How to Introduce a Betta to a Tank

Bettas are popular fish for beginners and experts alike; they're very colorful, extremely hardy, and almost always readily available. These fish, often referred to as Siamese fighting fish because of their aggression, are typically found sitting alone in little cups on pet store shelves instead of in tanks with every other fish. That's because these fish usually require very little space and, unlike most other fish, actually gulp air from the surface, eliminating the need for fancy filters. However, as easy as these fish are to care for, it is still necessary that they are properly introduced to their new tanks or bowls when you get them home, and remember that proper acclimation is a vital first step to a healthy betta.

Things You'll Need

Cup
Fish net
pH test kit

Instructions

- 1
  Place the bag that the betta was transported in on the surface of its new aquarium's water for approximately 20 minutes.
- 2
  Open the bag from the top, making sure not to tear it.
- 3
  Test the pH level of both your aquarium's water and the bag's water. There are dozens of commercial test kits available, so the one you use can be of your own choosing; there are liquid drops/test tubes, litmus paper strips and electronic probes. Just make sure to follow the directions on the test kit's packaging to get an accurate reading of pH, which should ideally be around 7.0 (neutral), as compared to below 7.0 (acidic) and above 7.0 (alkaline).
- 4
  Scoop the fish out of the bag with the net and place it into your aquarium if the pH of the bag and the aquarium match. If not, move on to step 5.
- 5
  Place about half a cup of your aquarium's water into the betta's bag.
- 6
  Let it float for another 10 minutes. Make sure the bag does not sink by taping it to the side with a piece of tape or wedging it in the aquarium's hood.
- 7
  Repeat step 4. If the pH matches, release the fish using the net. If not, repeat steps 4 through 6 until the pH matches and you can release the fish.