All About Betta Fish: Care, Behavior and Tank Setup



The Betta is a colorful fish that requires special care.
The Betta is a colorful fish that requires special care.

About the Betta Fish

Betta, also called Siamese Fighting Fish, are among the most colorful and interesting additions you can make to your home aquarium. They are both fierce and fragile, and require a unique set of conditions in which to thrive. Many people keep Bettas in tanks or bowls separate from their other fish, which is fine. But few people realize Bettas can be fine community fish as well, under the right circumstances.
In the wild, Betta (Betta spendens) can be found in ponds, slow-moving creeks and rivers in Southeast Asia. They are Anabantoids, which means they can breathe air above the water through their mouths as well as obtain oxygen from the water through their gills. This is why you’re able to keep a Betta in a bowl without filtration or water movement: They can exist in low-oxygen water environments where other fish would perish. In the wild, this means rice paddies or even muddy puddles, for short periods of time.


The Bettas you purchase in the pet stores are all male, and bred to bring out their amazing colors and flowing fins. Wild Bettas are far more dull. Some pet stores sell female Bettas, but they are not nearly as common.
Male Bettas are aggressive fish, and will attack each other and fish similar to them. It’s important to realize this when planning the environment where your Betta will live. Even though the tiny cups they come in at the pet store might suggest otherwise, Bettas are not disposable pets. They require the same care and respect as any animal.
Betta needs certain considerations when it comes to tank setup.
Betta needs certain considerations when it comes to tank setup.
Source: morgueFile

Care and Tank Conditions

It’s a fallacy that a Betta will be “happy” in a tiny little cube on your desktop. It’s an even worse idea to keep one in a plant vase. These are commercial creations designed with anything but the fish in mind. If you are really interested in keeping a happy Betta, you need to make sure you have the right tank or bowl setup.
A one-gallon bowl is the bare minimum you’ll need for your Betta. Like any fish, Bettas need to swim around and have a little space. A tank is an even better idea. Those 2, 3 and 5 gallon tanks they sell at pet stores are great for a Betta (and not much else). One word of caution: Bettas do not like fast currents, so if the filtration in the tank is pushing him around you may be better off without it.
If your Betta lives in an unfiltered setup you’ll need to completely change his water and clean his tank weekly. It’s best not to net him; his fins are fragile and it can greatly stress him. A better idea is to scoop him out into a small cup or bowl while you perform the weekly maintenance. Be aware that Bettas can jump, so make sure he’s in a safe place.
Female Bettas do not have the flowing fins of their male counterparts.
Female Bettas do not have the flowing fins of their male counterparts.
If you are lucky enough to live where you have fresh, clean water without chlorine or other additives floating around in it, this will be fine for your Betta. Be sure to let it come up to room temperature before putting the fish back in. If your water isn’t so great but drinkable, there are dissolving tablets you can purchase at the pet store that will condition the water and make it safe for your Betta. If you are unsure about the safety of your water, you can purchase distilled water. It’s a good idea to have the pH of your tap water tested. You can bring a sample and ask the staff at the pet store to do this for you, or you can purchase a kit and do it yourself.
You need to be sure to thoroughly rinse the gravel and decorations of the tank/bowl. You may wish to use large pieces of gravel or pebbles in the Betta bowl, which will make this job easier, but the downside is that more uneaten can food fall where the fish can’t reach it.
Bettas like plants (In their tank, not on top of!) so adding artificial or live plants to their environment is a great idea. Provide a few places for them to hide as well, such as hollow decorations or caves.
Your Betta will eat flake food, or special Betta pellets, as well as freeze-dried foods and (thawed) frozen foods. Experiment and see when he likes. It’s best to find a good flake or pellet food for his regular feedings and provide the more exotic foods as treats. Your Betta won’t eat a lot, so pay attention to what he’s letting float to the bottom of the tank and learn to gauge the appropriate amount of food to feed. Remember, he is one small fish, and doesn’t need a ton of food! Uneaten food can spoil the water.
When your Betta builds a bubble nest it means you're doing a good job!
When your Betta builds a bubble nest it means you're doing a good job!

Behaviors, Facts and Fighting

Male Bettas should never be kept together in the same tank. In fact, they won’t be kept together: they’ll most likely kill each other within a few minutes. This is why they’re called Siamese Fighting Fish. For this reason many people keep Bettas as solitary fish, believing they’ll also attack and kill any other fish they come near. But this isn’t necessarily true. Bettas can do well in community tanks in certain situations.
Here are a few more frequently asked questions on the Betta:
Why is there a bunch of bubbles at the surface of the water? Bettas blow bubbles when they are content, and even make frothy “bubble nests”. It’s a mating thing, but in your case it means you are keeping your Betta happy. Good job!
Why is my Betta flaring up at the glass of his tank? He probably sees his reflection and thinks it’s another fish. As long as he isn’t banging off the glass it’s not much of a concern. If he’s really freaking out, adjust the light levels near his tank so he doesn’t see his reflection.
Why is my Betta’s face ashen white? He’s stressed. If he’s just been through some hardship such as a tank cleaning it should subside once he calms down, but if not its likely due to his water conditions. Check his water parameters and make the needed adjustments.
Why are my Betta’s fins deteriorating? The most common cause is poor water conditions. Make sure you are keeping his water crystal clear and don’t miss his weekly cleanings and he should recover.
How do I get my Betta out of that funky-blue-water cup and into his bowl? He needs to adjust to both the temperature and the parameters of the new water. Don’t just dump him in! It’s best to make this move gradually, by adding a little of the new water to his cup every few minutes until he can be safely (and gently) poured into his new home. Try to pour as little water from the cup as possible in with him. Once he’s in, you may want to do a cleaning and water change the next day to eliminate whatever waste came with him in the cup.

Take Good Care of Your Betta!

Betta are so popular not just because they are beautiful, but also because they are so easy to take care of. But don’t make the mistake of thinking they are disposable pets. Any fish you own deserves respect as a living creature, and the best care you can give. If you can’t or won’t provide this, it’s probably better to have a pet rock. But if you follow the simple steps necessary to keep your Betta happy and healthy, he’ll live a couple of years and might even end up your favorite fish.
Please don’t keep your Betta in a tiny cube, and if you’re given one in a plant vase please liberate him as soon as possible. Good luck with your Betta, and here’s hoping there are many happy bubble nests in your future!
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