Caring for Your Betta
One of the most popular aquarium fish in the aquarium hobby is the betta or Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens). These fish were originally found in the rice paddies and flood plains of Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. Today they are captive-raised and selectively bred for the aquarium hobby. The average lifespan of a betta is between two and four years.
To provide a healthy, happy atmosphere for your betta, Petland recommends the following necessary equipment and accessories. We have listed them as your Betta's 4 Basic Needs: Environmental, Behavioural, Nutritional, and Maintenance. When you meet or exceed these needs, both you and your new friend will benefit by creating a unique experience for you and your family.
ENVIRONMENTAL
A Living Container – Let us start off with the right container in which to house your betta. While it's true that bettas can live in a small environment, consider the following options:
Option 1: The best home for your new pet is a nano aquarium (11.3 L/3 gal to 53 L/14 gal in size). These advanced little eco-systems have great filter systems and lighting to re-create a beautiful fish oasis. With more space, suitable tank mates can be added and the environment is easier to maintain.
Option 2: A 3.8 – 7.6 litre tank (1 to 2 gal) is an adequate choice for housing a betta, as it provides a little more area to accessorize with lights, a miniature filter, and a heater to improve water conditions, but it is still more work to maintain than a nano aquarium.
Option 3: Small environments (as little as 1.5 L/0.4 gal) are more difficult to maintain and may not be suitable for a beginner. Without room to add a heater or filter, maintaining temperature and water quality is a challenge. Water changes will have to be done every 2-3 days.
Here at Petland, we house our bettas in smaller containers as a temporary home so that you can easily see them in the store. We provide our bettas with daily feeding and maintenance procedures to maximize their health during their short stay before you take them home.
Heater and Thermometer – Bettas require a constant warm water temperature (fluctuating no more than a degree or two) to maintain proper digestion and healthy enzyme production. The temperature can be between 24 – 28°C (75 – 82°F). Please take this into consideration when deciding on the placement within your household. Miniature aquarium heaters and thermometers are available at Petland and can make your betta home more livable without the worries of temperature fluctuation.
Gravel – A small amount of aquarium gravel provides a base in which to anchor plants and decorations. It also provides a natural, aesthetic base while helping to improve the water quality.
BEHAVIOURAL
Bettas have long-flowing fins and prefer to stay near the surface of the water. The water movement in their home should be slow or have quiet zones to prevent undue stress.
Decorations – Live or silk plant decorations should rise close to the water's surface to allow for refuge and resting zones. Bettas like to rest on leaves to conserve their energy. Enhance their home with smooth surfaced rocks or miniature decorations that won't snag on your betta's beautiful fins. These also provide a comfortable refuge.
NUTRITIONAL
A Variety of Food – Bettas are mainly insectivores (a type of carnivore). You can tell by their up-turned mouths that they prefer to eat from the water's surface. The best foods to offer are a combination of prepared pelleted foods, frozen or freeze-dried bloodworms (mosquito larvae), and live, frozen or freeze-dried brine shrimp. All frozen or freeze-dried foods are more digestible when rinsed or soaked in de-chlorinated water first.
Feeding Instructions – A betta’s stomach is only about the size of their two eyes put together. Offering them only 2-3 pieces of food per feeding is plenty. Bettas should be fed once or twice per day. Don’t let uneaten foods sink to the gravel. The food can quickly “go bad”, creating harmful bacteria and/or fungus which may cause the small environment to become unhealthy for the fish.
MAINTENANCE
Filter System – Having a small water circulating filter is the best method of maintaining optimum water conditions between water exchanges. Ask your pet counsellor which is best for the aquarium you are selecting.
Gravel Cleaning Siphon – A gravel cleaner works like a vacuum, removing hidden dirt, debris, and toxins from the water and substrate. It’s also the easiest way to perform 20–25% water changes to maintain good water quality. Without a filter, change the water every two to three days; with a filter, once every one to one and a half weeks is usually enough. Larger aquariums require less frequent water changes.
Water Conditioner – This removes the chlorine and chloramine, and neutralizes heavy metals in the water. Many also have a natural additive that replaces “slime” lost by stressed out fish.
Bacteria Supplement – This boosts the biological filtration capability in new aquariums, as well as maintains optimum filtration in existing aquariums.
Net – This can remove debris and transfer fish.
Algae Scraper – This removes unwanted algae growth that may appear on your ornaments and tank glass. Algae scrapers are available with or without handles or on magnets to make it easier to clean off the algae.
Bringing Home Your Betta
Getting home and setting up the aquarium in a timely manner is very important. This will greatly reduce the stress on your betta:
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Avoid exposing the betta to extreme temperatures on the way home.
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Rinse the container, gravel, all decorations and filters in lukewarm water. Never use any soaps or detergents.
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Place the gravel in the bottom of the aquarium and decorate the environment to suit you and your betta.
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Gently add warm fresh water 24-28°C (75-82°F) to the container, filling it no more than one inch from the top. This prevents your nervous betta from making that big leap.
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Add a water conditioner and a bacteria supplement to the water.
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Place the aquarium heater in the water, allowing it to acclimate for one hour before plugging it in.
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Float the betta in its bag in the water and wait 15 minutes to acclimate the temperature.
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Remove the betta from the bag with a fish net and place them in the aquarium. Discard the water from the bag; it is best that the water from the bag does not go into the container. The fish net will also come in handy for removing uneaten fish food or transferring your betta later.
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Feed your betta the next day and observe their behaviour for the next couple of days.
Pets for Life
We at Petland believe strongly in “Pets for a Lifetime”. We want our guests to be certain the pet they are adopting will remain in their family for the lifetime of the pet. However, we understand that there may be unforeseen circumstances that may interfere with your best intentions to keep your pet. For fish, setting them loose in natural waterways, such as rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, or storm drains, can have catastrophic consequences on ecosystems. The best alternative is to bring the fish back to Petland. As Petland will incur all expenses in caring for and rehoming the pet, the pet owner understands there will be no refund.
Cleanliness and Safety
All pets must be kept in a clean environment to avoid the spread of dirt and contaminants to yourself and others. Always keep your pet’s home clean, and wash your hands before and after handling your aquarium.
CHECKLIST FOR YOUR BETTA
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Betta tank or small aquarium
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(Optional) LED light
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(Optional) Small aquarium heater and thermometer
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Gravel
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Plants (live or artificial)
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Miniature decorations
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A variety of betta foods
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(Optional) Aquarium filter
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(Optional) Gravel cleaning siphon
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Water conditioner
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Bacteria supplement
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Aquarium salt
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Fish net
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Algae scraper
Please ask your pet counsellor what other items pertain to your particular fish’s needs.