Brightly colored and graceful, Bettas have become just as popular as goldfish for first-time fish owners and small aquarium enthusiasts. However, at least some of the increase in sales of Betta fish is due to people bringing them home without knowing how to properly care for them and soon finding they need to buy another. In fact, Bettas are very simple to take care of as long as you pay attention to some basic guidelines.

Housing and Habitat

Many companies sell Betta starter kits that are very artistic and decorative, and very small. Bettas' natural habitat is small bodies of water, even as small as puddles, but this does not mean that they can live in a teacup on your desk. The absolute minimum volume of water in which a Betta can live is one liter. However, as with any other fish, a good rule of thumb is one gallon of water per one inch of fully grown fish for good health and well-being. If you intend to house your Betta alone, then a 1 to 2.5 gallon tank would make your new fish friend very happy, and it would still be small enough to fit on a shelf, table, or desktop. Find a spot for your fish's home that is away from drafts, direct sunlight, and that is in an area where no one is likely to startle the fish.

Another major factor that is not addressed by most small starter kits is heat. Bettas are tropical fish who do best in warm water between 75 - 85 degrees F (24 - 29 C). You can purchase a mini aquarium heater for tanks under 5 gallons. If you do keep your Betta in an unheated bowl or decorative container, the room temperature where it is kept should never drop below 75 F (24 C). Remember that the smaller the volume of water, the more quickly your bowl will lose heat in a cool room. Without a heater your Betta can quickly become cold and sluggish. You should also get an aquarium thermometer to monitor the water temperature. Once you get your tank set up, keep track of the temperature over several days to make sure it is both warm enough and consistent before you bring your fish home.

Do not fill your new aquarium directly from the tap. You can buy water dechlorinator or water conditioner to treat your water before putting it in the tank. Some brands are sold specifically for Bettas. However, you can also dechlorinate your tap water simply by filling a bucket and letting it stand for 48 hours. The chlorine will naturally escape. Alternately, you can fill the fish bowl with non-chlorinated bottled water. But whatever you do, do not use distilled water. It is too sterile and not healthy for your fish.

Bettas like to rest occasionally on plants or other objects in their habitat. Place plants or any decorative ornaments near the edges of the bowl so that the fish has plenty of room to swim. Anchor the plants in aquarium gravel or decorative stones. Avoid ornaments with sharp edges or with spaces that could snag the Betta's long, flowing fins and tail.

Bettas are unusual in that they gulp air at the surface to help them breathe. They need the surface of the water they live in to be exposed to the air. However, if you leave the top of the tank or bowl totally open, they can and will jump out. A glass cover with a few holes cut into it or a plastic grate is a good choice for keeping your fish safe while still allowing air flow over the water surface.

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