Betta Tap Conditioner

Beta Fish Water guide by Gal

Beta Fish Water guide to those who want to know hot to deal with beta fish maintenance and water handling.

Betta splendens, also known as “Bettas” and “Siamese fighting fish”, are popular pets recognized for their aggressiveness, interactiveness, and relatively low cost for maintenance and care. Betta fish can prove to be man’s best friend for up to four years. Follow these tips to make sure your new pal has a happy and healthy life. They are not to be placed with other fish because of their extreme territorial behavior. Contrary to popular belief, they do not thrive in small, unfiltered bowls – it’s generally recommended to have a minimum of 35 litres tank space for your betta. While they’re also viewed by some as a decoration, remember that they are living creatures and are a great responsibility; they do require proper care and attention!

If you have any questions, nippyfish.net is a great source for information regarding bettas.

WHAT ARE THE STEPS FOR BETA FISH WATER CARE:

Rinse fish tank (not bowl! 35 litres minimum!) and decorations with warm water. Do not use any soap or cloths to clean the bowl. Any chemicals used to wash your cloths may cause residue in the fish bowl and soap can harm the fish. Use plain water.

Place heater in tank if you’re using a under-gravel heater, wait til after next step if the heater sits on the side. Add your filter to your tank, following the instructions given.

Fill tank almost to the top with tap water and add 5 ml of water conditioner per gallon of water. Water conditioner will treat the water from the tap and provide a healthy environment for your fish. It’s best not to use filtered or bottled water because of any chemicals used to make it drinkable for humans. Add your ornaments and plants.

Do not fill the tank all the way, leave about an inch from the top. Bettas have a special organ that allows them to breathe oxygen from the top, and they will die if there’s no space for them to get air from.

Cycle the fishtank so that your betta does not have to suffer. An internet search for fishless cycling will bring up a guide for you. Be warned, you will need to be patient – this can take over four weeks, but is necessary if you want the best for your betta!

Add your betta to the new tank. Float the bag/container in the tank’s water to acclimatise the temperatures; after fifteen minutes add some of the tank’s water to the betta’s container. After another ten minutes, add the betta to the tank. Do not add the water from the bag/container it was transported in, as it will be rife with poisonous ammonia.

FEEDING: Feed your betta once a day and only give them between 2-4 pellets/flakes depending on the size of both fish and food. A betta’s stomach is the size of their eyeball, so do not overfeed them. They WILL eat all the food you drop in, they do not stop eating when they’re full so you can literally feed your betta to death.

CLEANING: You do not need to remove your betta to clean your tank. Clean the gravel using a gravel cleaner; this will also remove part of the water. Aim to change about 20-25% of the tank’s water weekly, adding de-chlorinator to the fresh water added. Once every couple of months squeeze your filter’s sponges in old tank water, NEVER in tap water – this will kill off the friendly bacteria housed in there which help to break down your betta’s waste and may ultimately kill your pet! Don’t worry about algae; clean tank ornaments in old tank water but unless you have a huge amount it’s nothing to panic about.