Betta fish(Siamese fighting fish) are one of the most popular freshwater aquarium species. Pet stores sell them cheaply and market them to beginners as very hands-off pets.
The reality is that betta fish need proper care like any other fish. Too many bettas live in unfit conditions because their owners don’t know better.
Fortunately, bettas aren’t difficult to care for with some research.
Need help learning how to care for a betta fish?
This betta fish care guide will teach beginners all they need to know to set up a good home for their new pet.
A bowl is not suitable for a betta. Hobbyists need at least five gallons of space, a heater, a filter, and plenty of decorations.
Are Betta Fish Easy To Take Care Of?
Betta fish (betta splendens) are one of the easiest fish to care for because they are hardy. They are more challenging to care for than pet stores make them out to be.
It is a myth that betta fish can happily live in tiny bowls without heating or filtration.
- Common Names: Betta, Siamese Fighting Fish
- Scientific Name: Betta splendens
- Origin: Southeast Asia
- Size: 2-3 inches (5.1-7.6 cm) in length
- Lifespan: 2-5 years Minimum
- Tank Size: 5+ gallons
- Temperament: Semi-aggressive
- Ease of Care: Easy
Are Some Bettas Hardier Than Others?
Some bettas are hardier and easier to care for than others.
There are over 28 types of betta splendens, and we class them by their tail shape. Some of the most common tail types are veiltail, halfmoon, plakat, and crowntail.
All tail types are part of the same species — betta splendens. Generally, they all have the same hardiness.
Plakets seem to withstand disease better. They are most closely related to wild bettas, which likely lends to their hardiness. Plakets also have shorter fins and are less susceptible to fin rot.
Halfmoons and crowntails, with their long fins, are more likely to suffer from fin rot.
Does Color Indicate Health?
How bright a betta fish is may show how healthy it is.
Bettas come in various colors, from white to black, red to green, or blue to purple. Their colors do not affect their health — hobbyists can buy whichever color they like best.
Pay attention to the betta’s brightness. Bettas that begin to lose their color may be sick.
When Should You Add A Betta To Their New Tank?
Aquarists should wait to add their betta to their new tank until the nitrogen cycle is complete.
During cycling, the tank builds up beneficial bacteria that neutralize toxins. A cycled tank is free from ammonia and nitrites and has minimal nitrates.
Many inexperienced betta owners don’t know about the nitrogen cycle. They make the mistake of setting up their tank the same day they buy their betta.
The betta suffers from living in the toxic environment of the tank until it finishes cycling. Many fish die as a result.
Cycling generally takes between two to six weeks.
How Do You Setup A Betta Fish Tank?
Quickly set up a betta fish tank using the right equipment: a heater, filter, and light.
How Big Should The Tank Be?
A betta tank should be no smaller than three gallons — five gallons is preferable.
For most bettas, a five to ten-gallon tank is the best option, as it gives them plenty of space to move around.
Choose an aquarium that is longer than it is tall. Bettas swim more horizontally than they do vertically.
Plus, bettas must come to the surface to breathe air. Their large fins make them weak swimmers — a shallower tank makes it easier for them to surface.
Isn’t A 3-Gallon Tank Too Small?
For most bettas, three gallons is too small. Still, there are exceptions.
Some hobbyists insist that any tank under five gallons is unsuitable for bettas. While this is generally true, it depends on the individual fish.
Some fish become fearful in tanks larger than three gallons. The fear may be from past trauma or is simply their preference.
Either way, forcing a betta into a five-gallon tank only because that’s what’s “correct” isn’t always the best bet.
We tell hobbyists to start their betta in at least five gallons of water. Watch the fish’s behavior for any sign of stress. Test the water first, and if the tank is healthy, the fish may be feeling overwhelmed by the size of the tank.
We don’t recommend ever placing bettas in a tank of less than three gallons. They don’t provide enough space for swimming, and are challenging to keep healthy.
Do You Need A Lid?
Always keep a lid over a betta fish’s tank. Bettas are jumpers. Many hobbyists have lost their bettas because they jumped out of their tanks.
How Big Do Betta Fish Get?
Most betta fish grow to about 2-3 in (5.1-7.6 cm) in length.
Giant bettas (Betta anabantoids) can grow up to 5-7 in (12.7-17.8 cm) long. These fish are much larger than typical bettas; they need an aquarium of at least 10 gallons.
What Do Betta Fish Like For Decorations?
Betta fish love a variety of plants, caves, logs, and driftwood.
Why Are Live Plants Best?
Live plants are always the best option. They are gentle on fins, produce oxygen, and keep the water clean.
A betta’s native habitat is full of vegetation they use for hiding spots. Bettas feel safer when they have lots of plants to hide in.
They prefer shorter plants with large, broad leaves. Laying and resting on leaves is one of a betta’s favorite pastimes.
Don’t worry if a betta lays sideways on a leaf — the behavior is entirely normal.
Bettas like floating plants because they can play inside the roots. Don’t allow floating plants to cover the entire surface; they may prevent the betta from getting air.
Can You Use Fake Plants?
Artificial silk plants are okay for those not wishing to care for live plants. Yet, they lack the benefits of live ones.
Choose silk plants as they are soft and gentle on fins.
Avoid hard plastic plants that can tear fins.
Why Do Bettas Like Caves, Logs, & Driftwood?
Caves, logs, and driftwood all offer places for betta fish to hide and explore.
Avoid decorations with sharp edges that can tear the betta’s fins.
Driftwood is safe for bettas. The tannins release nutrients into the water that boost their health. The tannins also lower pH — hobbyists should test the water to ensure the pH doesn’t drop too low.
What Substrate Do Betta Fish Need?
Betta fish are not picky about their substrate — sand or gravel works fine.
Sand often looks nicer, though it’s more difficult to keep clean. Gravel comes in many different colors and is easy to clean.
Gravel made for live plants works well, too. It contains nutrients to keep the plants healthy.
Does The Temperature, Lighting, & Filtration Matter?
Like any fish, bettas need the proper temperature, lighting, and filtration.
Bettas are hardy fish that can adapt to fluctuations better than other species. That doesn’t mean we should subject them to unsuitable conditions.
Some pet stores want us to believe bettas can live in bowls without any heater or filter. Such misinformation leads to unhealthy bettas with shorter lifespans.
What Temperature Do Betta Fish Need?
Betta fish need a water temperature between 75-81°F (23.9-27.2°C). Anything lower or higher than this will negatively impact their immune system. As a result, they are more likely to get sick.
Aquarists need a heater to keep the temperature within the safe range. Choose an adjustable heater when possible. They allow complete control of the temperature.
Place a thermometer in the tank and check it every day. Heaters help keep the temperature stable, though they aren’t perfect.
What Are Safe Betta Water Parameters?
These are safe water parameters for betta fish:
- pH: 6.5-7.5
- Ammonia: 0 ppm
- Nitrites: 0 ppm
- Nitrates: >40 ppm
Betta fish can tolerate slightly acidic to neutral pH levels.
Ammonia and nitrites are toxic and should never be present in a betta’s aquarium. Nitrates are less harmful, though they can cause damage at higher levels.
Do Betta Fish Need Filters?
Betta fish need a filter like any other fish. Filters help keep the tank clean by removing waste and toxins.
Sponge filters work well for bettas, offering biological and mechanical filtration. The sponge captures large waste particles like fish food and poop.
Sponges are home to beneficial bacteria. The bacteria breaks down ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates.
Hang-over-back (HOB) filters can work, too. Choose an adjustable one and keep the flow low for easy swimming.
Hobbyists may need to place a sponge over the intake valve. Sometimes, these filters are too strong and may suck the betta’s fins inside, causing damage.
What Lighting Do Betta Fish Prefer?
Betta fish prefer dim lighting that mimics the lighting of their natural habitat. In the wild, floating plants reduce the amount of light reaching the bettas.
Choose an adjustable light and keep the lighting low to moderate. Hobbyists can also use plants to diffuse the light.
Bettas are diurnal fish that need a regular day-night cycle. Turn the light on for 12 hours daily and off at night.
Do not place the tank by a window or allow natural light to enter the aquarium. Natural sunlight raises the water temperature and causes fluctuations. It also encourages algae growth.
How Often Should You Change Betta Fish Water?
Clean the betta fish’s tank once every week or two.
Those with three to five-gallon tanks should change the water once a week. Those housing their bettas in ten or more gallons can usually change the water every other week.
Use a small gravel filter to change the water. Gravel filters are excellent for getting large waste particles.
Remove 15 to 30% of the water with each change.
Avoid removing more than 30% except in emergencies. Taking too much water out will change the water parameters and can shock the fish.
Do You Need To Use A Dechlorinator?
Aquarists should always use dechlorinators. The exception is if they are 100% certain their source water contains no chlorine.
Chlorine is toxic to fish — dechlorinators make tap water safe. Many dechlorinators remove heavy metals as well. Some even contain ingredients that protect the fish’s slime coat.
Add the dechlorinator to the source water about 24 hours before a water change.
Should You Test The Water?
Regularly use a testing kit to see the water parameters to ensure the water is healthy. Liquid test kits, like API’s Freshwater Master Test Kit, are more accurate than testing strips.
Test the water with each change and when the fish seem sick.
What Do Betta Fish Eat?
Betta fish are obligate carnivores — they eat meat and cannot digest plant matter.
Flakes and pellets both work well as staples in a betta’s diet. Opt for protein-rich foods made for bettas. Some kind of meat should be the first ingredient in the food.
Fluval’s bug bites are an excellent option.
DO NOT buy tropical fish food, as it doesn’t contain enough protein.
Soak pellets before feeding them to bettas. Soaking them first allows them to expand before the betta eats them. Pellets expand inside the betta’s stomach if they consume them dry, which can cause bloat.
Live, frozen (thawed), or freeze-dried foods work well, too. Hobbyists can feed their bettas foods like daphnia, bloodworms, and brine shrimp.
How Can You Avoid Overfeeding?
Only feed bettas two to four pellets once or twice a day.
Bettas have no concept of “fullness” and will keep eating as long as the food is there. Overfeeding can lead to a host of health issues.
What Fish Can Live With Bettas?
Generally, it is safe to house bettas with passive, dull-looking fish with short fins.
Can Bettas Live In The Same Tank?
No, bettas cannot live in the same tank.
Bettas, or Siamese fighting fish, are aggressive to members of their species.
A male betta fish should never live with another male or female betta. They will fight, causing severe injury and death.
Can You Use Dividers To Keep Many Bettas?
Yes, you can house many bettas in a single aquarium using dividers. Essentially, this creates separate tanks.
Some hobbyists buy larger aquariums, like ten or 20 gallons. Then, they use dividers to house many bettas.
Ensure each fish gets their allotted five gallons of space when doing this. The dividers should not be clear — bettas should not see each other, or they will experience stress.
Can Female Bettas Live Together?
Females can live in sororities of five bettas or more. Sororities are challenging to set up and maintain and unsuitable for beginners.
Which Fish Are Safe To House With Bettas?
Bettas do well with peaceful, short-finned species.
Avoid fish with bright colors or long, flowy fins, like guppies and swordtails. Bettas see these characteristics as a threat.
Here is a sample of suitable betta tank mates:
- Zebra danios
- Harlequin rasboras
- Corydoras
- Platies
Hobbyists need no less than ten gallons if they want to keep other fish with their betta.
What Are Some Health Problems To Look Out For?
Bettas living in unfit conditions are susceptible to bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections. Common illnesses include fin rot, ich, dropsy, pop-eye, and ammonia poisoning.
Signs that a betta fish might be dying or sick include:
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of color
- Lethargic
- Excess hiding
- Ripped fins
- Clamped fins
- Fuzzy, white growth on the body and/or fins
- Trouble breathing
- Bloating
Is It Hard To Breed Betta Fish?
Breeding betta fish is moderately difficult because of their aggression toward each other.
Aquarists must take care when introducing males and females to prevent injury. The process takes days and may only sometimes be successful.
Breeding doesn’t get any less complicated after copulation, either.
Hobbyists must keep their fry healthy and safe. They must also have lots of space for their fry. Once they get big enough, each fish needs space to prevent fighting and injury.
FAQs
Are Betta Fish Freshwater Fish?
Yes, betta fish are freshwater animals. They cannot survive in brackish or saltwater conditions.
Where Do Betta Fish Come From?
Betta fish are native to the tropical waters of Southeast Asia. They swim in shallow rice patties, streams, and ditches where the water is warm and slow-moving.
Though their watery homes are shallow, they often have a wide span, giving the fish room to roam.
How Much Are Betta Fish?
Most betta fish are cheap, between $3 and $15.
How much a betta fish costs depends on its fin type and coloration.
Veiltails are most common and usually sell for around $5 to $10. Halfmoons, dumbos, and crowntails are less common and may sell for between $10 and $20.
Some rarer varieties, like plakats and aliens, may cost even more.
Some of the most expensive bettas can cost several hundreds of dollars.
