Betta Fish Facts

Betta Fish Care

2008-11-25T12:05:00.000-08:00

Betta fish will do fine even in small containers. This is due to the fact that they can breathe air directly like us humans with the help of a special organ called labyrinth organ which is situated on the top of their head. The betta fish are able to also breathe like the other fish using their gills. Betta fish care tip # 1 is that small bowls are fine with betta fish for the above given reasons.

The betta fish are also well known as Siamese fighting fish due to the fact that they are very territorial in nature and fight with other fish violently when any other fish enters their territory. The betta fish also protects their territory from other betta fish, not even a female betta fish can enter their territory. Great that I am not a betta fish...I would love to have female companions in my house. For this reason if you place a female betta fish, you are bound to end up with a dead female betta fish just with in minutes. This gives us the next tip about caring for your betta fish. The care #2 is keep only one fish per bowl.

The bowls of betta fish should always be kept away from the places where the temperature tends to be very hot or too cold. Ideally, the temperature of the water should be maintained around 70 to 80 degrees. Betta fish care tip #3 is to keep the temperature around 70 and 80 and to avoid very hot and very cold places to keep the bowl.

Ideally, feed your betta fish up to three times a day. You have to give the food you bought from the store and make sure you do not over feed your beta. Betta fish care tip #4, feed up to 3 times a day. Cleaning the bowl and changing of the water should be done once a week as the water start to become dirty. It is recommended to use water which was kept stagnant for a day for removal of chemicals.

You have to tranfer your betta fish to this water which has been kept aside and then clean the bowl. While cleaning the bowel be sure that you do not use any soap, and if need be, you can use a mild soap. When you use soap, it is recommended to clean and rince the bowel, rocks, and plants thoroughly to remove any soap in the bowel. Now you can transfer your the betta fish along with the water to the bowl. Betta fish care tip #5 you have to change water once a week but it can be said that this duration depens upon the of the fish bowl.

Betta fish is also spelled beta fish. This is a beautiful little fish with brilliant colors and long tail and ohter fins. The betta fish is naturally is not so beautiful fish, but the beauty and brilliance is a result selective breeding by humans. Just imagine how it would feel to have small little beautiful being in your living room and also funny to see the aggressive fighting beauty.

Betta fish are tropical fish and they are also very territorial in nature. Though they are not very sensitive in nature, they require special care.

About the Author

Dritts is a great lover of aquarium fish and his hobby became a passion. His passion became a business and now he is helping his customers and also others through a blog. You can find a lot of information about careing your fish at Betta Fish Care .

2008-11-25T12:01:00.000-08:00

Pet lovers often prefer Betta fish to other animals because bettas are known to be hardy and not get betta fish diseases. They need little care and attention, eat just about anything given to them, or can get without food for a week or more. In fact, ideal choice for home or office to add that look of nature.

What many novices don't know that there's certain preparation to be made before purchasing a betta fish. While some experts say bettas live happily in small bowels (in which pet shops sell them), it is not the best house for them. Betta-bowls are torturous devices, and it is insane to make fish live in them. Same with us, humans; we can live in a tiny room, but prefer more spacious apartments and houses. Space is what every living creature needs. Therefore caring betta fish lover will buy a 3-gallon tank, but normally knowledgeable pet owners tend to buy tanks with 5 gallon capacity. Also, in a bigger space of water the temperature will not shift nearly as quickly or as much.

Keep the water level lower than the tank allows. Bettas need air no inhale and can jump out of the tank. A cover is a good and inexpensive method to protect the fish from leaving home. Contrary to a popular opinion about live plants needed in tanks, it is possible to get away with artificial imitations. Live plants are not neutral to the environment and may cause water contamination thus deteriorating the living conditions for the betta. Remember that sick betta fish usually lives in dirty, contaminated water.

This is always a reason why regular water change is important. With a large tank, it is possible to limit changes to once in a month, smaller tanks will need water to be changes once every two weeks. With bowls, this frequency increases to a couple of time a week. Water temperature is crucial to ensure betta fish is never sick. In cold water, bettas are exposed to diseases. Natural processes in fish body require water temperature to be higher than room temperature. Let's not forget that betta splendens (also known as Siamese Fighters) come from tropical countries! All Betta keepers should have an aquatic thermometer. The temperature should not drop below the low seventies Fahrenheit. It is best to maintain the level in upper seventies or even lower eighties, but it is even more important to keep these level protected from vacillation.

There is no real need to use distilled water. Though paranoid experts in betta fish care defend the idea of purest water, in natural conditions splendens are not found in distilled water. In fact, tapped water is OK, but water conditioner is required. Quality water with regular changes is vital in preventing betta fish diseases. Betta fish diet should be diverse. Sticking to one kind of food from pet shop is good for manufacturers (because they make profits), but mortal to poor bettas. Make a rule to include frozen worms, betta pellets, meaty foods occasionally. At least once a month it is good to fasten your betta. That is, give him no food for a day or so. This is absolutely harmless and helps to regulate the digestive system, which in turn is effective in preventing betta diseases (such as constipation). It is always better take precautionary measures rather than cure illnesses.

In a decent, stable environment betta fish diseases are rare. With a bit of experience you'll notice what your betta likes best, take not of his behavior, and then you can maintain his healthy being for years to come. Although bettas don't live that long, when properly cared for they can thrive for several years without any diseases.

Want to maintain healthy conditions for your betta? Following some simple steps to ensure stress-free environment, you'll prevent most betta fish diseases with very little or no expense.

Aquarium Plant Weights - Keeping Your Aquarium Plants Secure in your Betta Fish Tank

2008-11-25T11:23:00.000-08:00

An aquarium does not just serve as a home for your pet betta fish but as a decorative piece for your room, living room, or wherever you wish to place it. Adding plants inside it allows you to make it more attractive while at the same time, giving your fish a more suitable place to live with more oxygen and places to hide or sleep in. Just make sure that you secure the plants with aquarium plant weights so you can keep them where they are supposed to be. These are metal or lead strips that are tied and twisted around driftwood and plants to keep them anchored to the bottom of your aquarium tank. You can buy them in rolled or cut variants.

No more floating plants

Choosing your plant weights is dependent on your budget and the ease of use they provide for you. You can opt to buy metal aquarium plant weights that are already cut into strips. You can buy them in different widths to ensure that you are provided with the right size to secure your plants without appearing too visible. On the other hand are rolled plant weights that are made from solid lead and can be bought in rolls that have a length of at least 3 meters or 10 feet.

Make the most of your plant weights

Aquarium plant weights can also be chosen according to its pliability. Remember that you need to twist them around the plants so buy something made of soft material that you can easily manipulate with your fingers. As for the size, they should be less than half an inch thick so nobody can notice them. If you need to tie down a lot of plants with different sizes, choose the rolled plant weights for your aquarium. Not only are they more useful for such situations but they are also highly economical to use.

Important information

Complete information on aquarium plant weights is available at PickyGuide, the authority in free consumer advice. Access top-ranked, best-reviewed, and most competitively priced plant weights in PickyGuide's recommended products section.

Betta Fish Diseases | The Most Common Diseases for your Tropical Fish

2008-10-07T10:32:00.000-07:00

Like it or not, your betta will likely get sick, just like any other pet. However, there are some preventative measures you can take to ensure that you beta fish stays healthy its entire life. Below is a list of some of the more common Betta fish diseases....

Beta fish Fungal Infections- Spotting this is easy. Basically, you look for white patches on the head or the body. It looks a lot like "cotton". Other symptons include a reduced appetite, paler color or clumped fins.
Fin Rot- If your beta's fin is getting shorter or the tail is starting to disinigrate and fall apart, then it is likely that your fish is suffering from fin rot. The easy and quick fix is to clean the water your betta swims in.
Betta Fish Ick- Ick is a tiny parasite that is highly contagious. In other words, if one of your betta's have it, it is likely that the entire aquarium has it. To know that your beta fish has ick, all you have to do is recognize the symptons: white dots all over his body. He may or may be hungry and may be scratching his fins against the rocks on the bottom of the aquarium.
Velvet in Betta Fish- Velvet is hard to spot in betta fish but can be detected by using a flashlight..if it looks like the scales are "golden" in color, then it is likely that your betta fish has velvet. Your fish will show all the signs of sickness such as loss of appetite, clumped fins and a pale color or loss of color.
Popeye in Betta Fish- Popeye symptons are just like the name implies: Your betta will look as though its eyes are literally bulging out of his head.
Betta fish Dropsy- If you are feeding your beta live food, then it could contract this fatal disease. Little is really known about this disease other than it makes the betta look bloated. This can be prevented by NOT feeding your siamese fighting fish like black worms.
Swim Bladder Disorder in Betas- If you are noticing that your beta is having issues swimming or is sliding on the bottom (otherwise known as belly sliders), then your fish is suffering from swim bladder disorder. This is primarily caused by overfeeding your betta. The solution is simple- stop feeding your betta fish as much.
Bacterial Infections in Betta Fish- Believe it or not, your betta can get a bacterial infection. The cause is primarily dirty water and uneaten food so the fix is a rather simple one. The bad news is that if you have more than one betta fish or any fish for that matter, then it is likely that the entire aquarium is infected. The good news is that bacterial infections are easy to spot-your beta won't eat, will sit on the bottom of the tank, not only lose color but start to turn grey. The advanced cases of bacterial infections in fish can get really ugly.
Tuberculosis in Bettas- This is a fatal beta fish disease 100% of the time. And what makes this even more problematic is that because the symptons mimic other diseases, the only way to know for certain that your fish has this disease (also known as mycobacteriosis) is to autopsy it after it is dead. Also, this is contagious not only to other fish but to humans as well, so some care should be taking when handling an affected fish.
Internal Parasites in Betta fish- If you are feeding your siamese fighting fish live food such as blood worms, then there is always a potential for your fish to contract parasites. The symptons are that the fish is eating well but getting thinner.

Sometime in the future, I will go over the solutions to these betta fish diseases. Most are quick fixes and can be taken care of by simple betta fish aquarium maintenance.

Betta Fish Overview

2008-05-16T12:15:00.000-07:00

Betta fish are one of the more sought after fish species admired, collected and bred by fish aficionados. They are usually kept as pets because of their colorful bodies and impressive fin shapes. The most popular Betta fish is the Siamese Fighting Fish. Betta fish grow to an average length of two and a quarter inches in captivity and come in a multitude of bright colors. Betta are classified as Gourami and part of the Osphronemidae family of fresh water perciform fishes.

Find out how to care for your Betta Fish here. Betta Fish (sometimes called "Beta Fish") are also known as the Siamese fighting fish. The scientific name is "Betta splendens". The Betta Fish is one of the most popular species of freshwater aquarium fish in the world.

Betta Fish, also known as Betta Splendens, Beta Fish and Siamese Fighting Fish, are inexpensive pets and can be quite lovely. Technically, the Betta name refers to about fifty species, but is commonly used as if only Betta splendens is meant.

The Betta fish species were quite unknown among European and American scientists and fish enthusiasts until the early 19th century. The King of Siam at that time was allegedly a huge Betta fan and he loved to attend Betta fights. A doctor named Theodor Cantor was given a Siamese fighting fish, supposedly directly from the King of Siam, when the doctor was working in Siam. He became fascinated by the Betta fishes and studied their behavior for 10 years before he published an article about them. He called his fish Macropodus Pugnax. A few years after the turn of the century, another doctor developed a similar fascination for these interesting fishes. His name was Dr. Tate Regan and he changed the name Macropodus Pugnax to Betta Splendens.

Betta fish are very popular pets, with their bright colors and big, flowing tails and fins. Betta fish are great for kids and college students who want an "easy to care for" fish in a smaller aquarium.

Bettas often fare better when provided with a wider selection of different foods. The reward is in the eye of the beholder through a show of richer, brighter as well as deeper shades and hues in the fish's appearance. Another advantage to be had is that Betta following a varied diet of high protein and high fiber foods, will heal much faster when fin damage is inevitably sustained than those Betta fish following limited variety, low fiber and low protein diets.

Betta fish (also known as Siamese Fighting Fish) are friendly, easy to care for, brightly colored fish. They can be kept in fairly small bowls or fish tanks and will live up to three years of age with the right food and care.

Betta fish are hardy type of fish and they can live in a small container. A small fishbowl is enough to house one Betta fish, but be aware that two male Betta fish shouldn't be placed in one container. Or else, these two Betta fish might fight until death (that's why they are also called Siamese fighting fish).

Betta fish are colorful and entertaining pets that require minimal maintenance. They're a great fish to have if you don't want to have a complicated aquarium set-up.

The beautiful and graceful betta fish makes a great pet and gives style to your home dcor. Betta, pronounced like BET-uh, are easy to take care of and make great first pets.

The Siamese fighting fish, or betta fish, is one of the most popular fish available in pet stores today. They are brightly colored and graceful, yet relatively easy to care for.

Bettas are curious little beings that thrive when they can watch the world go by. That said, a betta fish also needs a place to retreat to for calm reflection and privacy. You can easily provide your betta with a "room of his own".

The Betta fish should be fed once or twice a day. You should be careful only to add a few pellets to the water of the fish. First lift out your plant out. Then gently add the food. You will want to add it gently or you will over feed and you will send the food to the bottom.

Bettas are carnivorous, but can usually do well on food labeled for betta fish. The addition of live or frozen blood worms (mosquito larvae) and live or frozen shrimp brine is recommended. Most aquarium bred fish will also accept dried flaked aquarium tropical fish food.

Betta Fish, also known as Siamese Fighting Fish, are a popular pet due to their beauty and easy care. They have an average life span of 2 to 3 years. The males of the species have more vibrant colors and long graceful fins.

Popeye in Beta Fish | Betta Fish Diseases

2008-04-08T13:26:00.000-07:00

One day you wake up, go to feed your betta fish and notice that his eyes look like they are about to bulge out of his head. Congratulation. You fighting fish has something called "popeye" or exophthalmia. The good news is this new "look" that your betta is displaying isn't fatal and will go away if you do a few things.

First, understand that "popeye" or protruding eye syndrome is not a disease but rather is a sympton of many possibilities. For years, most experts suggested that exophthalmia was caused by a mycobacterial infection and the treatment for popeye was to eradicate the infection. The other possible cause is tuberculosis, which as you can imagine, is pretty much untreatable.

What causes the protruding eye in your Betta Fish?

From a scientific standpoint, that protruding eye you are seeing is caused by an abscess behind the eye. Like I said in the last paragraph, chances are great that the abscess is filled with an infection and luckily, provided that your siamese fighting fish doesn't have tuberculosis, there are various ways to treat this.

How to Avoid Getting Popeye in Betta Fish

Most bacterial infections are primarily caused by dirty water or water that is not kept in optimal condition. This causes the fish a deal of stress which in turn, manifests itself into Popeye (or other diseases such as Ick or Fin Rot)If you aren't using a filtered tank, then you will most likely want to change out the water of your tank at least once weekly and preferably twice weekly. Understanding this, there are four main deterrents to preventing bacterial infections in your betta or how to keep your fish healthy:

Food
Water Temperature (optimal is 80 degrees for Betta Fish)
Cleanliness of Water
Light

Treatments for Popeye in your Betta Fish

Once you have diagnosed that your Betta Fish has Popeye, the next step is treatment. Since it is hard to diagnose between the popeye being a mycobacterial infection or tubercolosis, the first step is to make sure that the water is clean and set at the optimal temperature.

Next step is to check the actual pH level of the water itself. This includes checking for the level of nitrates, nitrites and ammonia in the water. The pH level should be slightly acidic for betta fish.

You can also treat Popeye using a variety of betta fish medications. Tetracycline or Terramycin is particularly good for bacterial infections and you should add about 100 mg per every 4 ounces of food.

If none of this is working for you (you have clean the water and ruled out a low pH balance in the water), you can try this method as it won't hurt your betta and may actually help (by the way, this may stave off all forms of bacterial infections)....

add salt to your tank- Salt is perfect for staving off bacteria in the water. However, don't give your betta a salt bath. Aim for .3% and no more than .6%.
Warm the fish tank up to 86%. As you know a betta is a tropical freshwater fish and can handle warm temperatures. A warm water temperature will help stave off bacteria.

As an added note, you should be aware that Tuberculosis in fish is actually transmissible to humans through open sores. In other words, if your fish has popeye, it is probably not a good thing to have contact with your betta. It most likely isn't tuberculosis but why take that chance?

In conclusion, just like most fish diseases, Popeye can most likely be fixed by some simple methods....regularly cleaning the water, making sure you are keeping your betta fish in a warm water environment, temperature wise and giving it the proper diet.

Should You Use a Filter for Your Betta Fish Tank?

2008-04-03T10:17:00.000-07:00

Most Betta Fish pet owners typically will bring a betta fish and put it in a tank or fish bowl and not worry about a filter initially. However, as their interest grows, eventually these same people will graduate to an actual fish tank, normally the 10 gallon variety. Of course then comes the idea to put other different types of fish into the fish tank. But before they can do this, they normally will have to think in terms of what filter that they will need. After all, most fish aren't as hardy as the betta fish and need a flowing current in order to be able to survive.

So Should You Use a Filter for Your Betta Fish Tank?

and if so....

What kind of Filter is compatible with Betta Fish?

To understand what you should and should not use, you have to understand how the betta fish breathe and how betas operate in the wild. A betta fish's natural habitat is in rice paddies and puddles in Thailand. As you probably can imagine, there is virtually no current in their habitat and therefore, you are going to want to create a similar environment for them. Also, because of this, there is no need for a pump; Betta fish are unique in their ability to breathe air. They come equipped with something called a labryinth lung. This special type of lung will allow them to breathe air from the outside however, this makes it also harder to filter the air from the water, like most fish. What I am trying to get at is a filter for your tank is not necessary. For more information on this, check out my Fish Tank for Bettas post

Most people who graduate from a fish bowl to a larger tank want to opt for a filter that will yield the least amount of current as possible. Betta fish (the males in particular) have a tough time fighting water currents as their fins aren't equipped for it. Ideally, the only type of filter you should stay away from are the Power Filters.

It is also recommended that if you do use a filter, make sure that the tank is large enough so the betta can swim away from the filtration sytems and get away from the current. And ultimately, not all bettas will like the idea of water current. Some will even hide in order to avoid the current. In other words, it is a good idea to test the filter for a couple weeks and see how your fish react. If they act erratic, then it is probably a better option to remove the fish and place him in a more calm environment.

So, if your Betta Fish reacts better WITHOUT a filter, why bother using one?

The benefits of using a filter are numerous. Like I said earlier, if you intend to incorporate other freshwater fish into the tank, then it is likely that a filter will be a must. Most fish rely on the current a filter produces to be able to actually breathe.

Also, if you use a filter, you won't have to be constantly changing the water, as the filter will help remove some of the toxins and debris that a filterless tank would not (obviously). In other words, if you are not too keen on changing out the water every week or so, a filter will be the way to go.

I have two 10 gallon fish tanks and both use an underground filtration system. I have never had a betta fish not like it but I have heard from other pet owners that their fish didn't adapt so well. As strange as it may seem, deciding on whether a filtration system will work for you will largely depend on how your siamese fighting fish react to it.

Fin Rot in Betta Fish |How to Treat and Prevent Fin Rot

2008-04-01T10:26:00.000-07:00

Most people get fish because they are easy to care for and maintain. And there is no better fish, example wise than a betta fish since they are just about as hardy as a goldfish. Because of this, many people won't maintain their siamese fighting fish as well as they should. If you are one of those people that don't do things like cleaning your fish tank on a regular basis, then it is possible for your beta to get Fin Rot, a horrible disease that can be fatal. It actually affects all freshwater tropical fish.Let's discuss this for a second.

First of all, Fin Rot is a bacterial infection and thus could be easily prevented by simply regularly making sure the tank's water is clean. It is as easy as that. Think about this for a second. If you didn't have a toilet in your home and was forced to use the bathroom in your bedroom, do you think eventually that you would catch some form of bacterial infection?

Well, in a betta's world, the water is his bedroom. If you don't clean the water on a regular basis, then your betta fish will be swimming around in an unsanitary environment....fish feces and uneaten food particles. So the bottom line is that if you can keep the water clean, then you will be able to prevent Fin Rot and will likely never experience this.

If you have your Betta in a fish bowl or some other environment that is smallish, then it is absolutely important to keep the water clean. Since fin rot is due to an unsanitary environment, if you aren't using a filter or heater, then chances are that you will need to change the water out weekly and in the very least bi-weekly. Of course, the more frequently you change the water out, the more differientations in pH and temperature you will have which will stress out your betta even more (which is why you should go ahead and invest in a fish tank with a heater and filter). That is another story altogether though.

How to Treat Fin Rot

First, you need to determine if Fin Rot is the cause of your Betta's troubles. The easiest way to determine this is to do a test for the amount of ammonia in your fish tank. Ammonia is a by product of your Betta's feces. Any more than a pH of 7.0 for ammonia and you have a toxic recipe for a floating fish. Of course, ammonia even in the smallest of amounts can become an issue.

Once you have determined that Fin Rot is indeed the culprit, then you will need to start the treatment process. If you have caught it quick and early, the treatment can be as easy as simply changing out the water and if you have a gravel bed, changing out the gravel as well. You can also make the area less "hospitable" to bacterial organisms by adding a little aquarium salt to your tank. Aquarium salt will help speed up recovery. If you are going to use aquarium salt, a good preventative dose is usually 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon to every gallon of water....if your fish is already sick, you can up this to 1 teaspoon.

In really bad Fin Rot cases, you will most likely need to medicate the fish. Jungle Fungus Eliminator is one of the medications that most Betta Fish owners use. However, there are other medications that you can try as alternatives. These include:

Tetracycline
Maracyn
Minicycline

You can use these two together along with other sulfur medications.

Once recovery has started, you can add Bettafix or MelaFix to the equation. Many Betta fish owners actually use BettaFix as the primary medication for treating fin rot. However, if your betta is suffering from an acute case of fin rot, you will likely need to treat with the above medications and move onto bettafix after the fact. BettaFix is great for helping your betta regenerate new fin tissue after the fact. If you are going to use MelaFix, then you will want to add 10 drops per gallon. If you use BettaFix, use 1/2 teaspoon for each gallon.

It is also important to understand that fin rot can be a real problem if you have more than one fish, as this bacterial infection can spread between fish. In other words, if your betta fish is suffering from fin rot, then the other fish you have in the tank could have it as well and should be treated to keep this condition from coming back.

What to do After Fin Rot has been Eradicated

Obviously the best way to prevent fin rot is to make sure that your betta is swimming in clean water. Trust me, once you have gone through this process, chances are great that you will never want to go through it again. Taking a little time out of your life every week to change the water will ensure that you betta fish will never get this dilapidating disease. And for god's sake.....buy an aquarium if you don't own one. You can usually find pretty good deals on Craig's list if the money is an issue.

Betta Fish and Siamese Fighting Fish

Betta Fish | How to Spot whether you fish is healthy or not.

2008-03-28T10:19:00.000-07:00

If only Betta fish could talk, then perhaps we would know exactly what was wrong and how to treat it. Since this is simply not the case, there are several signs that can tell you if your betta fish are healthy or if (taking a quote from NASA) your betta is shouting "Houston, we have a problem".

First of all, just like any pet, if you betta fish is eating well, then chances are good that it is healthy and happy. A betta fish that doesn't eat is the first step of noticing an issue.
If your betta fish is active, swimming around then you can take it as a good sign. However, if you find your betta fish is not moving around (for instance, he simply sits at the bottom, occasionally coming up for air or hangs in a corner), then there might be an issue.
If the belly of the fish looks swollen, then this could be a sign that your fish might have problems.
You are also going to want "smooth" scales on your fish. If they look "scaly" then there might be problems.
I may be stating the obvious but if your betta fish has open sores, white spots (ick disease possibly) or any other protusions or color, then it is likely your fish is in need of care.
Also, if you note strange behavior such as the fish trying to rub itself on rocks, the side of the aquarium or anything else, then you might want to investigate.
Your betta fish's fins should look to be spread out like fans. Anything else and there is likely an issue.
If you notice the eyes are protruding or look swollen, then you may want to check into it as well.

This is just a short list but you get the picture. Diseases happen to our aquatic friends. If we can diagnose the problem and catch it early, it will prevent waking up one morning and spotting a floater.

Ick Disease |How to treat your Beta Fish

2008-03-28T09:28:00.000-07:00

So, you wake up, go to the aquarium and lo and behold, you see that your betta fish looks a little different than it was the night before; it is coated with little white specks and looks almost as if it had been sprinkled with salt. If you have had to deal with this problem, then you aren't alone. The disease is called fish ick and is more common than you would imagine....

What is Fish Ick?

Fish Ick or white spot disease is nothing more than a parasite that resides in all fish tanks. It is actually a common disease for all freshwater fish. The scientific name for the disease is ichthyophthiriasis and the causative agent is Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. It is a common disease (much like the flu) in all fish species although it is more common in aquarium fish. Fish ick (ich) is most likely the leading cause of death in aquarium fish and if you own betta fish, chances are you will encounter it at some point in time.

In fact, if you have fish, chances are your fish has already come into contact with it and it is most likely that it has built up a level of immunity from this parasite. Just like some of us get the flu or a common cold, white spot disease manifests itself when a fish's immune system is in a compromised state. Many experts believe that this state is normally caused by stress.

Causes of Ick

Like I said in the last paragraph, it is believed that stress is the most likely culprit when a fish develops Ick. Most new pet owners don't realize this but a lot of stress comes from the actual handling of the fish from wholesaler to retailer to your house. And you may not be aware but you could be transferring a fish that is infected with white spot disease and not even know it. Other factors (which you can control) that have an affect on your betta fish involve the cleanliness of the aquarium, the temperature of the water, the other fish that populate the tank, and the diet of your betta.

Stages of Ick

White spot disease actually has three stages and the only stage in which you can treat ick is in its last and final stage. The first stage involves the protozoan actually burrowing beneath the skin of your fish. At this stage, you will begin to see the white spots on your fish. You can start treating now but it won't help.

During the second stage, the parasite will drop off the fish and start to multiply at the bottom of the tank. Once again, if you are treating now, it won't affect the parasite.

Finally, the third stage is where the protozoan is actually in its adult stage. It is actively searching for a new host (another fish) to infect and it is at this stage that you can actually form a base of attack.

How to treat Ick

The first time one of my fish got ick, I thought that I would need to treat the fish itself. However, since ick is virtually indestructable when it has infected the fish, you have to understand that treatment of ick involves treating the tank and its environment rather than treating an actual fish itself. In other words, we are going to want to remove the trophite from the tank and by doing so, it will make the fish more healthy.

First of all, Since the first two stages of Ick are untreatable, you are going to want to speed up the life cycle of the parasite to get it to the last cycle of its life quickly. This can be done by gradually increasing the water temperature to 80 degrees over a 48 hour period. By increasing the water temperature, you are in fact, decreasing the cycle time. Usually Ick tomites will cycle in 4 days in 80 degree water. Any cooler and you could be looking at a cycle time in the weeks range.

Secondly, if at all possible, the best treatment for your fish is to remove them from the infected tank for four days. This will allow the parasites to mature through all stages of their life and eventually die off from lack of a host to infect.

Another common treatment is to add formalin, malachite green, or a combination of the two. You can find these at any pet store or purchase it online. Only use a new bottle for this as this chemical will become toxic over time for your fish. During treatment, you are going to want to remove the carbon from the filter and shut off UV sterilizers as this may make the treatment ineffective.

Once you have killed the ich, what now?

How to prevent ick (ick) from ever getting in your aquarium

It is virtually impossible to prevent ick from happening. However, just like the flu in humans, there are ways that we can keep it down to a minimum. Here is a list of things you should do....

Regularly change out the water to your aquarium.
Feed your betta fish a variety of foods- freezed dried and flake food.
Reduce the stress of your beta's environment by maintaining a constant pH balance and avoid fluctuations in water temperature and ammonia levels.
Don't overstock your tank with fish.
Always quarantine new fish for a minimum of four days before introducing them to your main aquarium.
If a fish shows signs of Ick, remove him to the quarantine tank (min. 4 days)
Never purchase plant life that has been in a tank with fish in it. If you do, quarantine it.

In conclusion, if you think your betta fish is infected with ick and you own more fish in the same aquarium, it is always good to be safe than sorry. Remove the fish and wait it out for 4 days to allow the parasite to go through its life cycle. Chances are great that if you own any kind of freshwater fish, then you will encounter this potent and often deadly disease.

Betta Fish Facts

Betta Fish Food | What is the best food?

2008-03-26T12:12:00.000-07:00

So, you are probably wondering what is the best fish food for your betta fish....

First of all, understand that in the wild betta fish are carnivorous, meaning they eat meat. In the wild, their diet consists primarily of insects and it larvae. While you may not be able to go out to your garden and grab some "ants" and "worms", there are products (fish food) that will help you replicate what they are used to in the wild.

Most people will feed their pet betta flake fish food, which consists of brine shrimp or beef hearts. However, if at all possible, a betta would prefer live fish food.

From a biological standpoint, a betta fish's mouth is upturned giving it the best possible chances of grabbing insects that live on the water. There are even instances where a beta will jump out of the water to grab food (as seen in a video I posted). A betta fish can eat vegatarian food but not for long as their alimentary system is shorter. Bottom line is these fish are built to eat meat.

If you can't feed your Betta live food, there are alot of products geared to the betta. These products are specialized to give your fish the nutrition it needs...most are freeze dried or frozen. If you elect to feed your Betta flakey food, then understand that you will need to supplement it as well.

Betta Tubifex
Beef hearts
Daphnia
Glassworms
Plankton

Betta fish can also be fairly selective with what they eat as well. I have found that Brine Shrimpor blood worms work the best while flakey fish food is the least and should be a last resort. If your betta is not eating then you will have to experiment until your finicky friend finds something that it likes.

How to Pick the Right Aquarium for your Betta Fish

2008-03-26T11:11:00.000-07:00

It is nothing new to say that Betta fish are probably one of the easiest fish to care for in the world. If you don't have a ton of time to care for a pet, then this type of tropical fish is perfect for you. However, what kind of tank should you look for when you buy your first betta?

First off, if you are keeping your betta fish in a jar or a bowl, this is fine although not recommended long term. One of the things you should consider is that if you whatever type of tank you are keeping your fish in, it should be large enough for it to be able to swim around without the possibility of tearing a fin or his scales.

Another thing you should be aware of is that the more surface area on top (where oxygen can get through), the better it is for your betta. Like goldfish, bettas don't require a large amount of oxygen. However, they do require some. And the more surface area a betta fish has, the easier it is for him to breathe.

One of the biggest pluses to owning this tropical fish is that unlike many other fish, betta fish don't require a filtration system in order to live. However, that said, while you may not need a filtration system, you will need to keep the water as clean as possible. I actually clean my tank twice a month and it seems to work for me. Changing the water in the tank takes a little forethought though. You should use something called aged water as a replacement. All that implies is that you should let your "new" water sit out for at least 24 hours. Why? I am not sure but I imagine it has something to do with the oxydation of the aged water.

You still should be aware that optimal surroundings for a betta fish are warm, soft and only slightly acidic PH wise. You can actually purchase a PH testing kit at your local pet store. Go for 7.0 PH. Also, you should be aware that unlike salt water fish, water movement should be kept to a minimum. Remember that these fish usually reside in rice ponds in the wild and aren't used to currents. Because of this, if you are going to use a filtration system, you should stay away from a power filter.

Like I said earlier, beta's don't require a lot of space but once you advance to "the next level" and purchase an actual aquarium, chances are likely that more than one fish won't be enough. And if you haven't figured out yet, a fish with the name siamese fighting fish is likely not to be so friendly and play well with others. So what types of fish can you put in a tank with a betta?

Algae Eaters (which I recommend since you can change the water less frequently with them.
Guppies (although bettas do eat the youngsters from time to time.
Corydorous Catfish

Obviously, you don't want to put another betta in the aquarium. If you do, you will wake up in the morning with one fish dead (and possibly both). So keep to the safe fish that betta fish don't mind.

That is pretty much it. I will be going over the types of filtration devices at a later date. For now, go out there and get you a betta fish. They are perfect for any person who wants a pet but doesn't have the time required by most pets.

Betta Fish | Want an easy pet to care for? Try Betta Fish

2008-03-26T10:20:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for a pet that is "hands" off in regards to care, there is hardly any other pet that would be as easy as the betta fish also known as the siamese fighting fish. And the great thing about these pets is that they come in many different colors and sizes and can easily live in a small aquarium.

The betta fish comes in many different varieties...

Regular Bettas (Known as Betta Splendens)
Crown Tail Bettas
Twin Tail Bettas
Half Moon Bettas
Delta Tail Bettas
Super Delta Tail Bettas
Spade or Pin Tail Bettas
Veil Tail Bettas

Betta Fish are actually perfect for children because of their low maintenance requirements. Just like its ugly cousin, the goldfish, betta fish are happy in a fish bowl...in other words there is no need for expensive equipment. In fact, many consider the betta fish to be a "gateway" fish, meaning that many people will purchase one only to eventually graduate into buying a large aquarium at a later date.

Because of their hardiness, betta fish don't require that much in terms of care....if you can feed them regularly, then your siamese fighting fish will do fine. A little food, and with cleaning out the water on a weekly or bi-weekly basis is really all you need to keep your betta fish happy.

Why do people like Betta Fish?

Well, other than the fact that they are easier to care for than most other fish, betta fish are "easy on the eyes" when you compare them to other freshwater tropical fish. In fact, even the most common species, the betta splendens, can rival the more beautiful saltwater tropical fish in color and vibrancy.

In fact, the siamese fighting fish comes in all colors, opaque, cellophane (transparent), red, royal blue, purple, and many more. Virtually all colors are represented with these fish, which is one of the reasons why so many people love them. Each fish is unique in its own way!

Yes, it is true...never put two males together in the same tank. If you do, you can expect a fight on your hands! In fact, something like a mirror can spark a response known as "flaring", in which the betta will puff its tail out...it may even try to attack!