Betta fish

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Betta fish – Betta splendens is a very beautiful aquarium fish. Of course, it needs care if you want to keep this species successfully. This fish needs a lot of space even it’s not the largest fish you can buy. There are 4 betta fish in my tanks (42 l and 81 l). Naturally, only 1 male per 1 tank. Aquariums are 30 cm tall with the water depth being about 27cm from the surface of the gravel.

Good care of betta fish means good feeding, adequate water temperature, water hardness and so on.

Usually, I feed my fish with Sera food, and sometimes with frozen food (cows heart). The temperature in my tanks varies between 23-29 °C (winter-summer) and all betta like it. They haven’t been sick and they have bred successfully. The water in my tanks is little bit hard and alkaline. This is caused by rocks and sea shells (yes, sea shells in freshwater tank). Shells are there to keep good and stable quality of water. Of course, you will probably hide all shells, because it looks crazy in a freshwater aquarium. Anyway, all betta fish like these water conditions.

I don’t use any chemicals in my tanks at all. Several months ago I was fertilizing with PMDD, but I gave it up when I bought strong neons. Actually, few JBL balls are present in both of my tanks, but I won’t add more in the future.

But back to betta fish. Tanks should be planted with aquarium plants – it will reduce the water stream and it will create many places where females can hide from agressive males. When the water stream is slow and the tank is planted enough, betta should swim normally. If there are less plants than needed, all the betta fish will hide. Probably, you won’t want your fish to hide all day long. Plants are especially needed when newborns are present.

Something about breeding betta fish

Breeding betta fish is little bit difficult, however I succeeded when they first tried to breed. The temperature shouldn’t be below 25 °C and the water surface must be stable. Also, there must be a lot of space where females can hide when males become aggressive – after the first 3-4 days. Firstly, they are building a nest and they’re taking care of eggs. When everything’s all right, the male starts to chase the female and you should move her into another tank if there isn’t enough space for both of them. If you don’t, he can kill her. This didn’t happen to me, because my tank was large enough for betta.

Newborns start to swim after 2-4 days after birthing. Again, male takes great care of them and he helps them to swim back to the surface if they fall down from a nest. I’ve never used any special food for newborns and I have fed them with the same food I use for adult betta fish. Most of the newborns have survived. However, I was feeding them 3-5 times a day.

You should keep Ampullarias in your tank, because they will eat all dead fish. The water in the aquarium won’t become poisonous. Don’t top up any water until all betta newborns can swim without returning to the nest. It may result in them losing their nest and many newborns won’t be able to stay at the top of tank and they will die.

After few weeks, small betta will become larger and they will fit the whole tank. If there are larger fish in a tank you should separate them from small betta fish, because they will eat them. Or the small betta will be hiding and they won’t eat enough – this will result in slow growth and they won’t survive. Peaceful fish are welcome – Colisa Lalia, Ancistrus, etc.

pic/copywrite by Laura M. Schlögl

Betta fish

has been viewed times since June 30, 2009.