If you have decided you want to have a betta or two to watch swim around in a tank to give you a few precious moments of peace, then you should learn all you can on betta care to keep your fish healthy and happy.
The Dos of Betta Care
Feed your betta every day, but only once and only, the amount he or she can consume in five minutes.
Feed your betta only betta food or blood worms.
Clean the betta bowl once per week if the bowl does not have a filtration system.
Keep extra water in a plastic jug treated with Amquel, Novaqua, and aquarium salt for the weekly cleaning. This way you will always have clean water ready to go for your betta.
Keep the PH level at 7.0 or at least from 6.5 to 7.5.
Have a lid on the tank or cover the betta bowl as your betta just like other betas love to jump and they have been known to jump out of their bowl.
A live plant in the bowl or tank with your betta is a great idea.
If you change the water such as changing from tap water to distilled water, do so gradually.
When you clean the tank or bowl, be sure to rinse all the soap off completely. Soap left on any of the items in the bowl or tank will cause the betta to die.
Keep the water temperature at around 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Skip a day of food every once in while to help with your betas digestive system.
Allow your betta to get a bit excited every now and then by placing a mirror up to the bowl or tank so they can see another betta. They will use their gill cover to make them appear larger. This is actually good for them if not done for more than 15 minutes per day.
The Don’ts of Betta Care
Do not leave food in the betta bowl once your betta is finished eating. This food will rot and can make your betta sick.
Do not feed your betta, live food without rinsing well.
Do not feed your betta, that nasty looking worm with dirt all over it.
Do not forget to clean the gravel when you clean the betta bowl or tank.
Do not place the betta bowl or betta tank in direct sunlight.
Do not place the betta bowl or tank in a draft.
Do not place the bowl or tank in a cold room.
Do not stick with one kind of food, betas need to eat a variety of foods in order to stay healthy.
Do not put betta males in with other betas unless it is spawning.
