Monday, September 23, 2019

How take care of betta fish

How take care of betta fish


Taking care of a fish is not an easy job, especially when it comes to betta fish. This article may help you know better about your betta fish from A to Z

 
How take care of betta fish
Betta Fish





Betta fish tank


  • Purchase an appropriate aquarium. Despite the fact that you will probably buy your fish in a little plastic or glass compartment, he will improve on the off chance that he has more space. Purchase a one- or two-gallon fish tank or find another container that holds at least a gallon of water. A tank under 2.5 gallons should not have a heater or a filter. Larger tanks require a heater and a filter. You will need a vacuum to clean out the tank, too.
  • Choose the right location for your fish tank. Choosing a good location for your the fish tank is important because the wrong location could expose your new pet to heat, drafts, or stress.
  • Do not place the aquarium too close to a window because it can get too hot from the sunlight coming in or too cold if there is a draft.
  • Keep the tank away from radiators or other sources of heat. Again, the tank should not get too warm.
  • Pick a steady, level surface that won't get hit when individuals or different pets stroll by. Placing the table or desk against a wall will add more stability and prevent too much jostling.
  • Pick a location where you can sit comfortably and look at your fish. Putting your betta fish in an out-of-the-way area won’t allow you to enjoy him.
  • Set up the habitat to be comfortable for your betta fish. Your fish will want to hide sometimes, so a cave or a plastic plant can provide him with a place to have some alone time. Aquarium rocks or glass marbles will help anchor the accessories in place and will also add some sparkle or color to your fish’s environment. Don’t give your betta fish a roommate, because he won’t be friendly and could end up hurting or killing another fish.
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How take care of betta fish
Betta Fish

How often do you feed betta fish


    • Don’t overfeed your fish. The amount of food that your betta fish can eat in one day is about the size of her eyeball. So look at your pet’s eye and give her a pinch of food that is smaller than that. Even if she eats it all in a couple of minutes, that’s enough food. If fish is not eating all given food within five minutes, scoop out the excess food and feed her less next time.
    • Feed your fish every day. You’ll want to feed her daily, but if you skip a day here and there, that’s okay. If you go on vacation for a week, you will certainly need to have someone come in to feed your fish every other day or so, but if you are leaving from home overnight; she'll be fine without sustenance until you get back. Don’t feed her extra before you go or when you get back. Stick to the same amount even if you skipped a day.
    • Vary your pet’s diet. Betta fish should not eat the same food every day. At least weekly, give her something different feed from her normal diet. You can also choose two or three different foods and alternate them each day. Here are some ideas that can be found at your local pet store:
    • Dried or frozen bloodworms.
    • Brine shrimp.
    • Fruit flies without wings or fruit fly larvae.
    • Small bits of frozen beef heart (this should be a rare treat).
    • Avoid feeding your betta fish only pellets or dried flakes. While these are okay sometimes, they’re not a healthy diet for every single day. If you do feed dried foods, soak them first before placing them in the tank for your fish to eat.
    • How to Safely Move Your Betta Fish
    • Only pick up your fish when absolutely necessary. The only time you should be moving your fish is if you need to take him out of the tank to clean his tank or if you have to transfer him to a different tank for some reason.
    • Prepare an appropriate temporary container. If you are going to clean his tank, scoop some dirty water out of the tank and place it in a large mug that’s dedicated to your fish or another similar container. Make sure the container is tall enough so your fish can’t jump out. To be extra safe, cover the container with a plate.
    • Use a net or cup to scoop up the fish. Buy a fish net to catch your aquatic friend. You can also try a plastic cup. Move quickly but gently to scoop him up and be careful not to pinch any part of him between the net or cup and the side of the tank.
    • If your pet gets scared, try again later. If your fish starts darting around the tank trying to get away from you, wait a few minutes, then try again. He’s at a greater risk of injury if he’s trying to get away from the net. Within a few minutes, he’ll be calm enough to try again.
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How take care of betta fish
Betta Fish

How to clean betta fish tank


·         Prepare the replacement water. The day before you will clean your fish’s aquarium, fill an empty water jug with tap water. Leave the top off so any chlorine that’s present in your tap water will evaporate. Keep the jug in the same area as your fish tank so the water will be the same temperature as the water in the tank. Let it sit overnight.

·         Gather your supplies. You’ll need some supplies at hand, so you can get the job done quickly and efficiently. They are:

·         A siphon.

·         A bucket.

·         A sponge or algae pad. (Don’t use an old kitchen sponge; you need one that has never had detergent on it.)

·         An aquarium vacuums.

·         Distilled water.

·         An aquarium testing kit to check for nitrates in the water.

·         Determine whether you need to move your fish. If you are diligent about cleaning your fish tank each week and you don’t feed her too much, it’s likely that you will rarely have to move your fish to clean the tank. If the water is very dirty, however, it’s best to take her out for a little while. Use your fish net and be careful as described in the section above.

·         Remove some water. For routine cleaning, taking out approximately 20 percent of the water is sufficient. A dirty tank or one that has high nitrate levels will require about a portion of the water evacuated. Take out the water by siphoning into an empty bucket. Be careful not to siphon your fish into the bucket!

·         Clean the sides of the aquarium. Use the sponge or algae pad to clean the sides of the aquarium. Don’t add any detergent or cleaner; Just use the pad itself.

·         Vacuum the gravel or marbles. Use your aquarium vacuum to clean up the rocks or marbles. You can push the vacuum into the bottom of the tank to stir up any sediment and waste. If the rocks are very small and might be sucked into the vacuum, just use your finger to gently stir up the rocks so the sediment floats up, then suck it up with the vacuum a half-inch or so above the rocks.

·         Wash any decorations or accessories in the tank. Take out the plants, cave, and any other decorations and wash them in plain water. Don’t use detergent. Rinse them off with distilled water.

·         Add new water. When the aquarium is perfect, you can cautiously include the water you have arranged.

·         Test the water and remedy as needed. Test the water to ensure that the nitrate level is not high. If it is, you might need to remove some water and add more prepared water.



Betta fish tank setup





As a betta fish owner, you will need certain equipment to keep your betta healthy and happy. First, you need the right size tank for the number of fish, lighting, filtration, a thermometer, gravel, food, plants, and a heater. Although these are all very important items, there are others that are often overlooked and have equal importance.


Betta fish tank setup



The Scraper

Algae will build up in your fish tank. The scraper is the perfect tool to remove it from your aquarium. The best scraper you can buy is one that has two sides to it. One side is a sponge that will help get rid of the loose algae residing on your aquarium walls. The other side is tougher, so it will help remove all the dried algae that are more difficult to scrape. When purchasing a scraper, look for ones that have long handles so you can reach every part of your tank. The opposite sides have a fork-like plastic device perfect for moving gravel and planting.

Do I need a net?

A net comes in handy when cleaning out your fish tank. You have a large selection of choices, depending on the size your betta fish needs. If you have fry or little fish to scoop up, a smaller net will suffice. The webbing in the smaller nets is much softer, which is better for the smaller fish. Chances are you have some debris and uneaten food floating around in your aquarium. You can also use the net to remove some of this debris. If you are planning on removing your betta fish from your tank, use all different size nets to do this. There are so many things fishnets can be used for; It's worth the inexpensive investment.

Siphon

One of the most forgettable, yet vitally important pieces of equipment is a plastic hose called a siphon. Debris will accumulate in your aquarium and create an environment unhealthy for your betta fish. For regular maintenance, it is recommended to siphon away all of those particles by placing one side of the hose in an empty bucket, and the other side in your fish tank. If you have a manual siphon, suck on one end of the hose to get the water rolling. If you have an electric siphon, you will not need to use manual suction.

There are different hose sizes for various uses. For example, if you need to clean the gravel bed, you would use a wider, longer type of hose. That design and shape is most suitable for finer debris and needs to be sifted out of your tank. Many betta fish owners believe you should change part of your water at least once a week in between siphoning.

Now that you have the right betta fish tank supplies, let's talk about the plants you can add to your tank!

Betta fish are part of a rare group of fish that have a labyrinth organ. What this organ does is allow bettas to breathe in not only water but also atmospheric air. In their original habitat, the labyrinth organ allowed bettas the ability to swim in shallow waters as well as on the surface to feed on plankton and larvae.

The Fish Tank

It's time to introduce your new betta fish to your aquarium! When doing this, try to create an environment that will look and feel like his natural habitat. Not only will it make your tank look beautiful, but it will also keep your fish healthy and happy. You can do this by adding ornaments and plants to the tank that resemble his native home.

Which plants should I choose?

When creating a look and feel that resembles the betta's habitat, you can choose either real plants (which will help the oxygen flow in the water) or ornamental plastic plants. Some people like to use both. Your choice will depend on which serves your betta fish best and which a plant doesn't interfere with his natural movements.

Here is more information about plant types:

Plastic - plastic plants have a lot of benefits. They don't produce oxygen like live plants, but at the same time, they require much less care. There is a large variety of options when it comes to plastic plants. They can add a lot of beauty and color. If you choose them, remember to clean them every time you change the water.

Natural - one of the most common decorations used in betta fish aquariums is a natural water plant. There are a lot of different choices from which to choose, with certain plants being a better choice for certain species. If you decide natural plants are right for you and your finned friend, be sure to purchase them from a reputable dealer. They will know the best plant for your betta fish.

If you look at the roots of live aquatic plants, you will notice they grow downward in the water. You should check these plants regularly. Sometimes they can look brown and soggy, which means it's time to remove them. Also, if you notice they hinder your betta's movement because of their size, remove those.

Many betta enthusiasts believe the Chinese evergreen is the best plant for betta fish. Other recommendations are peace water lilies and philodendrons. Peace water lilies sit gracefully at the top of the aquarium, while philodendrons are usually found in riverbanks and swamps. Another safe plant for betta fish is the photo plant. This plant is often found in fish aquariums and terrariums. It is the ideal plant for indoor setups because it doesn't need a lot of light. Java ferns and water sprites are also great options.








How take care of betta fish
Betta Fish

Betta fish health


    • Check your betta fish’s color. As your fish gets older or if he gets sick, his shading may blur. If you notice the color fading and you have only had him a short time, it’s possible that he might be ill.
    • Evaluate your betta fish’s activity level. If you wiggle your finger in front of your fish (on the outside of the tank), does he swim back and forth to interact with you? Is he swimming around in the tank near the middle or bottom? A fish who is swimming up near the top, particularly if he is putting his mouth to the top of the water might be in distress.
    • Look for bumps, torn fins, and other physical changes. Your fish shouldn’t have lumps or bumps on his body. Also, his fins and tail should remain roughly the same. If it looks like pieces of his tail or fins are coming off or tearing, that is a sign that he’s not healthy. Different indications of weakness include a white film or white specks on the fish, hued marks that were not there previously, and a swollen body. Test the water to see if the wrong pH or high ammonia levels are causing the problem.
    • Take your fish to the vet if you are worried. It might sound funny to take a fish to the vet, but your veterinarian will be able to diagnose what’s wrong with your fish in many cases.


How take care of betta fish
Betta Fish


Betta fish water change


Water added to the tank must be free of chlorine and other impurities. Water added to the tank must be free of chlorine and other impurities. When using tap water, use Betta water treatment to remove chlorine, chloramine, ammonia and other heavy metals. This prevents possible injury or death. Never use distilled water as it no longer contains the minerals necessary for Bettas development. Betta fish prefer a slightly acidic pH of the water. They are best in the pH range from 6.5 to 7.5 (7 is neutral).Some tap water and spring water may be well above 7.5, which means that you should always test the water before filling its tank. Consider purchasing a pH kit to keep it healthy when needed. Also, consider adding aquarium salt to your aquarium water to reduce stress and swelling and promote healthy fins.



Your betta fish will probably live two to three years or longer; there are even some who have lived past the age of ten years old! With proper care, you will enjoy your pet for a long while.

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