About Siamese Fighting FishBettas, also called Siamese Fighting Fish, or listed under the scientific name of Betta splendens, are one of the commonly misunderstood fish. There are countless opinions on keeping them. Some sources claim that they require a ten gallon aquarium, others say they do excellently in a little glass vase. I have tried a lot of different methods with my bettas, and I will discuss in this article the main points necessary to their care as pets. Basic Betta Tank SetupIn their natural environment, bettas live in little oxygen depleated pools, water-filled rice patties or even wet footprints.They differentiate from many fish in that they have a 'labyrinth organ' that allows them to breathe directly from the air. Their ability to live in small, oxygen-depleted pools is probably what spawned the idea that they can live in a teeny amount of water. However, there are just a few missing points to this idea. Point one: bettas are from tropical areas where the water is constantly warm. Point two: any fish, even air-breathing species, will die in really dirty water. Point three: another important fact that many people do not realize, is that bettas do best in shallow water. Tall vases put a lot of strain on a betta, because they have to swim all the way up to the top of the vase to get a breath of air. Not to mention if the vase happens to be filled with a plant... that makes getting to the water's surface even more difficult. Taking these ideas in mind, there are many options for keeping a betta. I strongly disagree that there is only one 'right' way to keep a betta. We have kept them in all sorts of different setups in our house. Vases, little nano aquariums, ten gallon tanks, little plastic betta homes, and even baby tanks inside of a larger aquarium. I think the main thing to remember with them is warmth in the winter. A larger glass bowl or tank makes this easier, and there are many different heater options for small tanks now that didn't exist a few years ago. A baby tank inside of an aquarium also makes this easy, as the betta is benefiting from the warmth and filtration of the large tank without getting lost in the huge aquarium. Another point is that bettas seem happier in a larger setup. A betta in a bigger tank will strut about, look for things to peck on, and have an overall 'this is my territory' type of behavior. Many times a bowl betta will end up lying on the bottom of it's tank, looking all but dead until it is time to be fed. Filtration is another point to consider. There are many mini filters now available for betta setups. The main issue with many of these is that they are often too powerful for the betta, and will cause your pet to be washed around the tank. Bettas prefer still water, so when looking for a filter to put in a small tank, you will need to use caution. If you prefer not to use a filter, keep in mind that the water in the tank will need to be changed weekly. Bettas are really messy fish, and their water fowls quickly. In vases or small tanks, this will involve moving the betta to a small container during cleaning, emptying the the tank, rinsing the gravel and refilling the tank with declorinated water. Really, the options are all up to you. As long as you keep the betta's need for warmth, water surface to breathe at, and clean water in mind, there are countless possibilities in store for your betta. |
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