Betta Fish Care - Keeping Your Fish Healthy And Happy
George Best
Although part of the appeal of betta fish is that they can be kept without the need for a large aquarium or with a complicated filtration system, betta fish care does require some effort. Betta fish are beautiful when kept healthy and happy, and this article will give you the basics on how to achieve just that.
Getting a container big enough for the fish to swim around in is an important factor in betta fish care. It is true that bettas can survive in those small jars they are sometimes sold in, but the fish does really need some room to swim. In addition, since bettas breathe at the surface, it is good to use a container with a reasonable amount of surface area. I suggest using a one to two gallon bowl to house a betta.
Betta fish can and will jump, so whatever container you are using, be sure that it can be covered (dont use an airtight cover!) to prevent your fish from jumping out.
Water cleanliness is essential to good betta fish care. One tip for this is to be careful when feeding your betta. Uneaten food will cause bacteria to grow and cause the water to get cloudy. If you use betta food pellets, I suggest feeding just one or two at a time a few times per day. This will cut down on the problem of rotting food in the container and will help prevent the fish from being overfed, which can lead to swim bladder problems.
Frequent water changes are important to keep toxins from building up. Small containers should have at least one third of their water changed at least twice per week. Larger containers with one to two gallons of water or more can be done once per week, with about half the water being changed out.
When changing the water, there are various test kits, water treatment chemicals, aging techniques, etc. that can be used to remove toxic substances like chlorine and to establish the preferred neutral pH of the water. There is a much simpler trick to betta fish care with regards to water though. You can buy ordinary distilled water and not have to test or treat it at all. Distilled water is free of contaminants and has a neutral pH - perfect for your betta fish, and much simpler than trying to get your tap water to the right chemical balance! Just be sure to get DISTILLED water instead of spring water, drinking water, etc., in order to ensure purity and the correct pH.
Another important aspect of betta fish care is to keep the water relatively warm. Bettas come from tropical regions and are happiest at temperatures at about the 75 to 80 degree (Farenheit) range.
Decorations in the container are desirable, as betta fish like to rest on objects off the bottom. Be sure to choose objects that do not have any sharp edges, as these can tear up the betta's delicate fins. Real or artificial plants can be used, but with artificial plants be sure the material is soft, again to avoid fin damage.
following these tips, you are well on your way to having your betta stay healthy and showing a wonderful display of its vibrant colors. A bright, active fish is your reward for good betta fish care.
George Best enjoys bettas and other tropical fish.. For detailed tips from a true expert on bettas who has actually travelled to Southeast Asia to learn from the masters of caring for and breeding bettas, George recommends you visit the expert's site on betta fish care. Click here for other http://www.uberarticles.com/?id=36916&b=79 unique 'betta fish care' articles.
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