Make no mistake it's not always easy to keep your beta in the pink. It's not exactly easy to keep them doing laps of their tank for years. And it is certainly not easy to have a male betta that never gets sick. Problem is too many don't get around to doing some relatively simple tasks that can keep fighting fish healthy and bright eyed. They fail to do these routine tasks and then act all shocked when their fish gets sick.
Cardinal Care Rule #1: CTWS - Change the Water, Stupid
The Mistake: Choosing to overlook the fact that poor water quality is the root of most betta health issues.
There is almost no problem with keeping crowntails, halfmoons or veiltails that regular water changes won't minimize. If you've got a cycled tank replacing 20-25% of the water every 10 days or so ought to do it. If your tank isn't cycled, then you'll want to replace more water more often.
It's not hard. It doesn't require any specialized skill. It just requires that you do it. Yet too often it doesn't get done to the detriment of your fish's health.
Cardinal Care Rule #2: Bettas Are What They Eat
The Mistake: Flinging a few pellets in the tank and calling it good.
After a while feeding your female CT is almost an afterthought. You toss a few pellets into her bowl and off you go. Which only goes to prove many are out to lunch when it comes to feeding their finny pets right.
Hey! Wake up and smell the grindal worms. Wham, Bam, Time to Scram may work in some situations but not when it comes to feeding your bettafish. At least not all the time.
- In the case of betas, their eyes are LITERALLY not bigger than their stomachs.
- Bargain basement betta food isn't the way to your betta's heart.
- And just like you wouldn't like eating shredded wheat every day, neither does your betta appreciate eating the same commercial foods all the time.
Yet it's surprisingly not all the tough to come up with alternatives. Doesn't even take much imagination. Two types of pellets, something from the freezer and a catch of the day like mosquito larvae or daphnia every once in a while is a great way to keep your betta enthused about his diet.
And if he didn't clean his plate be sure to remove the leftovers before they go bad.
Yet with busy betta keepers this critical part of betta keeping all too often doesn't get done.
Cardinal Care Rule #3 Some Like it HOT
The Mistake: Not keeping his water temps stable at around 78 degree F.
These guys are called tropical fish for a reason. They are. From the topics. And they like it hot.
Yet too often having a heater is more than the novice betta keeper cares to spring for. I've seen all sorts of excuses offered up. Starving Student. Mom wouldn't get it for me. It was either that or the new video game and well the fish can wait. No it can't. A good submersible won't break the bank. Counting on global warming won't cut it. Besides if you don't get it now it likely won't ever get done.
Cardinal Care Rule #4: They'd Rather Be Alone
The Mistake: Sticking your shimmering HMPK in a community tank with snarky types like some types of tetras or angels or other known fin nippers.
You won't need to call a fish match maker if you would but simply keep your betta by himself. Nor will water conditions, that can be iffy in an overcrowded tank, be an issue any time soon that way either.
Bettas don't get lonely. They don't crave companionship (have you ever seen their courtship ritual, it's literally a contact sport). And they don't appreciate another betta within eyeshot. All the posturing and flaring and racing adrenaline takes its toll, weakening their immune system and opening them up to all sorts of problems.
Keep them in their own tank from the start or it's quite likely it won't ever get done.
Cardinal Care Rule #5: Break It to Them Gently
The Mistake: Dumping your new betta into their new home without any introduction to the water conditions whatsoever.
Alright, this may not be a total deal breaker but it still isn't a good way to break your fish into his new home. And it may account for the stories of new fish being found DOA the next morning. Shock will do that do a guy. So acclimate gently. Float the bag to equalize the temperature slowly. Add a tablespoon or two of water over the course of an hour to give them time to adjust to different water parameters. Then scoop out the fish and release, dumping the dredges you grabbed him from down the sink.
Given this is a once and done event if you don't do it right the first time you can bet it will never get done.
Finally here's a slightly different look at the same issue of caring for bettas. More or less some of the same rules just worded different.
It's simple. Good water quality and minimal stress are the formula for success.
A filtration system is helpful although not necessary if you are willing to commit to frequent water changes. But that's not to say that with some sort of filtration you won't have to do water changes. You will.
Heaters are only necessary if you can't keep the water temp at least 72 degrees F. Which pretty much means you need a heater if you live anywhere that gets cold during the winter.
Solitude is the best way for both of you to enjoy successful betta mastery.
CONCLUSION: Bettas are not predestined to get sick and die young. No, it's more the neglect of their keepers that puts them on a fast track to sickness. Yet, and I repeat, it doesn't have to be that way. They aren't all that demanding and even a simple betta fish care guide like this can make a difference for some. Perhaps it's not for lack of know how but more that for some reason too many can't find the time that mundane care routines never get done. You decide.
Thank you for sharing this info on Bettas, Betta fish are part of a group known as anabantoids and I think you may be interested in this guide to anabantoid. It's a comprehensive guide on what anabantoids are, and how to keep them in the aquarium.
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