About Betta Fish

Geography

• Betta fish are native to the waters of Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and areas of southern China. They can be found in the shallow waters of small ponds, gentle streams and rice paddies. The native waters of betta fish are quite warm year round, and fish tank water temperatures of 75 degrees Fahrenheit and above are advised for optimal betta fish vitality and performance.

Features

• Mature betta fish usually measure around 2.5 inches with males coming in a wide array of colors, including red, blue, purple and green. Female betta fish appear much plainer than males and do not have the same long, flowing fins of the male betta fish.
  The ideal habitat for a pet betta fish is in a fish tank at least 2 gallons in size, but preferably one that is 10 gallons or larger. Betta fish can live in fish tanks quite peaceably with most other non-aggressive fish, though two male betta fish cannot be housed together. It is important when planning to buy different types of fish for a fish tank to keep in mind that betta fish will be top-dwellers.
  The ideal fish tank environment for betta fish has a water temperature between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit with soft water, a neutral or slightly acidic pH level between 6 and 7.5, and little water movement.
  Betta fish prefer to eat meat like frozen or freeze-dried blood worms and brine shrimp, but they can also adapt to eating basic fish flakes.

Considerations

• Male and female betta fish can be bred relatively easily in an ordinary fish tank. The male betta fish is responsible for creating the nest and caring for the young betta fish once hatched. Bubble nests are blown by male betta fish as they prepare to spawn, and once the female betta fish produces eggs the male will catch them and spit them into the nest. Baby betta fish, called fry, hatch after just 1 to 2 days, and by 2 days after hatching the male betta fish should be separated from the young betta fish.

Warning

• Betta fish are called Siamese Fighting Fish for a reason. Two male betta fish should never be placed in the same fish tank because they will fight each other to the death. They spar at each other with their fins standing straight up and their gill covers flared out. This beautiful fighting position can be replicated by placing a mirror up against the fish tank or by housing two male betta fish in the same tank with plastic dividers separating them.

Misconceptions

• Many pet stores sell betta fish in small containers and insist to buyers that betta fish can be housed in small vessels like vases and tiny glass bowls. This is an entirely false suggestion. Betta fish, like all fish, need ample room to swim around in for ideal health and performance. Tank sizes of 10 gallons or more are recommended for housing betta fish because of the amount of room for mobility and the greater ability to regulate water temperature to keep the environment warm enough for a betta fish.