Care Difficulty | Good for beginner aquarists |
Average Life Span | 3-5 years with proper care |
Average Adult Size | 2 1/2 inches long, not including tail |
Diet | Carnivore |
Minimum Aquarium Size | 1 gallon or larger |
Water Temperature: | 72-82°F |
Habitat size
- Single bettas– Keep in an appropriately sized aquarium, 1 gallon or larger. Bettas must be able to breathe from the surface of the water. Because bettas are known to jump out of aquariums, there must be space at the top of the aquarium below the lid for them to surface and breathe
- Male bettas – Should be kept individually and do best in habitats of 1 gallon or larger. Male bettas can live successfully in a community aquarium of 10 gallons or larger that does not have aggressive fish (such as tiger barbs, gouramis, or giant danios) or fish who bettas may become aggressive toward (such as fancy guppies)
Habitat setup
- Filtration – Bettas prefer water with little or no current, so gentle water filtration is best
- Décor – Be sure aquarium décor is free of sharp edges that may injure a betta’s delicate fins. Ensure there is some floating cover under which bettas can hide
- Temperature – Use a heater to maintain water temperature between 72-82°F. If the temperature falls below 72°F, bettas may become less active and prone to infection
- Water quality – Stable water quality and temperature are critical to the health of aquatic life. If you are unsure of your water quality, bring a sample to Petco for free testing
Feeding
A well-balanced Betta diet consists of:
- A variety of meat-based foods consisting of flakes, pellets, freeze-dried bloodworms, daphnia and frozen food to ensure complete nutrition
- Bloodworms and brine shrimp are favorite treats and should be fed in moderation to prevent obesity
Things to remember when feeding your betta:
- Feed bettas once a day to prevent overfeeding
- Feed sparingly and no more than fish can eat in 1-2 minutes; overfeeding can quickly foul the water, especially in smaller, unfiltered aquariums
- Uneaten food should be removed to prevent water from becoming fouled
- Thaw frozen foods before feeding
- Baby bettas should be fed smaller pellets or finely crushed flake food
Betta fish care
Avoid overcrowded conditions, which are a major cause of stress and immune system suppression and can increase chances of infection. Maintain good water quality with regular water changes.
- Daily – Check filter, water temperature and other equipment (if used)
- Weekly – Test check water quality at least once a week. Change a third of the water in unfiltered small habitats (less than 2 gallons) once to twice a week every 3-4 days. In larger aquariums, change 10 to 25% of the total volume of water every 2-4 weeks, or more often as needed
- Monthly – Change the filter media cartridge at least once a month and use only dechlorinated water for water changes
Recommended aquarium mates
Male bettas must be kept separately in individual aquariums or be the only betta in a community aquarium containing non aggressive fish (such as tiger barbs, gouramis or giant danios). Female bettas can be kept in a community aquarium. Do not keep male and female bettas together.
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