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1. Can a Betta fish live in a vase? I think the real question here is: should a Betta fish live in a vase? The answer, in short, is no. It is a common misconception that Bettas don't require a lot of space. While it is true that Bettas in the wild live in shallow water ways, those waterways are very large. Bettas need much more room than a vase can offer. The smaller the space, the quicker the water quality becomes toxic and dangerous to the fish. Smaller fish environments require so much more care. Bettas love to swim and are active fish. The minimum tank size should be 5 gallons - 10 gallons. 2. How long will a Betta fish live? There seems to be varying opinions on this question. My experience is they have lived 3-4 years. Some say 2-3 years and some say as many as 3-5 years. Many stores don't sell the Bettas till they are 4-8 months of age so that they will have the long, flowing fins and deep, rich colors that attract buyers. So be aware that by the time you buy your Betta, he could already be nearly a year old. 3. What do Betta fish eat and how often should I feed it? Bettas love to eat! Overfeeding can easily become a problem because they are always begging for food. You should feed a Betta twice a day . If you keep feeding, the Betta will of course keep eating! The ideal times to feed are once in the morning and once early evening. Bettas like to eat a wide variety of food. Giving them varied balanced diet will go a long way to keeping them healthy. They like to eat: Betta Pellets Blood Worms Daphina Brine Shrimp Mysis Shrimp These foods can be fed as live food or frozen food. If you use frozen foods do not use hot water to defrost the frozen food otherwise the water will cook it. Freeze dried food is another option, but should only be fed as a treat. It can cause bloat if the Betta is fed too much and too often. 4. Can a Betta fish live with other fish? Bettas can generally live with other peaceful community fish if the tank is large enough; however, there are never any guarantees. Bettas can be very aggressive even with other fish. They are very territorial. The introduction should be done slowly and carefully. Some good tank mates are usually Platies, female guppies and Corys to name but a few. For more in-depth information visit...Can Betta Fish live with other fish. 5. Do Betta fish need a heater? Betta Fish are tropical fish from Asia. Their natural environment is very warm so they need temperatures between 78-82F degrees. They can survive in lower temperatures, but they will become more susceptible to illness and are likely to be lethargic. If you live in a very warm climate, you may not need to use a heater all year round if your home is a consistent temperature of 78F or above. During the winter months be sure to add a heater to the Bettas tank if your home temperature fluctuates. 6. Do Betta fish need a filter? Not using a filter requires commitment and a lot of work. Using a filter is much better for your Betta. When using a filter in a Betta tank, the biggest issue is monitoring the water flow. Bettas don't like fast flowing water and will have trouble swimming. If the filter is too strong it can even pull the Betta onto the intake tube and the fish may drown. Great care should be taken when choosing a filter for your Betta. Sponge filters are a great option for Bettas as the flow can be adjusted for them. If you choose not to use a filter when keeping a Betta is a big commitment as you will need to do more large water changes per week so the water doesn't not become toxic. The water becomes toxic within 48 hours of the water having been changed. 7. Can Bettas live together? Bettas should not live together in a tank unless that tank is divided and they each have their own section. Dividers can also be siliconed in place so they have completely separate sections and the water is not shared. If they can see each other for prolonged periods of time they can become stressed. If you are using a divider be sure it is a solid color the bettas cannot see through and the tank is heavily planted to provide a safe environment for your betta. 8. How often should I clean the tank? This depends on the size of the tank and whether you have a filter or not. Tanks under 2.5 gallons with no filter (not advised, minimum 5 gallons is recommended) should be cleaned at least three to four times a week, removing 80-100% of the water. If you have a filter in the tank , it should be cleaned once a week. Remove 25-30% of the water and vacuum the substrate. Once a month the filter should be cleaned using the aquarium water. If you use tap water you will kill all the beneficial bacteria that's built up in your filter. Tank maintenance varies from tank to tank based on how many fish are in a tank and whether there are live plants, but as a general rule water changes should be done every week. 9. Do I need to cycle a Betta fish tank? This question is probably one of the most talked about and disagreed upon out of all of them. We will be giving you our views and the way we do things based on over 20 years of fish keeping. If you are not using a filter there is nothing to cycle. Cycling means to build up beneficial bacteria in the filter primarily although bacteria does also build up in the gravel and on aquarium decorations. We do fishless cycles. It simply requires patience and care. Cycling your tank takes time, so don't rush it. It will save you more time in the long run and leave you with no dead fish. A tank usually takes 3-5 weeks to cycle properly. Doing small regular water changes plays a big part in helping the tank cycle. Once the tank is cycled, you can't add a lot of fish, otherwise the tank will go out of balance very quickly and you will have to start all over again. Testing your water regularly is important. 10. Why do my Betta's fins get ripped? Betta fins are very delicate. They have beautiful flowing fins-- that's why we like them, right? They can get damaged very easily and this can then cause secondary problems including bacteria infections especially if the tank is not kept clean. This can all be avoided by keeping your water quality at its best and choosing tank decorations that are very soft and have no rough surfaces. The most common cause of fin damage is unsuitable tank decorations. Decorations such as live plants, or silk plants are a good choice. Happy fish Keeping! |
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