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Betta FAQ
1. What size
aquarium do I need for my betta?
Bettas don't need a lot of room and they can live in water more
stagnant than most aquarium fishes. However, the better the water they
live in, the longer they live and the more colorful they are. Even though they may be in little bowls, bettas
do better in containers of at least one gallon and more ideal in a 10 gallon aquarium that
has other compatible fish.
2. I have
a setup with a Peace Lily in a vase of water, with a betta in it. Will my betta live long?
Many people are now getting into the aquarium
hobby, because these betta in a bowl arrangements have been made popular and somewhat a
fad. Bettas eat insects in the wild, therefore they are carnivores. They will
nibble at the plant, but more likely to only graze on algae, just because they're
starving. It is best to feed you betta with fish
food
that is
a minimum of 45% protein, if you wish to keep them healthy and colorful.
3. Do I need a
filter?
Although Bettas can take their water a little harsher
than most, if you do not have your Betta in an aquarium with the filter running, change
about 50% of the water in your Betta bowl weekly, with water you have either treated, or
you have left to stand for 24-48, if taken from the tap. Although Bettas have a
higher tolerance to stagnant water (they come from rice paddies in southeast Asia), water
changes and
water chemistry management will help keep your Betta
beautiful and to live for a much longer period of time.
4. What kinds of fish
can I keep with my Betta?
Male Bettas cannot be kept with another male Betta. Some
fish, notably barbs and cichlids, will be a little aggressive and prone to fin
nipping. More docile fish like the small tetras, danios, guppies, platys, swordtails
and the various corydoras catfish all get along well with Bettas. Remember
to limit the number of fish in your aquarium to about 1 gallon of water per inch
of fish.
5. How do I tell the
difference between a male or female?
Males are far more colorful and in the aquarium varieties
available have long fins. Females are less colorful and they have shorter fins.
6. How long will
my Betta live?
About 5 years is the life expectancy for a betta. Much
depends upon how old the Betta was when you got him. Most are about a year old by
the time they reach the pet shops, but feeding your Betta a
balanced
diet
and maintaining
water changes, even 10%/week in an
aquarium, will help your Betta to live longer.
7. I want to learn more and
maybe breed Bettas, how do I do this?
Buy a book or two about Bettas, read all of the literature
that you can, and join a Betta club or two. Books you can buy about keeping and
breeding Bettas can be found at
Bettas or
at our
bookstore.
A
membership in this
site will also prove helpful & valuable and you'll find this far less expensive
(financially and otherwise) than losing a lot of fish in the beginning. Then you
will have the information, reliable resources and sources for a good genetic stock to
begin.
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