How to Keep Bettas in Vases

Betta fish are one of the most beautiful types of fish you can have as a pet. Be sure you understand how to properly care for a betta fish before buying one to avoid your new pet getting sick or, even worse, dying due to improper care. Having the right kind of vase and food for your betta is the key to success.

Things You'll Need

  • Large vase
  • Betta fish food
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Find a vase that is large enough to comfortably contain your betta so that they have room to swim around without being too cramped. A betta fish should only live in a vase that can hold more than a quart of water.

    • 2

      Buy proper fish food, even if you are including a plant. Many betta fish owners are mistakenly told that if they put a lily root plant in the vase, the betta fish can survive by eating this plant. This is incorrect -- the fish will only eat the plant out of desperation, so it is important to feed it real betta food twice daily.

    • 3

      Replace the plant with a new plant when it is getting old or about to die. A dead plant will release toxins into the water which can seriously injure your betta. Also, if you choose to keep decorative marbles in your betta's vase, do not keep them on a tray at the top of the vase -- put them on the bottom instead. The tray can block oxygen from getting to your betta.

    • 4

      Clean the vase once a week to maintain optimal health for your fish. Another myth about betta vases is that the plants are self-cleaning, but this is not true. Be careful when moving the betta to another tank for cleaning so that you do not handle them too roughly and injure them.