The Truth About Healthy Bettas

We all want our pets to be healthy and happy. Which is why Molly, a 34 year old real estate agent was frantic when she saw her male betta surrounded by a nest of bubbles for the first time. She thought her beloved Blugree (a bluish green fantail betta) has been poisoned or something. And that was why he was blowing bubbles on the surface of the tank. She didn’t know what to make of it. And without the proper insights into how to take care of a betta fish, you too could be like Molly.

A quick search online about betta and bubbles allowed Molly to relax. A betta building its bubble nest is a good sign your betta is healthy. It suggests that like Goldilocks he finds the water conditions to be just right.
Since that’s just one of the little known truths about healthy betta behavior let’s delve deeper and try to differentiate then which signs define a healthy one from the signs of a sick one.

Signs of a Healthy Betta
Generally signs of a healthy betta come down to behavior and appearance.

The very first sign you’d notice in a healthy betta is that it vigorously swims at the top of the tank. Yes, it’s normal for some bettas to be hyperactive and cover a lot of territory in a short period of time.

Also a male betta regularly blowing bubbles is another sign of a healthy behavior.

Another sign of good health is a voracious appetite. All fish love to eat and will try desperately to convince you that they are hungry. (But this should not mean that you feed your betta every time it asks for food. This is instinctive behavior as they never know for sure where their next meal is coming from. Know what I mean?)  They are truly expert beggars alright.  But as the adult in this relationship want to ask him “Should a little betta fish really eat that much?” Not “What do you think?” Your fighting fish is the last one you should be asking about portion side, but I digress.  

Check out the body of your betta. Its color should be vibrant and its entire body, from head to tail, should be free from white or brown spots. The fins should be expanded and not appear clamped. There should be no lumps on the body or any loose scales. The gills should look normal and they should fully retract behind the gill covers. The eyes should be clear and not protruded. And the size of both eyes should look to be about the same.

Telltale Signs of a Sick Betta
One or some of these signs suggest your betta might be sick. (click here for more on betta fish diseases)

Usually you’d notice them to be acting different. For example, the betta might have decreased appetite, repeatedly spits out its food, or refuses to eat at all.

Or it has a hard time swimming or does so awkwardly. Or it may not swim at all. Choosing instead to be inactive, lethargic, and preferring to stay at the bottom of the tank. So if your guy just sits on the bottom like a bump on a log you can bet he isn’t doing all that well.

Appearance-wise, the eyes may appear popped out or look hazy. The fins are clamped or tattered. The gills do not open or close well. The color can be pale or dull. Try to check on the body and look for any cottony patches, brown spots, or opens sores. One kind of betta fish disease is characterized by tiny, white specks covering the body like grains of salt. Another sign of a sick betta is if it has raised scales or the belly is severely distended. A betta swimming awkwardly may also be a sign of an ill betta.

Who would ever want to see their betta sick? That’s why you need to keep your fish healthy at all times so you don’t have to worry about treating your sickly finny friend. Of course you need to make sure your betta is kept in an optimum fish tank environment. That goes without saying that it has to be kept in a tank large enough for it to swim around and one filled with warm, clean, and toxin-free water.