How do you care for a betta fish?

Question

I've heard you only need to feed them once every 3 days? I don't believe it is it true?
How long do the usually live, and what kind of living condition is best???
Do they really live long in those small little containers and bowls, and i was wonder the best but still affordable place to buy a betta?

Answer 1

i like to tell my customers, feed them everyother day (their food is full of protien, and too much of it can cause them consitpation, they have slow digestive systems and need those "fasting days") change half the water once a week with a chlorine conditioner (changing only half keeps your good bacteria in the tank, thus you dont have to constantly go through a cycle everytime you clean). As for ideal housing, there are many opinions and ways to successfully house a betta. at least a 2.5 gal tank (although i have kept some in a 1 gal for over 5 years). you dont need the circulation because bettas have a labrynth gill, that allows them to come to the top and breath our air, but if you must get a filter, make sure its not very powerful. bettas actually prefer very little water movement, especially because it breaks up their bubble nests. depending on where you live and how heated your place is, it may be smart to get a small water heater. bettas really dont do well with big water temperature fluctuations. (more then 2 degrees per 24 hours is bad, and can kill or make your betta sick). Bettas can live between 3-6 years with proper care, my eldest one was 5 1/2, the youngest to leave was 4years. my best choices for food, hikari gold floating pellets (i give 5-7 everyother day), and it doesnt sink, it always floats (so you can take it out if your betta didnt eat it, and bettas dont do well eating from the bottom n e ways) and i use betta bowl buddies water conditioner, as it adds some good stuff to your water to keep it healthier longer (and most of the times comes with a sample of the hikari which is nice)

hopes this helps!

Answer 2

Yes, this is true. They should be feed every 3 days or so. I'm not sure how long they live, but with good care probably quite some time. They can live in tiny bowls, but like any fish they need some room to swim. I think a 2.5 gallon should be good. The fish itself should only cost about $4.00 for a male. It's a little cheaper for the female since they are not as colorful. And the crowntail male betta is more like $5-$6. I would just get a regular male betta. When I went to Petco and got mine, they all looked dead. I would suggest you go to PetSmart instead. They do jump out of the water, so be careful. And lastly, they are called Siamese Fighting Fish and can be aggressive. Good luck with your new betta!

Answer 3

I feed mine 3 pellets each twice a day.The best home for a betta is a tank of atleast 2.5 gallons with a filter and heater,they can survive in small bowls for a while but there lives will be much shorter than in a proper tank.They can live for about 5 -7 years in a proper tank while in a bowl the average is 1-2 years.

It's hard for me to recommend a store as I am not sure where you live or what places are available but try looking around and see what condition the fish are in at the different stores in your area.The betta you pick should be in clean looking water and look healthy with no torn fins or unusual spots on it.

Answer 4

Bettas are the only fish that can live in unrecirculated water; however, they are happiest when their water is recirculated, because the process of recirculation adds oxygen to the water continually. They can survive in the little containers; but if you want a happy Betta, think about investing in a small desktop aquarium; they don't take up any more desk/counter space than a Betta bowl does, and it tends to be easier to maintain than a bowl.

Bettas should be fed every 2-3 days; however, a Betta can go up to two weeks without food. Feed your Betta as much as he can consume in 2-3 minutes, and remove any uneaten food to prevent polluting the water. A typical Betta will live 2-3 years; I've had some that have lived over 4 years. I've always gotten my Bettas from local pet stores (Petsmart, Petco, etc.); the few that I've gotten from Walmart in the past have always been sickly and never lived very long, even with the most diligent care. I've fallen in love with a particular strain of Betta online; but a matched pair is around $100 and I can't afford that yet. LOL

Finally, a VERY good resource for Betta owners is http://www.bettatalk.com . I've used this site for years, both in caring for my own Bettas and in advising others in the care of their Bettas. I highly recommend you browse the site; it has a TON of useful information (and no, I don't get paid to say that, LOL). In fact, it is that site where I will be ordering my matched pair of Holy Grail double-tail Bettas, hopefully before Xmas!! LOL

Answer 5

Yes it is true betta fishes don't eat to much so every 3 or every other day would be fine.The best living condition is when there is no chlorine in the water and they are on there own.Yes betta fishes don't need to much space 1/2,1, or 2 gallons are just fine.

Answer 6

At least a 2.5 gallon tank with filter and heater is recommended

I feed my betta twice a day with 3 pellets and twice a week i replace his diet with bloodworms, and i also skip one whole day of feeding him to prevent constipation

they need temperatures around 76-82 degrees, that's when they reall trive and their colors get really nice

a filter is also always needed, and them living in a bowl with just a lilly for food is a myth and not more

in a filtered tank you will only need to do partial waterchanges of 25% weekly with a small gravel siphon

They can live up to 8 years with proper care and habitat

Always provide live plants or silky fake plants, because they love to rest on them
http://www.fishlesscycling.com/articles/caring_for_your_goldfish.html



Hope that helps
Good luck



EB

Answer 7

I had a beta once. Watch out because they will JUMP(!) out of the bowl. Make sure you leave plenty of space between the rim of the bowl and the water level. We thought we had left enough space but we found ours one morning on the carpet (obviously dead, poor Raymond!).

Your local pet shop should be able to give you all the details you need for the care of this fish. It's VERY(!) important that you do not put it in with another fish (they are also called Japanese Fighting Fish).