Tropical Fish Breeding – Betta Fish Care
The Betta fish is a very popular fish to breed among fish enthusiasts due to its bright vibrant colors as well as the fact that it is relatively easy to care for. The Betta is native to Southeast Asia, where it is also known as the Siamese fighting fish, due to its aggressive and territorial nature, these fish are used to fight with each other. In their natural environment, Betta fish live in small mud puddles, making them among the hardiest fish.
The first thing to consider is the aquarium you want to keep your Betta in. It is a known fact that Betta fish are so easy to keep that you can breed them in a bowl of water. However, if you want to keep them healthy and vibrant, prepare a nice sized tank for your fish, a half gallon tank would be fine for a single male. Betta fish are extremely territorial, so never put two males in the same tank, no matter how big, or they will tear themselves to pieces.
It’s fine to use tap water for your Betta, but it’s always best to leave the tap water for 24 hours before putting the fish in to remove any excess chlorine. Try not to use bottled water and avoid distilled water altogether. The pH of the water should be as close to neutral as possible.
Temperature is one of the most important considerations since the Betta fish comes from a tropical climate. The ideal temperature for the Betta fish is between 72 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Too cold and the fish will become sluggish, and too hot will make them hyperactive.
Plants provide your Betta with ideal cover that it will love and will reduce the amount of stress it experiences. Get a leafy look to give it good coverage. For the gravel, you can use natural gravel or even the artificial flower type, both of which are suitable for Betta fish.
If your aquarium is less than five gallons, then you will not need an aquarium filter. Just do a weekly change of about half the water in the tank and always remove the excess food. Use a siphon to vacuum the gravel, but do not rinse it, as there will be colonies of beneficial bacteria performing biological filtration. Since the Betta fish’s natural environment is a muddy pond, you will not need to provide aeration as it will get air from the surface of the water.
Adult Bettas should be fed once a day. You can choose to feed your fish Betta fish food that you can buy at the pet store, but it would be great if you could also include live or at least freeze-dried food. Mosquito larvae are a Betta’s natural food, so try to see if you can get your hands on some freeze-dried bloodworms.
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