Betta Fish, possibly the most popular type of fish found in the home today throughout the world. This amazing fish displays a vibrant personality while featuring the most magnificent color and fin structure helping to create a truly amazing aquarium that you can display to your guests!
Originally from the rice fields of Vietnam, Betta is an amazing fish and in this article I will answer the 10 most popular questions I am asked regularly about Betta Fish. Then let’s get started…
1. How do you stop betta fish from fighting?
This is probably one of the most popular questions I get!
In my experience, I have found some ways that work…
One way is to simply get a bigger tank. With the larger tank you can include a couple of new plants, keep in mind that you don’t want to go overboard with the plants, otherwise you’ll ruin your fish display (not very attractive to your guests!). By making the tank bigger and introducing a few more plants, you create extra hiding places for your Betta when the aggressive one is on the warpath!
A second way is to simply separate the aggressive fish from the rest. This can be done by placing a divider in your tank or by removing the aggressive fish and placing it in a new tank. Personally I would recommend putting a divider in your tank, size permitting of course, as your Betta will know the other Betta fish are there. It also helps when it comes to the playback process because introductions would have already been done.
Thirdly, you should NEVER, I repeat, NEVER put a male Betta with another male Betta Fish, period! Otherwise, they will fight to the death (which is why they are also known as Siamese fighting fish!). So by not keeping the males together this will astronomically reduce fighting.
Female Bettas are known to be aggressive and fight with each other, especially if you have 2 together. However, this is just an “I’m the leader” thing between them and it usually goes away, but one technique I’ve used and seen to be very successful to prevent this from happening is to add a third female to the tank. By doing this, any tension between the above two is removed. Give it a try, she’ll be amazed at how effective it is!
2. Can you keep male and female betta fish together?
If you can. However, I would recommend keeping a close eye on the male Betta in case he becomes too aggressive and you need to eliminate the female. As I mentioned earlier, having plants in the tank can help the female hide if the male becomes aggressive.
3. How do you know the difference between a male and a female betta fish?
I always remember the saying “It’s easy when you know how…” when asked this question because when I first started breeding betta fish it took me a long time to recognize the difference between a male and a female…
You will tend to find that female Bettas have fat bellies while males tend to have a more streamlined build. Also, you will find that the males have a longer body and fins, while the females are shorter in body size and fin length.
Also, male betta fish tend to have more color and longer pointed anal fins compared to their female counterparts (sorry ladies!). You will also find that the female anal fins are more level with her body. The anal fin is the stiff looking fin that comes out of the bottom of the Betta fish.
However, a gift from a female is her white spot on her lower belly. This white spot is called an ovipositor and is used during the breeding process.
4. What are the best tips for caring for Betta fish?
Lots of people have written books on the subject of betta care, but I’m going to give you my best tips that I’ve learned along the way…
– Test the acidity level of your water regularly. An AP level of 7 works best in my experience.
– Always try to keep the water temperature around 75-80 Fahrenheit. I would recommend testing this regularly with a floating thermometer because large drops in water temperature can cause fish stress. Floating thermometers in my experience give the best accuracy reading because they stay in the tank water.
– Always keep a lid/cover over the top of your tank with air holes because Betta fish can jump out and you may not be there to catch them!
– Any filtration system should be kept at a low level and you should be careful not to place the air inlet in a position that could injure your Betta. Having your filter system on a high setting is known to cause stress to your Betta.
– Try to clean your tank regularly, ideally twice a week. Remove any food debris trapped under rocks, castles, or leaves from your tank.
– As a general rule of thumb, I recommend 3 quarts per Betta fish in your tank. Also, try to get a roomy tank so your Betta has plenty of room to show his personality, you’ll be surprised some are very exciting to look at!
I’ve always found that if you love your Betta like you love yours, you won’t go far wrong, and by implementing the above you’ll be well on your way to truly amazing Betta fish.
5. What should I feed my Betta fish?
Surprisingly, Betta fish are known to be picky eaters (and you thought us humans were mean!). Therefore, it is best to feed them a variety of foods, such as:
– Artemia
-daphnia
– Frozen Bloodworms
– Black worms (Tubifex) worms
– Combination of Betta pellets from pet stores
– Powdered fish food if feeding fry
– Vegetables (such as green beans, not whole but in small portions)
I tend to find a regular feeding pattern of 2-3 times a day works best for Bettas. Also try to have the portions eaten in one sitting; otherwise, any leftover food could lead to additional bacteria in the tank that could cause illness in your betta fish.
6. How are Betta fish also known?
Not many people know it, but Betta fish are also known as Siamese fighting fish. The name originates from the aggressiveness of the males and their “fight to the death” attitude if two males are put together in the same tank.
Betta fish are often referred to as Betta Splendens, but this is a breed type of Betta, which brings us to the next questionโฆ
7. What are the different types of Betta fish available?
There are many types of Betta fish available, the most popular types I have listed below:
– Betta Splendens (the most common type)
-Betta Bellica
-Betta Kitchen
-Betta picta
Some of the most popular Betta tail types are:
– Veil tail (this is generally the most common type of tail you find in pet stores)
– Delta Fish (normally any fish below the tail span of 180 degrees is considered a Delta)
– Super Delta Fish (typically any Betta with a 120-180 degree tail span)
– Fan Tail (the tail of the Betta shows a gently rounded edge)
– Half Moon (as the name suggests, its tail is in the shape of a crescent moon: a span of 180 degrees, this is the fish most breeders strive for and shows truly fabulous colouring!)
– Tail Pin (Spade) (the tail of the Betta is pointed at the end)
Depending on what you’re looking for, we hope this gives you enough information to pick out a betta fish at the pet store! ๐
8. Can I put bamboo with my betta fish?
Bamboo or Lucky Bamboo as it is also known, the type sold in pet stores, can be put in your tank with your Betta Fish. Bamboo can make your tank look more inviting and attractive to your guests, which is always a plus!
What I do recommend, however, is that the bamboo be thoroughly washed before it goes into the tank to help ensure there are no chemicals that could harm your Betta. Also, it’s a good idea to check the bamboo regularly to see if it’s rotting, as it could release bacteria into your tank water that could harm your Betta fish. Changing the water in your tank often will reduce the threat of bacteria growth.
9. What level of ammonia should my tank have?
Ideally, you want an ammonia level between 0 and 0.5. By changing the water regularly (about 30-50% twice a week, if you have a high ammonia level), this will help reduce the ammonia in your tank.
It’s a good idea to monitor ammonia levels regularly, because a high level is not healthy for your betta fish.
10. Would a Betta parent harm their children?
Unfortunately, a male Betta (father) would harm his children (Fry). Although the Father is very protective of the Fry during the spawning process, it is common for them to attack the Fry as they grow older and are able to care for themselves.
I recommend removing the parent from the tank once the fry are free-swimming, usually 7-10 days after hatching, because he can become very aggressive towards them and potentially cause them harm.
Those are the answers to the 10 most frequently asked questions I receive on a regular basis. I hope this information has been useful to you and you can put it into practice.