Betta Fish Care

Keep bowl away from sources of hot and cold air such as heaters, heater vents, cold or sunny windows, drafts, air conditioner vents, etc. It's is important that this bowl be kept cool at about 65 to 75 degrees F. Put it in a place away from extremes of hot and cold.

When you go to a pet store, you'll find rows of small bowls, each containing one colorful fish. These are male Siamese fighting fish (more properly known as a betta) and the way you find them in the pet store is essentially how they should be kept. Bettas can be kept in small containers because they are able to breathe air, like humans, as well as water.

Keep the water between 70 and 80 degrees, and don't let the temperature change too quickly. Keep the bowl away from appliances that produce a lot of heat.

IMPORTANT BETTA FISH CARE:
Only ONE betta per bowl! They're called "fighting fish" for a reason. They are highly territorial animals and will react violently if two are placed in the same container. You can see the preliminary phase of their fighting, the threat display, if you put a mirror up against the bowl. Notice the raised gill covers, which makes the betta look bigger. Change the water in the bowl when it starts to look cloudy, about once a week.
Let the water age at least 24 hours, to release some of the chemicals. After transfering the betta to a container (with either the old water or the water you're going to use) clean the bowl with mild soap, and rinse thoroughly. Also rinse any decorations (rocks, shells, plastic plants, etc.) before filling the bowl with the aged water, and releasing your Siamese fighting fish. The pet store where you bought your betta will have food as well, probably freeze-dried blood worms. Feed your Siamese fighting fish two or three times a day, only what he will eat in a few minutes. Overfeeding will make the water cloud faster, and your betta will be more likely to get ill. One last note: 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!

Taking care Of Fish

If you own fish or are thinking of getting them, consider what it takes to care for them and the expenses of a really good and nice looking fish tank. Cleaning out a fish tank and its contents, otherwise known as siphoning, is not a glamorous thing. In fact, it’s a chore that sometimes requires the work of two people.

Fish can make wonderful and beautiful pets. They are especially easy to care for, but you have to be careful at times. If one fish gets a virus--they all die and you’re left with no fish and a depressingly empty fishtank. If you want to care for your fish in the best way possible, use the following advice:

If You’re Purchasing Fish
If you’re purchasing fish, the best thing to do is start getting as much information as possible from a really informative salesperson at the pet store. Usually, they are pretty helpful and can direct you to exactly all of the supplies and things you will need to purchase your fish and fish essentials. Make sure you buy the right fish food for the type of fish you’ve purchased. It might be nice to add some color and texture to your fishtank with some fish displays and fake underwater “things”.

Fish Essentials
The essentials you will need to cover the entire fish purchasing process would include: various fish, fish tank and stand (probably the most expensive items), fish food, fish displays/props, a siphoning tool, real rocks to cover the bottom of the tank, and perhaps some colored stones and rocks for looks.

If You Already Have Fish
If you already have fish, you probably know the routine. Siphoning out the fish tank every month is not a fun chore. But, it must be done for the survival of your precious fish. For starters, get a partner.

Steps to Siphon Out Your Fish Tank

1. Buy a tool that is used for siphoning. Usually, it is a two-piece instrument that sucks water out of one area and puts it into another. Obviously, with a full fish tank, you cannot simply take it and dump the water out into the sink or toilet--tanks are too clumsy for that; this is why you have to siphon the water out. It’s almost like a vacuum, except the water and dirt goes down the drain. It must be all done by hand. *Cart your tank over to the sink or try to perform this task outdoors, if possible.

2. After 50% of the water is siphoned out, scoop out rocks from bottom of tank (You don't want to remove all of the water or you may run into "new tank syndrome"). Sift the rocks individually with a sifter or macaroni drainer. This way, you clean the debris from the rocks and may reuse them, instead of putting in new rocks.

3. After the rocks are all out, clean and scrape all debris, algae, and dirt from the insides of the tank walls; allow to dry. DO NOT use bleach or other cleaning fluids inside the tank.

4. Put back rocks; add fresh water.

*Note: It may help to have a rolling cart that you may move the fish tank with, as sometimes, the really large tanks are very difficult to handle. Hence, the “partner” idea.