especially mosquito larvae -Mosquitoes are everywhere!). In fact, many people do not realize that in their own garden the pool is a fantastic source of living food.
E.g., Mosquito larvae, Daphnia, Cyclops
- If you can’t find any live food. You can find Starter culture for live feeds is usually available for aquariums either through local or online fishkeeping clubs. Sellers tend to give instructions to each beginner’s culture. Make sure you have a constant supply.
The most useful living food is baby brine shrimp because these small shrimp even small betta can eat them too. There is another essential feed that you can give your betta which is homemade feed. I recommend it because it can have lots of benefits. I will talk about it in another article. So this ends the main 3 things you need to consider in betta fish care.
