How Often Do I Clean My 1-Gallon Betta Tank?

Betta fish are popular because of their colors, and because they are easy to care for. Even so, their tanks have to be cleaned on a regular basis to keep bettas healthy and happy. You would not want to swim in dirty water, and neither does your fish.

  1. Weekly Cleanings

    • A betta fish can dirty a tank in no time at all. This is why weekly cleanings are needed. Fill a container with dechlorinated water at the same temperature as the water the betta is coming out of. Dechlorinators such as Amquel, Prime or Novaqua work well.

      Place the betta into the clean water. Clean the entire tank with warm water and a sponge. Do not use soap, as soap residue can kill the betta fish. Thoroughly clean the gravel, stones, plastic plants and anything else that you have in the tank. Put the betta and its clean water back in the tank.

    Watch For Extra Debris

    • There will be times when the 1-gallon tank seems like it will not make it a whole week without a cleaning. There may be a lot of debris floating around or the water could simply look foggy. This is not only ugly looking, but it will smell and it's hard for the fish to breathe. When this happens, you will want to replace about half of the tank water with fresh dechlorinated water that is the same temperature as the tank water.

    Water Temperature

    • In order to prolong the life and enjoyment of your betta fish, the tank water should ideally be kept at 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not worry if the temperature of the water is a little off, because the Betta can actually withstand temperatures as low as 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Avoid Over Feeding

    • If you give your betta more than it wants to eat, scoop out the extra food. This will help the tank water lasts longer. A betta will eat only a small pinch of food or a few flakes. Anything more than that is a waste and a mess that has to be cleaned up. It is much better to feed your Betta a little at a time to get a feel for what it wants to eat, versus just dumping a handful of food into the tank.