Keep a lid on your Betta’s tank. Bettas will jump right out of their tank if you do not use a lid. Make sure there’s a few inches of space between the surface of the tank’s water and the lid, as Bettas will sometimes surface for a bit of fresh air. Make sure there is a tank light to help any aquatic plants grow.
Since there are many types of filters, it may seem hard to choose. Whichever filter you choose, make sure it is rated for your size of tank. This information will be on the filter’s packaging. Keep the filter setting relatively low, to ensure that the filter is not creating any strong currents.
Equip your tank with a thermometer as well, to help ensure the water maintains an optimal temperature. Check the water temperature whenever you feed your fish. Heat lamps, which are often built into tanks designed for tropical fish, are not adequate for Bettas. Submersible heaters allow for more consistent temperatures, which Bettas require.
If you’ve equipped your tank with lights, keep them off for at least 12 hours a day. Not only will this help control algal growth, but it is also important to provide your fish with a chance to rest.
Artificial plants may be preferable, as natural plants will cause your tank water to become dirty much more quickly. Include at least one tall artificial plant that has leaves large enough to support your Betta near the surface of the water so that they can rest near the surface where the water is especially rich in oxygen. When selecting artificial plants and other decorations, make sure there are no sharp edges that might tear or catch your Betta’s fins. Do not keep mirrors in or near a Betta’s tank, as a male Betta will continually attack their own reflection. Make sure any decorations you add to the tank are aquarium-safe. [6] X Expert Source Craig MortonFish & Aquarium Specialist Expert Interview. 21 July 2020.
The best type of substrate for a Betta tank is stone gravel, polished or otherwise smoothed. Get gravel from a pet store or online. The individual pieces of gravel should be too large for your Betta to fit in its mouth.
You may also need to add supplements to the tank if your water’s “hardness” needs to be adjusted. Test kits will also help you test for “general hardness” and “carbonate hardness”. Shoot for 7-9 degrees and 5-8 degrees hardness, respectively. In addition to pH, GH, and KH, you should also test for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. If any of these later three amounts are off, you can get liquid acids or buffers to help adjust their levels.
A gravel vacuum is actually a simple siphon you can get from your pet store or online. Siphon about a third of the tank’s water from the bottom of the tank. This will allow waste to be pulled from the gravel without removing the gravel. Replace the same amount of water you removed with dechlorinated water that’s the same temperature as the water in the tank. Do not change all of the water at once, so the tank maintains a healthy amount of the bacteria that helps your filter keep the tank conditioned.
Feed your Betta an amount of food they can within two minutes. Monitor your Betta while eating. If there’s food left after two minutes, feed them less next time. Keep in mind that your betta’s stomach is about the size of its eye! Don’t overfeed it. [12] X Expert Source Craig MortonFish & Aquarium Specialist Expert Interview. 21 July 2020. Start by feeding them just a pinch at a time, adding more if two minutes have not elapsed and they’re still eating. Stick to one feeding per day.
If you observe any of these symptoms, change the tank water immediately and begin more closely testing the water quality. Make sure water temperatures are safe as well.
