One of the biggest misconceptions about Betta fish, most likely involves the size of the tank to keep them in. People seem to be under the impression that the Betta will be just fine if you leave it in the cup or bowl that you bought it in.
People also seem to confuse the Betta's small foot print with what size tank they need to be kept in. They equate the Betta's relative inactivity at the store, most likely caused by stress since they are kept under less than ideal conditions, with the perceived size of the tank needed. It's quite possibly one of the most harming misconceptions about Betta Fish out there.
Betta fish, are not meant to be confined to a small tank, and here's why: they love to swim around. Bettas have plenty of room to swim around in when they are in the wild. If you give them a great space to swim in, with proper water quality, I bet you'll be surprised at how active Bettas actually are. They will swim around in their tank a lot which will actually increase the life expectancy of the Betta.
In other words, a small, unhealthy tank may end up hurting your Betta.
Now, that we've established that you need to put your Betta in a bigger tank, how about some tips?
Should you need to go with a small tank, be sure the tank is big enough so that your Betta's fins and tail aren't always touching the sides or bottom.
Obviously, the tank needs to be something practical and that you don't mind looking at. Octagonal shaped tanks come to mind since they afford great views from all angles.
You do not need a 10 gallon tank for one Betta fish!
Add some decoration to the inside of the bowl, preferably small, smooth pebbles and small buildings or figures. The buildings are specially important if you plan to keep a male and a female together. The female will have a place to go hide should the male become aggressive towards her.
Be sure to get a tank with a cover. Betta fish have been known to jump out of their tanks.
These are just some brief guidelines to give you something to go on. There are 3 things that you need to learn to properly care for your betta. They are:
- Learn How to setup your tank properly
- How to maintain quality conditions in your tank
- How to cure your betta fish should he or she get sick.
Chances are you got your betta fish at a pet store of some kind. If you had the typical experience, you got a person that told you nothing about the proper care for your betta.
You may have questions about your betta's water requirements, what to feed him or her, or why does he keep making bubbles in his tank? Check out http://www.bettafishguy.com for answers to this and other questions about betta fish care
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