Breeding Betta Fish Made Easy In 5 Steps

I got my first betta fish as a teenager and enjoyed that first betta for several years.
The Siamese Fighting Fish, commonly called betta, is one of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish. Bettas earn the nickname "jewel of the orient" because of their range of brilliant colors. The males particularly sport long flowing beautiful fins. Their beauty causes many to enjoy the hobby of breeding betta fish.
The temperament of the fish is very aggressive. Males especially will readily fight other males. Females may also be prone to fight.
1. Care of males and females.
It is essential to distinguish between males and females, but it isn't always easy to do. Males do tend to have larger and fuller fins. Studying pictures of the differences will help. Each male should be kept in his own bowl or tank. Two males in the same tank will usually fight until one is dead. Even a male and female should be together only briefly for spawning. Otherwise the male will often treat the female roughly and do permanent damage.
Several females can usually be kept in the same tank provided there is sufficient room. There should be more than two females, otherwise one will dominate and continually chase the other female.
2. Water conditions are important for breeding betta fish.
The betta's native habitat is vast, shallow freshwater paddies of Southeast Asia. The fish must have access to the surface of the water, since it takes oxygen directly from the atmosphere as well as through their gills. Since they can get oxygen from the surface, they can survive in smaller spaces and poorer condition than other aquarium fish. Though they do best in clean, filtered water. They can be kept in bowls under the right conditions, but a portion of the water should be changed very frequently. It's best to allow about three gallons per fish. And it's recommended to have a minimum tank size of six gallons so a heater can be used. The right water temperature is 75 - 84 degrees F. At those temperatures the fish will be quite active.
3. Choose the right food.
Bettas are carnivorous but they can do well on food labelled 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.
4. Mating.
Males build a nest of air bubbles for the baby fish or fry. And the males care for the young.
For spawning, a female is introduced into the male tank. If conditions are right for mating, the male fish will squeeze the female. Eggs will be expelled, then fertilized by the male. The female should then be removed to her tank to prevent her injury by the male fish. Even if spawning does not take place, the female should be removed.
The male fish will care for the eggs until the fry emerge in a few days.
5. Providing for the young.
The released little fish or fry are very tiny and vulnerable. Most often they are raised in special ponds where they feed on tiny microscopic living creatures. Some have success raising the fry in bowls or aquariums. But the conditions must be right, similar to the usual pond environment.
For much more information on breeding bettas and successfully raising

Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions on Betta Fish Explained!

Betta Fish, arguably the most popular type of fish found in the home today across all the world. This astonishing fish displays a vibrant personality whilst posing the most magnificent colour and fin structure helping to create a truly jaw dropping aquarium that you can show off to your guests!
Originating from the paddy fields of Vietnam, Betta are an astounding fish and I will be answering in this article the 10 most popular questions I get asked on a regular basis about Betta Fish. So lets get started...
1. How do you stop Betta Fish from Fighting?
This is probably one of the most popular questions I get asked!
In my experience I've found a few ways that work...
One way is simply to get a bigger tank. With the bigger tank you can include a couple of new plants, bear in mind you don't want to over do it with the plants otherwise you will ruin your fish display (not very appealing to your guests!). By making the tank bigger and introducing a few more plants it creates extra hiding places for your Betta when the aggressive one is on the war path!
A second way is to simply separate the aggressive fish from the rest. This can be done by putting a divider into your tank, or by taking the aggressive fish out and putting it into a new tank. I would personally recommend putting a divider into your tank, size permitting of course, as your Betta will know the other Betta Fish are there. It also helps when it comes to the breeding process because introductions would have already been made.
Thirdly, you must NEVER, I repeat NEVER put a male Betta in with another male Betta Fish, period! Otherwise, they will fight to the death (this is why they are also known as Siamese Fighting Fish!). So by not keeping males together this will reduce fighting astronomically.
Female Betta's have been known to be aggressive and fight between each other, particularly if you have 2 together. However, this is just an "I'm the leader" thing going on between them and usually wears off , but a technique I've used and seen have great success to stop this happening is to add a 3rd female into the tank. By doing this any tension between the previous two is removed - try it, you'll be surprised how effective it is!
2. Can You Keep Male and Female Betta Fish Together?
Yes you can. However, I would recommend keeping a close eye on the male Betta just in case he becomes too aggressive and the female needs to be removed. As I mentioned above having plants in the tank can help the female hide if the male becomes aggressive.
3. How Do You Tell the Difference Between a Male and Female Betta Fish?
I always remember the saying "It's easy when you know how..." when I get asked this question because when I first started breeding Betta Fish it took me ages to recognise the difference between a male and a female...
You will tend to find that female Betta's have fat bellies where as males tend to have a more streamlined structure. Also, you will find that males have a longer body and fins whereas the females are shorter in body size and fin length.
Also, male Betta Fish tend to have more colour and longer pointed anal fins compared to their female counterparts (sorry ladies!). You will also find female anal fins are more level to their body. The anal fin is the rigid looking fin coming from the bottom of the Betta Fish.
However, one giveaway of a female is her white spot on the underside of her belly. This white spot is called the ovipositor and is used during the breeding process.
4. What are the Best Caring Tips for Betta Fish?
Lots of people have written books on the subject of caring for Betta Fish but I'm going to give you my best tips that I've picked up along the way...
- Test your water's acidity level regularly. A PH level of 7 works best in my experience.
- Always try and keep the water temperature at around 75-80 Fahrenheit. I would recommend testing this regularly using a floating thermometer because big drops in water temperature can cause stress on your fish. Floating thermometers in my experience give the best accuracy reading because they are kept in the tank water.
- Always keep a lid/cover over the top of your tank with air holes in it because Betta Fish can jump and you might not be there to catch them!
- Any filtration system should be kept at a low level and you must take care not to put the air intake in such a position that it could cause your Betta to get hurt. Having your filter system at a high setting has been known to cause stress to your Betta.
- Try and clean your tank regularly, ideally twice a week. Remove bits of food caught under the stones, castles or leaves of your tank.
- As a rule of thumb I recommend 3 quarters of a gallon per Betta fish in your tank. Also, try and get a spacious tank to allow your Betta plenty of room to show off their personality, you'll be surprised some are very exciting to watch!
I've always found if you love your Betta like you love your own then you won't go far wrong, and with implementing the above you will be well on your way to having truly astonishing Betta Fish.
5. What should I feed my Betta Fish?
Surprisingly, Betta Fish are known to be fussy eaters (and you thought us humans were bad!). So it is best to feed them on a variety of foods, such as:
- Brine shrimp - Daphnia - Frozen Bloodworms - Blackworms (Tubifex) worms - Combination Betta Pellets from Pet Shops - Powder Fish Food if feeding Fry - Vegetables (such as green beans, not a whole one but in tiny portions)
I tend to find a regular feeding pattern of 2-3 times a day works best for Betta. Try as well to make portions eaten in one sitting otherwise any leftover food could lead to additional bacteria in the tank potentially causing disease for your Betta Fish.
6. What are Betta Fish also Known as?
Not a lot of people know this but Betta Fish are also known as Siamese Fighting Fish. The name originates because of the males aggressiveness and their "Fight to the Death" attitude if two males are put in the same tank together.
Betta fish are often referred to as Betta Splendens but this is a type of breed of Betta, which leads us nicely onto the next question...
7. What are the Different Types of Betta Fish Available?
There are many types of Betta Fish available, the most popular types I've listed below:
- Betta Splendens (the most common type) - Betta Bellica - Betta Coccina - Betta Picta
Some of the most popular Tail Types of Betta are:
- Veil Tail (this generally the most common tail type that you find at the pet stores)
- Delta Fish (normally any fish under the 180 degree tail span is considered a Delta)
- Super Delta Fish (normally any Betta with a tail span of 120-180 degrees)
- Fan Tail (the Betta's tail displays a smoothly rounded edge)
- Half Moon (as it's name suggest it's tail is the shape of a half moon - a 180 degrees span, this is the fish most breeders strive to achieve and display a truly fabulous colour!)
- Pin (Spade) Tail (the Betta's tail is pointed at the end)
Depending on what you are looking for this should hopefully give you enough information to choose a Betta fish at the pet store! ;-)
8. Can I Put Bamboo in With My Betta Fish?
Bamboo or Lucky Bamboo as it is also known, the type that is sold from pet stores, can be put into your tank with your Betta Fish. The bamboo can make your tank look more attractive and appealing to your guests, which is always a bonus!
However, what I recommend is that the bamboo is washed thoroughly before entry into the tank to help ensure there are no chemicals on it that could hurt your Betta. Also, it is a good idea to check the bamboo regularly just to see if it is rotting because it could release bacteria into your tank's water that could potentially harm your Betta fish. Changing your tank's water often will reduce the threat of bacteria happening.
9. What Ammonia Level Should My Tank be at?
Ideally, you want an ammonia level between 0-0.5. By changing your water regularly (about 30-50% twice a week, if you have high ammonia) this will help reduce the ammonia in your tank.
It is a good idea to monitor ammonia levels on a regular basis, because a high level is not healthy for your Betta Fish.
10. Would a Father Betta Harm His Children?
Unfortunately, a male (Father) Betta would harm his children (Fry). Although, the Father is very protective of the Fry during the spawning process it is common for them to attack the Fry as they become bigger and able to look after themselves.
I recommend removing the Father from the tank once the Fry are able to swim freely, usually 7-10 days after birth because he can become very aggressive towards them and potentially cause them harm.
That's the answers to the 10 most asked questions I get on a regular basis. I hope you found this information useful and are able to put it to good effect.

Breeding Betta Fish for Profit

Breeding Betta fish can be somewhat difficult if you have never done it before, or if you do not have a lot of patience. However, if you can get past the particular things that can make Betta fish a little more difficult to breed, then you should be able to turn a pretty good profit, and have fun along the way.
These include things such as keeping the water temperature a comfortable 80-82 degrees, and making sure you remove the female and male Bettas at the right times.
You will also be the proud caretaker of up to 1000 baby fish! Not all the fry will live, but there will most likely be several hundred and you will be able to sell them within a few weeks.
You will need to decide whether you are going to provide a nice habitat to go along with the fish, or if you are going to just have them in a glass or plastic fish cup until they get home with their new owners. You may be able to get a larger profit if you add a bowl and plant fixture; that has been popular in years past.
If you have the option for a plant/bowl aquarium, some people are willing to pay extra for those features. With several hundred fish out of each breeding, you should be able to turn out a fair profit from breeding your Betta fish. Just be sure to pay close attention to the adult fish through the process and you'll have fun too!

Betta Fish Is The Perfect Pet Fish

I still remember the first time I saw two beautiful looking fish in a friend's house. One fish was blue and the other was red, and they were swimming majestically in their fishbowls. That was my first encounter with a fish species known as Betta fish or Betta Splendens or Siamese Fighting Fish (three names that refer to one fish).
Up until today, I'm still keeping a few of them in my house, and they make perfect pet fish for my family. Every member of my family loves them.
Why do I like most about Betta fish, you may ask. Definitely, I have many different reasons, but here are three of them.
1. Betta fish are beautiful pet.
It's a tropical fish that comes with different colors such as red, blue and yellow. Some Betta fish have more than one color on their bodies. Believe it or not! I can spend hours looking at how Betta fish move in their bowls but even if you don't know a thing about Betta fish, you will be mesmerized by their colors alone.
2. Betta fish are easy to 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).
3. Betta fish are responsive.
If you have a Betta fish in a small fishbowl and you move closer to the fish, you'll see that your fish will turn its head to look at you. That's what makes me fall in love with Betta fish. They are responsive to your presence and aware that you are there, unlike many other pet fish.
So, you can now consider if you want to adopt Betta fish as your family pet or for your kids. They are lovable creatures and you will know it immediately one you have a Betta in your house.

Breeding Betta fishes

Betta fishes are in reality very sociable fish as long as you don't place two males together. They can be very easily kept with most other fish, and what you truly have to watch out for is the fish that bothers bettas.
Betta fishes are slow moving fish with incredibly long fins, so they can't be placed with any fast moving fish that is being known for it's fin-nipping, like zebra danios. They get along in a very good manner with most breeds of tetras, and you can let your baby betta fish grow with baby neons.
When you place bettas in a community tank, the most significant thing to keep in mind is that they are fish that initially came from an area with slow moving water. So any kind of big filtration on the tank will shock a betta and make him conceal in a corner away from the current. You have to create a sense of balance in this case with the other fish in the tank that have need of the current and bubbles for the oxygen in the water for them to survive. Alternatively, once a betta fish gets accustomed to the current from a filter, you will every now and then see the betta playing in it for fun. Simply take care that there is an area with slow moving water or still water in the tank for the betta to move to when they are exhausted.
Normally you can't place a male and female betta fish in the same tank if * The two fish are not very babyish (more than a few months old generally won't work) * They are not prepared and ready to reproduce, * They have not grown up together from a very young age, and * You do not have sufficient hiding places for the female.
This is a sweeping statement - your mileage may differ on this one!
Generally, even for usual breeders, getting the silly small fish to breed can be either an effortless joy or a royal pain. They're not as good as the humans on blind dates. Many a times one couple will take to each other right away and you'll have eggs spread here and there in the tank, and sometimes they can swim around the tank for weeks and in no way look at each other. Or in certain cases one will be attracted but the other won't. So don't ever get depressed about not being able to breed the fish.
As a universal rule, for a female betta fish, give her sufficient time for her to recuperate and start looking prepared again; Sorry, that won't help out a lot, but every fish is unusual just keep an eye on your betta fish. If she had a despondent initially, it'll take her a while to recuperate. If the whole thing went well, she can be hot to trot again within a week.
Generally the second mating produce less number of eggs as compared to the first one, but it's never debilitated the female yet. If the female betta fish hasn't been fed, high-protein food regularly, then it takes normally a minimum time of 2-3 weeks after starting that food that she'll be prepared for breeding. After having been bred, if the female fish has been put on that same food again, usually within 2-3 weeks she'll be prepared again. However, it would better on your part to maintain a gap of one month in between.
Look carefully while placing the fish together. If the female is trying to attract the male aggressively and the bubblenest, and hanging her head down in the water, she's prepared. If all she does is swim away worriedly trying to run away, she's not.
Males also have to be conditioned as they use up a lot of exertion in tending the fry, but they're time and again more prepared than females. Though, keep an eye on the fish. From time to time the male is just so eager to be with a female that he's more involved in either fighting or showing off to truly doing anything about it. Or he's been around females so much that being lonely with one just isn't a delight anymore. Make use of your decision.
Normally after a fish is beaten up, it's fine to give them sufficient time to recuperate from whatever wounds they received, but torn fins aren't generally a trouble.

Identification and Treatment of Dropsy in Freshwater Aquarium Fish

Question about Dropsy:
I posted about a female Siamese fighting fish (Betta) that appeared to have dropsy a few weeks ago. I treated her twice with Maracyn. After the swelling didn't start to go down, but she is still as swollen as she was then, but has not got to the point were her scales have started to protrude? Do you know what else that it could be. She seems buoyant and the swollen cavity appears to be filled by either air, of a clear liquid, when she swims in front of the lights?
Answer:
Have you tried Kanacyn? Maracyn (Erythromycin) is usually not effective for most causes of Dropsy. And dropsy is generally a symptom of something else, sometimes digestive, often kidney related. Because of this, Dropsy can often be very difficult to treat, especially if caught in an advanced case in the fish. What the aquarist often observes is a "pinecone" swelling generally caused by fluid building inside the body cavity, for this reason, reducing this swelling is an important step in effecting a cure. This said, besides treatment for a possible underlying infection, you want to take steps to remove the swelling.

Here are the steps I would take:

*Change water! (25% should be fine)

*Perform a medicated bath with Methylene Blue. To prepare this bath I use 1 teaspoon 2.303% solution per 5 gallons (double dose) in a bath of aquarium water from the tank the fish you wish to treat came from, I usually use about a ½ gallon of water, however you may use less. Measurement of the Methylene Blue does not need to be precise as this bath should be used for about 30 minutes (although do NOT overdose). Make sure you keep the water in a warm area, as in a cold room the water temperature can drop rapidly which would stress the fish. Do not pour this water back into your display aquarium when finished. This can be performed twice per day.

*Add one tablespoon of regular salt (sodium chloride) per 5 gallons of tank water and ¼ to ½ teaspoon of Epsom salts per 5 gallons of tank water. Add a Wonder Shell (trace element block) or similar product to add needed calcium. What these minerals will do is add electrolytes and change (and improve) the osmotic balance of the fish vs. the surrounding water to hopefully pull fluids thru the body thus reducing swelling.

*Treat tank water with Kanamycin (Kanaplex), or possibly with Neomycin or Nalidixic Acid.

Here is more info about aquarium medications: Aquarium Medications; treatments, how they work, and which ones to use and not to use

Prevention:

The aeromonas bacteria (that is often present in healthy aquariums) can cause infections that will manifest this way in poor water conditions. So maintaining a healthy aquarium with regular water changes, good filtration (if possible, this is why I see more cases of Dropsy in Betta kept in a bowl), good feeding practices (not over feeding and using quality foods), and maintaining proper water parameters (ammonia and nitrites 0, kH 80 ppm, nitrates under 40 ppm). All this goes a long way in prevention of Dropsy and other diseases.

A proper diet makes a large difference here. Do not feed your fish meat based proteins, I recommend aquatic based proteins such as white fish meal, shrimp or even the proteins found in spirulina algae.

As a basic diet I recommend Sanyu or Hikari Betta Gold (there are many other quality foods as well, although I do not recommend flake foods for bettas as their staple diet) Poor quality proteins (or better; unusable amino acids for fish) can lead to digestive problems or Renal failure, which can lead to the symptoms of Dropsy. All proteins are made up of amino acids, some are usable (by fish), and some are not. Those that are not are disposed of by kidneys in the fish. This can lead to renal failure or infection. For more information about proper nutrition, see this article: "Quality Fish Food; What ingredients are needed for proper fish nutrition, growth and health". Also always soak all dry foods in water for 5 minutes prior to feeding as this will remove air that can lead to infections of the digestive tract. I would recommend this as a basic diet for your Betta: Sanyu Betta Gold

For further & expanded information and pictures, please see this article: "Aquarium Answers; DROPSY in fish; prevention, causes, and possible treatment of this symptom. "

Betta Fish Care - Ways To Keep A Healthy, Beautiful Fish

Because betta fish can be kept in relatively simple containers as opposed to large aquariums with complicated filtration systems, many people are attracted to them as easy to care for, yet beautiful tropical fish. But betta fish care does require some frequent work to keep the fish happy and healthy.
The first key to betta fish care is to give your fish at least a little space. Yes, they can be kept alive in those little jars they sell them in at the pet stores, but imagine how happy you'd be if confined to a space so small you couldn't move. Bettas kept in very small containers often grow listless and may lose color over time. While your fish does not require a tremendous amount of space, you do want it to have enough room to swim around a bit. A one to two gallon fish bowl works nicely. In addition, since Bettas do breathe at the surface from time to time, you want to make sure there is sufficient space at the surface for your fish to do that.

It should be noted that bettas can jump, so it is important to put some type of cover over the top of your container (as long as it is not airtight!) to keep your fish in the water.

The next part of betta fish care that is critical to the health of the fish is to keep the container and water very clean. Part of keeping the container clean is to use care when feeding your fish. Excess food will accumulate at the bottom and cause bacterial growth and cloud the water. I suggest feeding your fish with the standard betta food pellets by dropping in just one pellet at a time, perhaps 3 or 4 times per day. Not only will this help keep the container clean, it will also prevent overfeeding which can cause swim bladder problems which can kill betta fish.

Frequent water changes are important to keep toxins from building up. Small containers should have at least one third of their water changed at least twice per week. Larger containers with one to two gallons of water or more can be done once per week, with about half the water being changed out.

When changing the water, there are various test kits, water treatment chemicals, aging techniques, etc. that can be used to remove toxic substances like chlorine and to establish the preferred neutral pH of the water. There is a much simpler trick to betta fish care with regards to water though. You can buy ordinary distilled water and not have to test or treat it at all. Distilled water is free of contaminants and has a neutral pH - perfect for your betta fish, and much simpler than trying to get your tap water to the right chemical balance! Just be sure to get DISTILLED water instead of spring water, drinking water, etc., in order to ensure purity and the correct pH.

Good betta fish care also involves keeping the water warm - about 75 or 80 degrees. Bettas come from tropical regions and do not like it when the water temperature is too low.

Decorations in the container are desirable, as betta fish like to rest on objects off the bottom. Be sure to choose objects that do not have any sharp edges, as these can tear up the betta's delicate fins. Real or artificial plants can be used, but with artificial plants be sure the material is soft, again to avoid fin damage.

The tips you now have will give you the basics to keep your betta healthy. A bright, active fish will be the outcome of good betta fish care.

Choosing Your Own Healthy Betta Fish

Betta fish, also known as Siamese fighting fish, make wonderful pets. They take less care, maintenance and space than many other pets, and are more reasonably prices. They also do not require a large investment in materials and accessories to get started. More importantly, they are very beautiful and fun to watch, as they will learn to respond to you. Males have the most brilliant colors and so make the most beautiful pets. Never put two males together, however, as they will most likely fight. If this happens, they will damage each other and one may actually kill the other.
Choosing a healthy fish at the pet store will go a long way towards making the experience of owning bettas the best is can be.

Go to a reputable pet store and check the surroundings. The cups or bags should be mostly clean and full of living bettas. The water should be clear and fresh, and there should be no bad odors.

Check the betta’s fins. Make sure they are in good shape, not torn or damaged. Also, check the gills. They should be flat and smooth, no peeling.

Check the eyes. A healthy betta has clear eyes. If they are dull, sunken or bulging, pass that fish by.

The body should not have any bumps (parasites) or white patches (fungus infection). The scales should be smooth and flat, not loose or missing. Healthy fish have bright, vivid colors. Avoid those that are dull or pale in color. If the stomach is swollen, it’s probably a sign of a sick fish. Avoid it.

Check its behavior. The fish should be floating upright unless it is sleeping. Move your hand gently towards the container. A healthy betta is very alert and should react in some way to the movement.

If most of the fish seem healthy and happy, then look for that special betta that appeals to you. Once you have found him, be gentle with his container when checking out and taking him home. The less shaking, the less stressed he will be. And the less stressed the betta is, the quicker he will start eating, show good color and learn to like you.

5 tips on proper Betta fish care

The Betta has quickly become one of the most popular freshwater fish in the aquarium trade. In just a few short years, these reatures have gone from a well-kept secret among serious entusiasts, to being found in nearly every office and household, offered for sale in every pet store or major chain store in America.
Betta is a tank fish and its maintenance is quite easy. However, it does need some care and you should be attentive to its heath. A sick Betta is easy to spot since naturally the fish is very active and vibrant. If you have had the fish for a while you will be able to spot immediately when they feel sick.

Following tips can help you keep the Betta fish healthy and active:

1. A bowl large enough to allow ample swimming space is a necessity. The fish shouldn't bump and tear its fins or scales. A large enough tank also ensures that the water has adequate oxygen level. That's why it is recommended to buy a 3-gallon tank for the Betta to have plenty of room. Keep the bowl or tank away from sources of hot and cold air such as heaters, cold or sunny windows, drafts, etc. It's is important that the fish container be kept cool at about 65 to 75 degrees F.

2. Betta fish do not require filtration but need the cleanest water you can provide them. Change the water every three days or so to keep it clean and prevent infection in your fish. The water you add to the tank should have set out for 24 hours, to release some of the chemicals. Avoid buying water from Walmart! Betta owners report that Walmart's water is not neutral and betta can die quickly. Walmart water never gets treated, the ammonia is so high and pH and all that stuff so when you add it to the tank it is so new to the fish that it puts them in shock and kills them.

3. Ensure that the bottom of the bowl or tank is debris free. You can use something as simple as a turkey baster to do this cleaning. Debris sitting at the bottom will make the water cloudy and unhygienic for the fish. They will also cause the water to smell. When cleaning the tank accessories, avoid using soap because traces of soap will change the water pH.

4. Bettas are also called Siamese fighting fish because the male of the species will fight each other to the death. They are highly territorial animals and will react violently if two are placed in the same container. Avoid putting two males in the same tank. Females can stay together and so can one male with many females. You can also keep your Betta with guppies.

5. Pet stores usually don't carry female bettas, because they tend to be less colorful and showy than the males. Also, people are usually just looking for a nice pet, not a breeding hobby. If this is your intention, then I suggest doing some serious research before you start!

If you are looking for more useful tips on proper Betta fish care, please visit my betta fish guide blog, or go directly to the section with fish breeding advice.

Betta Fish Care - Seven Hot Tips On How To Care For Betta Fish

Sure everyone loves Goldfish but there are a very similar type of highly colored and active fish that are just as easy to care for. I'm talking about Betta fish, also known as Siamese Fighting Fish. Hailing from the Mekong river in Asia these beautiful fish usually grow to about 6cm in length although some may reach 8cm's or more. One little known fact is that their natural color is actually a dark green and brown. We see the bright colored ones today simply because of selective breeding by breeders from around the world.
Betta fish are very easy to care for and this makes them a great choice for people who have busy lifestyles and wish to keep pet fish. Below are seven hot tips to keep your Betta fish in tip top shape.

Number 1 - Simple Monitoring

After you've had your Betta fish for a while you will soon recognize their behaviors and activities. You will soon be able to see if your Betta fish are poorly. If your fish seem lethargic measure the temperature of the water. Too cold and your fish will seem listless. The ideal water temperature should be about 28 degrees centigrade (approximately 82 Fahrenheit).

Number 2 - Keep The Water Clean

This may sound obvious to some but your Betta fish need clean water. You shouldn't need a water filter but try to change at least a quarter of the tanks water twice a week. This will insure that it stays nice and clean and will help to keep away any infections. Try not to use water straight out of the cold tap but leave it out for a day at least to let it settle. Be sure to use a PH testing kit (you can get these from your favorite pet store) and try to keep the PH at around 7.0.

Number 3 - Size Matters!

When choosing a tank make sure it will be large enough for your Betta fish to swim around comfortably. A 20 litre tank is ideal. Sharp rocks and stones should be avoided. You don't want your pride and joy to rip or tear any of his/her fins.

Number 4 - Keep A Lid On It

Betta fish like to jump! Knowing this try to keep the water level approximately 6 centimetres below the top of your tank. This, along with the lid, should stop your fish flipping themselves onto the table for your cat to find. DO NOT use an air tight lid! Bettas can take oxygen direct from the waters surface so make sure there are good air holes in the lid.

Number Five - Fish Need Friends Too

It is a wise idea never to keep other Betta fish in the same tank. They are not called Siamese fighting fish for nothing! Try not to keep mirrors or shiny surfaces near the tank as they will flare up at the slightest sign of another Betta, even if it's themselves. Male Bettas tend to be the worst for this type of behavior. It may be fun to watch but all you will do is stress your fish and decrease its lifespan. You can keep other fish with your Bettas. Loaches, platies (or moons) and Cory catfish are ideal tankmates.

Number 6 - Cleaning

Never (and we mean never) use soap or detergents to clean out your fish tank. Simply use a plastic brush and warm water to scrub any rocks or decorations you may have. To remove any old food from the bottom of the tank try using a pipette or a kitchen baster. This will ensure your tank stays nice and fresh and doesn't smell.

Number 7 - Food

Your Betta fish will absolutely love live food such as brine shrimp or bloodworms. Feeding them live food will keep them active and it is great fun to watch them gobbling them all up. For variety try feeding them on thinly chopped vegetables like broccoli, carrots and soybeans. They will enjoy these just as much as live food. Feeding your Bettas on a wider range of food will help them to live longer.

Betta Fish Breeding Guide

Some fish owners want to become betta fish breeding experts. While there's certain difference in the amount of knowledge experts and advanced betta lovers have, when it comes to betas they are rather easy to breed.
The betta fish is hardy and can live in diverse conditions, so the first thing to do is to find a female betta.

It's not as simple as it sounds. Most pet stores have only male bettas on sale, because they are more vibrant and flamboyant. Female betta fish are pretty dull compared to their male counterparts. However, if you ask your local pet store nicely, you may be pointed in the right direction. Otherwise, search on the web.

Female betas have one certain advantage over male betas they can live together peacefully, while two males will begin fighting. That's just how nature works, nothing to be done here.

So when you've got a couple of female bettas in your tank, start feeding them normally, as you would feed any betta. Betta fish breeding assume females must be healthy, or they won't spawn. And health comes from food, naturally. When the diet regime is right, you may notice that male betta started building a bubble nest, and that the female betta started to look decidedly plumper.

Here comes your part. No, you should never leave betas to do their things their own way. Your help may be required! Male betta can attack the female too vigorously with his amorous activities. To protect the female betta, you may need to separate it from the male counterpart for a couple of days for the fish to recover.

When they are ready to breed, you'll notice what is called 'hugging'; the male betta will wrap the female fertilizing the eggs with his sperm as she produces them.

Then the male betta will start placing the eggs in the bubble nest he'd built. For the next days, he will be looking after it and scooping up the eggs that occasionally pop out of the nest. That's his daddy duty. Quite fascinating to watch really! By this time, you can scoop the female betta out of the tank since that's it for her, really.

After about 2-3 days, small fry will begin emerging in the bubble nest. Small betas need to stay in the nest for over a day because their gills aren't developed enough.

When you see the little betas swim independently, be sure to remove their daddy from the tank, or he can devour the brood… such things happen.

Feeding the baby fish is difficult. Some people engaged in breeding betta fish say that no matter what the do, the young generation dies. I believe this has something to do with the water conditions. In the wild the water isn't as pure as it is sold in pet stores. Natural water contains all kinds of microscopic little beasties and flora that is hard to maintain in a fish tank.

Take some large jar (that allows plenty of oxygen to dissolve in the water), fill it with some water from the tank, and put in some straw (you may use grass as well, but you never know what kind of pesticides were used on it). Leave the jar where there is direct sunlight. After about 2-4 days you will see the water filling itself with all kinds of crippling creatures. Harvest an ounce or two from the top, and then put it straight into the tank with baby betta fish.

After about two weeks or so, you may start feeding young bettas with other stuff like crushed flake food and I mean finely crushed. Small betas don't need much food a tiny pinch would suffice.

By about 7 weeks, young betas would have reached about 1 inch in size. This is the time to separate them into individual small jars. As time goes by, you should be able to tell the male and female betas apart. So as you see betta fish breeding involves quite some efforts, but it's worth that.

Kelly Wright writes articles on betta fish breeding, care, and feeding. Visit betta fish blog for more great tips which will help you in your hobby, or go directly to betta breeding guide for a detailed set of instructions.

betta fish can be fun

empty handed, having to eat fast food instead of delicious steamed trout, then this will be the most important message you read today
Let me tell you why

There is more to fishing than you might have first thought. To be more precise, there's more to the fish themselves and how they think, than you would have ever even considered

Understanding How Fish Think Is The Key To Successful Fishing

Admittedly this message is quite long, but by the end of it you'll have discovered more secrets to fishing for trout than you can poke a rod at. It will be worthwhile for you I promise

But I should introduce myself first. and I have been an angler now for 23 years. At the tender age of 10 I made my first cast and I've been in love with the sport ever since. I've done it all from bay fishing to stream fishing, but it was 11 years ago that I was introduced to spinner fishing for Trout. I was hooked! -- I literally have not fished any other way since. When I go out, I catch a fish on every single trip. In fact, I'm much closer to cracking-the-code on catching a trout with...

I don't have a 100% cast to catch success rate, but I'm damn close. Even the people I have taught have had incredible success. I recently went fishing with a good friend's wife, who had never even touched a rod before. She caught a trout on her very first fishing trip.

Learn The Secrets To Keeping And Breeding Betta Fish

betta fish fascinating you? How would you like to learn the secrets to keeping and breeding betta fish. These techniques will give you the most colorful, healthy and active fish in the country. Just check out this amazing new website for more info: betta fish discus

The owner, Mike has just released an incredible new ebook with all his tips and techniques learned over the years in it. Just by going to the site you can discover the most comon reason betta fish become sick with disease and how 90% of the time it comes down to the same thing that can be avoided very easily

Just make sure you take a look at this site today as he's giving away a free betta fish info gift worth $197 that has taken him months to produce Here's the link to the website: betta fish discus ! I'll stop writing now so you don't miss out on the bonus special

Betta Fish Breeding Guide

Betta fish owners want to become betta fish breeding experts. While there's certain difference in the amount of knowledge experts and advanced betta lovers have, when it comes to betas they are rather easy to breed

The betta fish is hardy and can live in diverse conditions, so the first thing to do is to find a female betta It's not as simple as it sounds. Most pet stores have only male bettas on sale, because they are more vibrant and flamboyant.

Female betta fish are pretty dull compared to their male counterparts. However, if you ask your local pet store nicely, you may be pointed in the right direction. Otherwise, search on the web Female betas have one certain advantage over male betas they can live together peacefully, while two males will begin fighting. That's just how nature works, nothing to be done here

So when you've got a couple of female bettas in your tank, start feeding them normally, as you would feed any betta. Betta fish breeding assume females must be healthy, or they won't spawn. And health comes from food, naturally. When the diet regime is right, you may notice that male betta started building a bubble nest, and that the female betta started to look decidedly plumper.

Here comes your part. No, you should never leave betas to do their things their own way. Your help may be required! Male betta can attack the female too vigorously with his amorous activities. To protect the female betta, you may need to separate it from the male counterpart for a couple

of days for the fish to recover

When they are ready to breed, you'll notice what is called 'hugging'; the male betta will wrap the female fertilizing the eggs with his sperm as she produces them Then the male betta will start placing the eggs in the ubble nest he'd built.

For the next days, he will be looking after it and scooping up the eggs that occasionally pop out of the nest.

That's his daddy duty. Quite fascinating to watch really! By this time, you can scoop the female betta out of the tank since that's it for her, really. After about 2-3 days, small fry will egin

emerging in the bubble nest.

Small betas need to stay in the nest for

over a day because their gills aren't developed enough.
When you see the little betas swim independently, be sure to remove their daddy from the tank, or he can devour the brood… such things happen.
Feeding the baby fish is difficult.

Some people engaged in breeding betta fish say that no matter what the do, the young generation dies. I believe this has something to do with the water conditions. In the wild the water isn't as pure as it is sold in pet stores. Natural water contains all kinds of microscopic little beasties and flora that is hard to maintain in a fish tank

Take some large jar (that allows plenty of oxygen to dissolve in the water), fill it with some water from the tank, and put in some straw (you may use grass as well, but you never know what kind of pesticides were used on it). Leave the jar where there is direct sunlight. After about 2-4 days you will see the water filling itself with all kinds of crippling creatures. Harvest an ounce or two from the top, and then put it straight into the tank with baby

betta fish.

After about two weeks or so, you may start feeding young bettas with other stuff like crushed flake food and I mean finely crushed. Small betas don't need much food a tiny pinch would suffice.
By about 7 weeks, young betas would have reached about 1 inch in size. This is the time to separate them into individual small jars. As time goes by, you should be able to tell the male and female betas apart. So as you

see betta fish breeding involves quite some efforts, but it's worth that.
Visit betta fish discus for more great tips which will help you in your hobby,

Keeping Tropical Fish In An Apartment

As a working professional and a kinda hectic commute and living in the city of New York it would really be unfair for me and other people to have cats or dogs. Don't get me wrong I know a lot of people that do and god bless them. Well even though rent has sky rocketed a lot of places still do not allow cats or dogs. So a great alternative that is relatively easy, own tropical fish.
If you don't have a lot of time I would get very easy care level tropical fish which are as followed; Swordtails, Danio, Platy, Betta, Guppies, Tetras, Goldfish. I would also recommend getting an algae eater or two for the tank so you have to do less cleaning such as a snail, suckermouth cats or Plecos. Plecos for bigger tanks of course even though they could go in a 10 gallon tank since they only grow to the size of there environment.
Now depending on your apartment size is the size tank you should get, but also remember that the bigger the tank more problems could come up. So in general I would not get a tank any bigger then 30 Gallons. That could be still a nice amount of fish you could get between 22 to 30 fish. Also most landlords do not mind tropical fish since they do not damage furniture or walls. Well that being said if you have a small apartment like I do I would only get an up to 10 Gallon tank which could have up to 10 fish. I also have a 1 and an half gallon but that has my Betta in it.
Also when buying a tank now a days I would get an aquarium complete kit, which comes with a heater, even though you should buy two. I would explain in a later article why you should do that, a fish net, and a filter and hood with lighting.
What is also great about owning a fish tank there is no smell, and it would add light and a nice relaxing atmosphere to the apartment.
Also remember to get an electronic vacuum they are great. You do not need a bucket like the hand types or air type aquarium vacuums. Even though you should still have a bucket when you do your water changes for your aquarium.
Also get live plants into your tank that would help keep is oxenize the water and if you are gone to long the fish could eat the plants. If you are gone for a long time unlike dogs and cats you do not need a sitter there are long time feeders available to place in your tank depending if you are gone to long. Also when you are not there for a while if you keep the lights off the fish would not eat as much.
Also you don't have to walk your fish. By the way the only tropical fish that could last more then 8 seconds out of fish is the Betta but not much longer so you can't even if you wanted to sorry. Hey at least you do not have to scoop up the poop off the street either.

At Last! A Proven Method For Catching Trout Every Time You Go Fishing

betta fish can be fun

If you are sick and tired of coming home from fishing trips empty handed, having to eat fast food instead of delicious steamed trout, then this will be the most important message you read today

Let me tell you why

There is more to fishing than you might have first thought. To be more precise, there’s more to the fish themselves and how they think, than you would have ever even considered

Understanding How Fish Think Is
The Key To Successful Fishing

Admittedly this message is quite long, but by the end of it you’ll have discovered more secrets to fishing for trout than you can poke a rod at. It will be worthwhile for you I promise

But I should introduce myself first. and I have been an angler now for 23 years. At the tender age of 10 I made my first cast and I’ve been in love with the sport ever since.
I’ve done it all from bay fishing to stream fishing, but it was 11 years ago that I was introduced to spinner fishing for Trout. I was hooked! -- I literally have not fished any other way since.
When I go out, I catch a fish on every single trip. In fact, I’m much closer to cracking-the-code on catching a trout with…

I don’t have a 100% cast to catch success rate, but I’m damn close. Even the people I have taught have had incredible success. I recently went fishing with a good friend's wife, who had never even touched a rod before. She caught a trout on her very first fishing trip!
So I know what I’m doing. What’s really going to help you, is why I can get this kind of success. That’s what this website is really about. Helping you to get the same success when fishing for trout
Like I said earlier, Trout Fishing really started for me about 11 years ago hen my Father-In-Law took me out spinner fishing. And this was real spinner fishing, where you hike all day to different spots along a river.It was fantastic, my idea of fishing heaven, except for one thing. You see, I have never had any trouble catching fish in the bay. And I loved the peace and tranquility of fishing along a beautiful river

But it was much harder to catch a wild river trout

I tried in vain for dozens of trips - testing different lures, trying different rivers, changing the color of the line – still no trout. Nothing to speak of anyway.

I was not used to this so I decided to do something about it. Going out into the bush like that reminded me of my days hunting wild boars. When you hunt for wild boars, and any other animal for that matter, you’ve got some set rules to follow if you expect to have any success at all. One of

those rules stuck in my mind

You Have To Know
How The Animal Thinks

After many unsuccessful trout fishing expeditions, I was asking myself a lot of questions. It seemed unusual at the time, but I one day wondered if the rules for hunting would somehow help with Trout Fishing. The rules were obvious to hunters, but no fisherman I had ever met even mentioned that kind of thing in relation to fish

So I hit the books
I decided that I would understand how a trout thinks, and see if I could increase my chances of success. Being a fairly studious type of person, it didn’t take me long to devour every book I could get my hands on from the local bookstore and the library. Within a week I knew more about Trout than 99.9% of the world's population. And guess what happened on the next fishing trip

Bingo! A Bag full of Trout And it seemed too easy. It was as if the world's tallest mountain had just became a speed bump. What was annoyingly difficult and frustrating was suddenly made simple. My studies had instantly paid off.

Understanding how Trout think, what scares them, what motivates them, when they feed, when they travel, and a host of other factors really is essential if you want to catch lots of fish consistently

Luckily for you, I’ve captured the essence of my fishing expertise into a Book, which is titled Discus Fish Secrets – When Spinner Fishing Your Favorite Stream Or River
This book is quite literally the bible of Trout Fishing. If you’re new to fishing or semi-experienced, you’ll immediately improve your chances of catching fish each time you go after reading the book click here: www.discus-fish-secrets.com

now you too can have fun with betta fish