New Betta --How do I care for it?

[guppymonkey]

After looking at the miserable little guys every time I am in the pet store I finally decided that I want to get a betta. I figure that I can take much better care of it than the people at most pet stores or the people that buy them and just leave them in bowls without changing water or anything until they die.

I have never had a betta before though so I don't know what their needs are. Are they really better off in small containers with no filters? How often would you change the water in the bowl? I don't know anything about them so if someone could give me some info I would really appreciate it.

 

[Adrinal]

 

[Where the river goes]

Some basic info/opinion:

Filters: A filter is not really necessary if you are keeping them alone, but they are much better off with a filter.

Heating: Betta's prefer temps in the upper 70's to low 80's. Unless your room temp is that high, definantly get a heater!

If you do get a bowl, make sure it has a cover...bettas are good jumpers.

I wouldn't recommend placing them in anything smaller than 1 gallon. 2 to 5 gallon tanks work well for keeping them alone. I would not advise tank mates in anything smaller than 5 gallons.

Feeding: betta pellet food (I recommend Bio Blend and HBH betta bites) frozen or freeze dried bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, etc. I've read of some people feeding them chopped up beef heart, squid, chicken, and liver. Some bettas do accept the occasional veggie but that varies greatly on the individual betta.

Tank mates: Avoid long finned species like guppies. Both female and male bettas can confuse the guppies for juvenile's of their own species and attack the guppies. Avoid fin nippers as well, a betta's fins make a good snack for them. African Dwarf frogs seem to do well with bettas, so do cories. Not really sure what else does well with bettas.

Do not keep male bettas together!!! They will fight, after all they are fighting fish :smb: Don't keep a male and female together either. I believe there is a sticky at the top of the page with info on breeding bettas.

Water change frequency depends on tank size and whether the tank is cycled or not, but I'd recommend more water changes in smaller tanks. I keep my bettas in 2.5 gallon tanks that are cycled. I do a 30% to 40% water change each week.

When you bring your betta home it may not eat for a couple days. This is perfectly normal as they are getting used to their new enviroment.