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permission from the author. Small excerpts may be quoted for the purpose of reviews.

This ebook has been written for entertainment purposes only. The author cannot be held
responsible for any missing, misinterpreted, incorrect or misguided information. The reader
assumes full responsibility for any actions taken from the use or application of any information
contained herein and the author will not be held responsible for any loss or damage that may result
from the information presented in this publication. The ebook should not be considered a substitute
for veterinary care.

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 CONTENTS

All About Betta Fish ................................................................................................ 6

What is a Betta Fish? ............................................................................................ 6

The History of Betta Fish ...................................................................................... 7

The Betta Fish Anatomy .......................................................................................... 9

The Outside of a Betta Fish .................................................................................. 9

Body Shape ...................................................................................................... 9

Mouth .............................................................................................................. 9

Scales ............................................................................................................. 10

Fins ................................................................................................................ 10

Gills ................................................................................................................ 11

Eyes ............................................................................................................... 12

The Inside of a Betta Fish ................................................................................... 12

Labyrinth Organ ............................................................................................. 13

Swim Bladder ................................................................................................. 13

Stomach ......................................................................................................... 13

Male and Female Betta Fish ............................................................................... 14

Creating the Perfect Environment for your Betta Fish ............................................ 15

Setting Up an Aquarium for a Betta Fish ............................................................. 15

What Size Tank do I Need for my Betta Fish? .................................................. 15

Do I Need a Heater for my Tank?..................................................................... 15

Do I Need a Filter for my Tank? ....................................................................... 16

Do I Need an Aquarium Light? ........................................................................ 16

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 Do Betta Fish Like Sunlight? ........................................................................... 16

Adding Substrate / Gravel and Plants ................................................................. 17

Should I Have Live Plants in my Betta Fish Tank? ............................................ 17

Some Ideal Plants for your Betta Fish Tank ..................................................... 18

How to Make the Aquarium Fun for your Betta ................................................... 19

Decorations and Toys for your Betta Fish ........................................................ 19

Aquascaping ...................................................................................................... 20

Quick and Easy Tips to Ensure your Tank Looks its Best .................................. 21

Can Any Other Fish Live with my Betta Fish? ......................................................... 22

The “Betta Fish Tank Mate” Checklist................................................................. 22

Can Two Betta Fish Live in the Same Tank?..................................................... 22

Some Possible Tank Mates ................................................................................ 23

Bristlenose Plecos........................................................................................... 23

Neon Tetra ..................................................................................................... 24

Blue Gourami ................................................................................................. 25

Glass Catfish ................................................................................................... 25

African Dwarf Frogs ........................................................................................ 26

Can you Keep Betta Fish and Goldfish Together? ............................................... 26

Ongoing Betta Fish Care ....................................................................................... 28

Feeding ............................................................................................................. 28

Betta Fish Diet ................................................................................................ 28

How Often Should I Feed my Fish? .................................................................. 28

Tank Maintenance ............................................................................................. 29

Daily ............................................................................................................... 29

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 Weekly ........................................................................................................... 29

Monthly.......................................................................................................... 30

Betta Fish FAQ...................................................................................................... 31

What are the Bubbles on the Surface of the Water? ............................................ 31

How Long do Betta Fish Live? ............................................................................ 33

Do Betta Fish Like Light? ................................................................................... 33

Do Betta Fish Sleep? .......................................................................................... 34

Do Betta Fish Have Teeth? ................................................................................. 35

What Should I Name My Betta Fish? .................................................................. 36

The Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 38

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 ALL ABOUT BETTA FISH

Betta fish can go by a number of aliases, so let’s start by listing some of the different
names that these fish go by, so that there is no confusion while you read this book or
the next time you are at a pet store.

 The most common names are ‘betta fish’ or ‘bettas’, short for ‘betta
splendens’
 They are also referred to as ‘fighting fish’ or ‘Siamese fighting fish’.
Sometimes even ‘Japanese fighting fish’ or ‘Chinese fighting fish’

WHAT IS A BETTA FISH?

Image: A beautiful red veil tail male betta fish

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A betta fish is a beautiful and colorful fish that is now a very popular pet in family
homes across the world. There should be no surprise that betta fish make such a
popular pet because they are such an interesting and attractive fish.

Betta fish feature long flowing fins and are often brightly colored making them one
of, if not the most aesthetically-pleasing fish you can choose for your aquarium.
What makes betta fish an even better pet is that each one comes with their own
unique personality!

THE HISTORY OF BETTA FISH

Knowing the background of betta fish can really help you better understand how to
care for and how to set up the perfect environment for your fish.

Image: A rice paddy in Thailand – the typical natural habitat of a betta fish

The betta fish’s wild ancestors lived solitary lives in rice paddies and small fresh
water streams of Thailand / Siam (not Japan, China – as some names would

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suggest). They were a dull brown or greeny color and were a carnivorous fish that
would feed on tiny crustaceans, insect eggs and larvae. Fighting was always in their
genes but they would generally only spar for a few minutes until one betta gave up
and retreated.

Due to selective breeding there has been some evolution to the betta fish, no longer
a dull green / brown, betta fish are now known for their bright colors and big
flowing fins. Sadly these fish were also bred to fight. Similar to cock fights, betta
fish were bred so that gamblers could place bets on the victor of a betta fight. This
has led to an increase in aggression and the length of fights for domesticated betta
fish. It is for this reason that it is important to know what fish can live safely with
your betta and to never put two male bettas together.

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 THE BETTA FISH ANATOMY

THE OUTSIDE OF A BETTA FISH

BODY SHAPE

Betta fish have a very streamlined body shape. This allowed wild bettas to swim fast
and effectively through the water and to catch prey.

MOUTH

You may have noticed that the mouth of a betta fish is upturned. This allows it to
catch prey on the surface of the water, such as mosquito larvae and other small
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insects. The mouth of the betta also contains tiny teeth. Their teeth can’t harm a
human… an unfortunate bloodworm however may see why bettas are called
fighting fish.

SCALES

The tiny scales on a betta fish are there to protect the fish’s body and aid in
swimming.

Additional protection comes from a mucus layer on top of the scales. This helps
protect the fish from diseases and parasites. If you have ever handled your fish you
may have felt this slimy layer. However, it is for this reason that you do not handle
your fish too much, if you affect the mucus layer you leave your fish more prone to
diseases and parasites.

Did you know betta fish scales are transparent and the beautiful and vibrant colors
actually come from the skin below?

FINS

The fins of a fish are used to maneuver through the water, aid stability and maintain
balance.

The caudal fin (on the back tail) is the fin that is used to propel the fish forward,
providing the force for sudden burst of speed.

Selective breeding over the years has lengthened the caudal fin. These longer
delicate and beautiful betta fish tails we now know have, however, slowed down the
movement of the domestic betta fish in comparison to their wild ancestors.

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The dorsal fin and anal fin are there to provide stability to the fish.

The pectoral fins also provide stability and help the fish to steer along with the
pelvic fins.

GILLS

As with all fish, the gills are used to extract the oxygen from the water. Water goes
through the mouth and then across the gills. Blood flowing through the capillaries of
the gills absorbs the oxygen from the water.

When a betta fish feels threatened, for example from the presence of another betta
fish or tank mate, it will flare its gills / beard. They will sometimes even flare at their
own reflection, confusing it for another betta fish.

Image: A fantastic shot of a red halfmoon betta fish flaring its gills

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 EYES

The betta fish’s eyes, like every other animal’s, are there to provide sight. A betta
fish’s vision is called monocular vision. This means that their eyes are on the
opposite sides of their head and both eyes produce a different image. Betta fish can
focus on objects up to a foot away. Please note, betta fish eyes do not react well to
quick changes in brightness, so be careful with them!

THE INSIDE OF A BETTA FISH

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 LABYRINTH ORGAN

Unlike most fish the betta fish can actually breathe air from the water’s surface. This
is possible because it has a labyrinth organ. This organ has evolved because of the
water conditions that betta fish lived in in the wild. Many of the shallow streams,
swamps or rice paddies where wild betta fish lived would dry up, creating small
pockets of poorly oxygenated water that the fish needed to survive in – only possible
by taking oxygen from the air.

The labyrinth organ allows the air which the fish takes from the surface to be directly
absorbed into the blood stream. Pretty cool for a fish!

This organ needs to be able to be used by the betta from time to time. Please ensure
your water level / tank lid allows the fish to come to the surface for a breath of air
while also bearing in mind that betta fish can jump! Make sure the water level / tank
lid will not allow the betta fish to jump out of the tank.

SWIM BLADDER

The function of this bladder is essentially to be a floatation device. The betta fish fills
this with gas so that it can control its buoyancy. This swim bladder can be affected
when the betta fish is bloated, constipated or over fed. Once this organ is affected it
is hard for the betta fish to get to the top of the tank to take in air and get food (or
sometimes hard for your betta to leave the top of the tank).

STOMACH

The betta fish has a tiny stomach, around the size of its eye. Please do not over feed
your fish as it can cause swim bladder disorder. Many owners advise a day without
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feeding every week or so to aid the digestion of the food and to reduce risk of
bloating and constipation.

MALE AND FEMALE BETTA FISH

The most iconic and popular betta fish is the male. Male bettas are generally more
colorful, with longer flowing fins than the female betta. It will generally be male
betta fish for sale in pet stores.

The female betta fish has more muted colors and shorter fins. However never
assume just because a betta has short fins that it is female as there are some short-
finned male varieties as well.

Male Betta fish Female Betta Fish

Longer flowing fins Shorter fins than males
More vibrant colors Less colorful than males
The most common choice at pet stores If you look carefully on a female’s belly
you should be able to see a small white
egg dot (about the size of a needle’s
head)

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 CREATING THE PERFECT ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUR BETTA FISH

SETTING UP AN AQUARIUM FOR A BETTA FISH

Setting up your first aquarium can feel a little intimidating, but it shouldn’t be scary!
In fact it is good sign if you do feel a little worried, it proves you care and want to
learn. Here we will cover important steps you should take in order to create the
perfect setting for a betta fish tank.

WHAT SIZE TANK DO I NEED FOR MY BETTA FISH?

Size matters… There are far too many myths about betta fish being happy in vases
and glass bottles. This is not the case.

We recommend a 5 gallon (20 – 25 liter) tank. If bigger – even better. This will
ensure you have the healthiest and happiest betta fish – which is what having a pet
is all about. It is also good to have a tank that is longer than it is high, this isn’t too
important but if we were to think of the betta fish’s natural environment – shallow
streams – you will see that water depth isn’t too important but more space to swim
is.

DO I NEED A HEATER FOR MY TANK?

Betta fish are from tropical waters. The best water temperature for a betta fish is
around 78 – 80 degree Fahrenheit. This means that in most countries, you should
have a heater on your tank.

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For small tanks (1 gallon or less), having a heater can be dangerous to the fish’s
health due to the temperature of the water warming and cooling too fast. Luckily,
we already know that betta fish should not be kept in small tanks!

DO I NEED A FILTER FOR MY TANK?

A filter is a must to help keep the water cleaner for longer. However betta fish do not
like strong flowing water currents. So we recommend a gentle aquarium filter, or
one that has an adjustable flow. The filter will keep the water clean and healthy for
the fish.

The filter should have a manual that shows you how to set it up. After adding the
filter to the aquarium make sure that it works and that it isn’t creating too strong of
a current. If you think the filter is too strong and your filter isn’t adjustable you could
create a baffle from an inexpensive tank divider or make sure there are a few plants
in the way to break the current.

DO I NEED AN AQUARIUM LIGHT?

Aquarium lights are not needed, but they are a good idea. Betta fish like a light
and dark cycle (just like a natural day, light in the morning and dark at night ).
Aquarium lights will also be needed if you have live aquarium plants in your tank.

DO BETTA FISH LIKE SUNLIGHT?

Keeping your tank in direct sunlight is not a great idea. You should try and position
your tank where there is no direct sunlight but where it still remains open and
visible. Betta fish like attention and don’t like dark corners of the room.

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 ADDING SUBSTRATE / GRAVEL AND PLANTS

When using gravel (especially large pieces of gravel) old uneaten pieces of betta fish
food can fall and get stuck between pieces of gravel. This is difficult to clean and
leads to dirty water.

If you want to use real plants you may have to look into which substrate they can
grow and flourish in. Before adding any live plants it is best to half-fill your tank with
water as it helps you to place the plants.

SHOULD I HAVE LIVE PLANTS IN MY BETTA FISH TANK?

Growing live plants in a betta fish tank is beneficial for many reasons. Adding
aquatic plants to your aquarium can be both aesthetically pleasing and functional –
plus your betta fish will love it!

Natural aquatic plants don’t have to be hard work or difficult to maintain, you
should have live plants in your aquarium because they have so many benefits to
both your lovely betta fish and its environment, including…

 Live plants help keep water conditions optimal. They do this by acting as a
natural filter against many harmful chemicals (harmful to tropical fish) that
build up in the tank. Chemicals include carbon dioxide, Sulphur substances
and nitrogenous wastes.
 Live plants convert these harmful chemicals into oxygen! Oxygenizing the
water – allowing your betta fish to breathe in the water.
 Betta fishes’ natural environment is in heavily planted rice paddies. Your
betta fish will love the fact that there are live plants to hide in and swim
around!
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  Live plants create shade, something betta fish enjoy, but also, something
that helps reduce the growth of algae in your tank.
 Fake and ornamental plants can have quite sharp or rough edges; this
does not go well with a betta fish’s delicate flowing fins! Fake plants can
cause damage and injuries, like paper cuts. If you do opt for a fake plant, feel
the softness of the leaves and opt for a silk based plant.

SOME IDEAL PLANTS FOR YOUR BETTA FISH TANK

ANACHARIS

The perfect live plant for a beginner, the anacharis is easy to care for, removes
harmful ammonia from the water and is a good oxygenator. You may recognize it as
the plant you had with your goldfish when you were younger, as it is probably the
most common aquarium plant. It looks like a long green stem with many small, flat,
tiny sword shaped leaves up the whole stem.

This plant can be left to float or can be buried / tied to a certain spot of the tank. It
won’t root, no fertilizer is needed and it propagates easily.

JAVA FERN

Java fern is a green, lush plant that is best anchored to a piece of driftwood in your
betta fish’s tank. This live plant survives well in water that does not circulate, and
does best in medium to low amounts of lighting. This type of plant features parts
considered “arms” that are long and flow with the water. You should not bury or
plant the roots as they can rot, so just attach this plant with some fine fishing string
to wherever you would like it to grow.

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Tip: There is a difference between Java fern and Java moss. Be careful with Java
moss because this type will grow wildly until it begins taking swimming space from
your fish.

AMAZON SWORD PLANT

Amazon Sword is a plant that is super adaptable because it is native to the Amazon
River basin. This plant has leaves protruding from the root cluster that are flat, long,
and very sword-like. There are different types of Amazon Sword plants but many are
large making this type of plant a poor choice for smaller tanks.

The Amazon Sword plant needs to be rooted into substrate. 3 or 4 inches of

substrate is recommended as this plant has large and numerous roots – fertilizer is
also recommended.

HOW TO MAKE THE AQUARIUM FUN FOR YOUR BETTA

DECORATIONS AND TOYS FOR YOUR BETTA FISH

Bettas are very inquisitive and intelligent fish. They love to have items in their tank
to investigate and interact with. However, before you put anything in your
aquarium, check for sharp edges and make sure that these items are safe for your
fish – as some types of plastics or other materials could contain toxins that can
pollute the water.

BETTA FISH LEAF HAMMOCK

In the wild betta fish live in shallow waters, so they often have a place near to the
top of the water’s surface to rest. The betta fish leaf hammock comprises of a large
leaf and suction pad which can be stuck to the side of the aquarium, just a few inches

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from the top of the surface. It is designed to support your betta as he chills out on his
new hammock – It’s alright for some!

A SMALL MIRROR

By now you probably know that betta fish are also known as ‘fighting fish’. This
comes from how aggressively territorial they are. Well, a small mirror can create the
illusion that another male fish has entered your betta’s territory. When this happens,
he will puff up his gills and show you why they are called fighting fish! Thankfully, all
without any injuries or victims.

This activity / game should be used sparingly! If only used for a few moments it will
engage your fish in a completely natural reaction, he will flare his fins and want
to protect his territory. However, doing this for more than a few minutes could
stress your fish out! Use this technique to help reduce boredom, exercise your fish
and to let him flare like he should from time to time. A small makeup mirror could do
the trick or you may want to purchase a floating betta fish mirror.

NOVELTY ORNAMENTS

From the classic castle to scary skulls - there are many novelty ornaments out there
that will help cure your betta fish’s boredom. The best ornaments will be the ones
that feature hiding-holes, as betta fish love to find little places to hide. Before
purchasing an ornament for a tank always feel around the edges and corners –
remember your betta fish has delicate fins that could easily tear on a sharp edge.

AQUASCAPING

Aquascaping is the art of placing the aquarium plants, ornaments and features in an
aesthetic way. Designing your aquarium can be so much fun!

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 Image: An aquascaped aquarium

QUICK AND EASY TIPS TO ENSURE YOUR TANK LOOKS ITS BEST

Starting with a completely empty tank add your substrate to the bottom of the tank.
Around 2 inches should be enough. The substrate can be soil, gravel or sand. Sand
makes a good substrate for beginners.

Next add your hardscape – the larger rocks, ornaments and driftwood pieces. Add
the larger pieces to the back of the tank to give your tank environment some height.

Next, it’s time for some plants. A general rule to stick to is that the larger plants
should be placed at the back. Start with the small plants, placing them towards the
front of the tank. Use a few small plants and moss to soften the edges of any
hardscape, rocks and driftwood.

Before adding the larger plants you should half fill the tank. This will help support
the long stems. Place these towards the back of the tank and you can also use them
to hide the heater and filter.

Then, finally, fill up the tank with water.

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 CAN ANY OTHER FISH LIVE WITH MY BETTA FISH?

Since bettas are known as ‘fighting fish’ you may wonder what fish you can have in
the same tank without trouble. Well, there are plenty of fish that can live with bettas
peacefully and this next section will hopefully give you some ideas that will brighten
up your betta fish tank. Although known to have aggressive tendencies (we like to
say added personality) having other fish, even with male betta fish, doesn’t have to
be a problem.

THE “BETTA FISH TANK MATE” CHECKLIST

 No fish known to be ‘nibblers’ – if a fish nibbles at a betta fish they will get bit
back!
 Bigger fish and colorful fish could be seen to be intimidating – you don’t want
to intimidate a fighting fish!
 Think of the size of your aquarium – you should always have 5 gallons of
personal water space for your betta fish.
 Many bottom feeders are fish that can live with bettas (bottom feeders are
fish such as plecos or catfish. These sucker mouth fish that to stay at the
bottom of the tank eating algae.
 Remember the dietary requirements for all tank mates.
 Add a few tank ornaments and live plants to allow any intimidated fish to
hide, just in case.

CAN TWO BETTA FISH LIVE IN THE SAME TANK?

No, and especially not two male betta fish. You should never have more than one
male betta in the same tank. Betta fish are very territorial, not only will the two

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males end up fighting but the fact they are sharing the same space will stress your
betta.

It is possible to have more than one female betta fish in the same tank. Female
bettas can live together in groups although they can still be aggressive. You should
have groups of 4 as a minimum – 6 is recommended, and these are called betta
sorority tanks.

SOME POSSIBLE TANK MATES

Next we go into the possible tank mates that you could house with your betta. Once
you know which fish can live with bettas you will see that owning betta fish with
other fish is a lot of fun because it brings some variety to your aquarium.

Always remember to look into the aquarium and care requirements of every fish you
wish to add.

BRISTLENOSE PLECOS

Bristlenose plecos are very shy and they tend to be reclusive.

Having plecos with bettas is a good partnership as the plecos tend to stay out of the
betta fish’s way. You will often find them at the bottom of the tank and feeding on
algae from a piece of driftwood (which in turn keeps your tank algae free for longer).

There are other various types of plecos that can live with the betta. However, some
of these can become quite large, so a bigger aquarium tank may be needed in time.

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 NEON TETRA

Image: A school of colorful Neon Tetras

Neon tetras tend to stay around the mid-tank area, keeping their distance from any
bettas so they will often get along. A large or long tank is recommended as tetras
are schooling fish. You will need to have a minimum of 6 tetras in your tank –
however, it is a good idea to have more (approximately 10 to 12 is sufficient). Once
your tank features a colorful school you will see that keeping betta fish with
other fish is not such a problem at all.

However, you do need to be careful with tetras as they are known to be fin nippers
and we don’t want our betta’s delicate fins nipped! Neon tetras kept in a school are
generally ok, however if you are tempted by other species of the tetra family always
research into whether they are fin nippers. A little fish nipping at your betta fish’s
long flowing tail is going to end with stressed fish and casualties!

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 BLUE GOURAMI

The blue gourami makes a great tank mate for a betta fish. These two fish are
closely related meaning that the needs and conditions of the tank are the same for
both fish – perfect!

The blue gouramai does need a larger tank of around 20 gallons. With this factor
met the blue gourami should be able to live peacefully with a betta fish.

GLASS CATFISH

Image: Several Glass Catfish

The glass catfish is a cool species – they get their name as they are completely see
through (you can even see their internal organs – weird eh?)! They are a very calm
fish that should not pose any threat to your betta fish. The glass Catfish do best in

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small groups, they will spend most of their day together at the bottom of the tank
beside the plants.

AFRICAN DWARF FROGS

Ok, so not a fish but the African dwarf frog and a betta fish are common tank
partners. There are many stories of success between these two tank mates and they
are general quite easy to care for. One thing to mention for this tank partnership is
that they have the same diet. While this is a good thing in that they can eat the same
food it is bad as the African dwarf frog is a rather passive eater, so be careful that
your betta does not over eat and that your frog eats enough!

CAN YOU KEEP BETTA FISH AND GOLDFISH TOGETHER?

There are many reasons why these two fish cannot be tank mates. First of all a
betta fish is a tropical fish, originating in the waters of Thailand, the betta needs
waters of 78 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Goldfish however prefer cooler waters of
around 74 degree Fahrenheit.

Goldfish produce a lot of fish waste, leading to high levels of ammonia in the water
which is toxic to betta fish. It dirties the water in the tank quickly, meaning that
larger, more frequent water changes need to be made. Large and frequent water
changes stress betta fish, although they are better than leaving your fish in dirty
water.

The number one rule when you think about what fish can live with your betta fish is
no fin nippers! Guess what… Goldfish can be bad fin nippers! That does not go well
with the long delicate fins of a betta – that or the betta’s short temper!

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Another difference is their diets. Betta fish are carnivores – living off small insect
larvae in the wild. Goldfish however, are omnivores meaning that they require both
vegetation and protein. Betta-specific food is not recommended for goldfish.

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 ONGOING BETTA FISH CARE

FEEDING

BETTA FISH DIET

Betta fish are carnivorous animals. In the wild, betta fish feed on small insects and
larvae on the water’s surface. This means the fish food you choose should be meat
based. The best food to buy is a betta-specific pellet. Often some of the standard
tropical fish flakes will not match the dietary requirements of a betta fish. Check the
back of the food label, the first few ingredients should be meat based and the
protein percentage should be approximately 40% (more is better).

There are some foods which can be used as a treat for your betta, but should be part
of a balanced diet. Two great choices are freeze-dried or frozen bloodworms and
freeze-dried or frozen shrimp – both should be available at your local pet store. Try
to avoid over-treating. Once a week will help avoid bloating and keep your betta fish
healthy.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I FEED MY FISH?

2-3 medium sized pellets in the morning and 2-3 pellets at night should be sufficient.
Making these feeds around 12 hours apart and at the same time each day will help
you and your betta get in a routine.

Be careful of overfeeding! This is a very common mistake which can lead to bloating
which can then lead to serious health problems for your betta fish. Keep in mind a
betta fish’s stomach is not much larger than its eye – so it’s very easy to overfeed.

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Don’t be tricked into your betta’s large appetite, sometimes they would eat the
whole pack if you tipped it in. They may look like they are hungry for more but it is
important not to overfeed them. Putting too much food in your tank has other
negative effects as wasted food that is not cleaned up pollutes the water and makes
your tank dirty.

TANK MAINTENANCE

DAILY

Every day you should:

 Show your betta fish some love and say hello.

 Check your betta fish and any other tank mates for signs of illness.
 Check all tank equipment is functioning as normal.
 Check the temperature of the tank has not altered.

WEEKLY

Each week you should:

 Perform a water change. For filtered tanks of 5 gallons or more each week
you should remove around 20% of the aquarium’s water and replaced with
conditioned water.
 Clean any excessive algae growth from the sides of your tank.

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 MONTHLY

Each month you should:

 Clean filter pads. Do not use tap water to clean these pads! You should rinse /
clean these pads in the water you remove when doing a water change. The
reason for this is that this filter pad includes a lot of beneficial bacteria that
we want to keep – tap water would remove this.

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 BETTA FISH FAQ

WHAT ARE THE BUBBLES ON THE SURFACE OF THE WATER?

At one time or another, you may have notice clusters of bubbles on the water’s
surface of the tank belonging to your betta fish. These are called bubble nests and
are a completely natural behavior of a betta fish.

Bubble nests are nothing to worry about. In fact bubble nests are a good sign that
your betta fish is both healthy and happy.

WHY DO BETTA FISH BUILD BUBBLE NESTS?

It is a natural urge for betta fish and it comes to them because of the spawning
process of betta fish.

In the wild, male bettas cluster small bubbles on the water surface, or underneath
floating debris and leaves to build their nests. The male betta will guard its nest and
will wait for (or find) a female betta to spawn with. Soon after spawning the female
betta fish releases eggs. It is the male betta fish’s job to swiftly capture the eggs in
its mouth and place the eggs securely into the bubble nest.

The waters of the betta fish’s natural habitat can often be shallow and dirty.
Securing eggs in a bubble nest provides additional protection and an oxygen-rich
bubble for the eggs.

If any eggs fall from the nest the betta fish pick them up and secure them back into
place. The eggs will hatch after a few days and the fry continue to stay under the
bubble nest’s protection until they can survive on their own.

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 HOW OFTEN SHOULD A BETTA FISH BUILD A BUBBLE NEST?

Almost all males will a blow bubble nest from time to time, with no other reason
than the natural urge to do so. If you do see a nest in the tank it is a very good sign
that your betta fish is happy and healthy. However there isn’t a ‘normal’ time frame
or a ‘normal’ size for bubble nest building. Each individual betta fish has a different
pattern.

Sometimes a betta fish will build bubble nests weekly or monthly (or daily) and
sometimes these nests will be nothing but a few bubbles whereas other times they
may be up to an inch thick and span a full corner.

Don’t worry too much if your fish doesn’t build bubble nests, it doesn’t have to mean
that it is unhappy or unhealthy. There are many factors at hand, health, water
parameters, age and the individual fish at hand.

HOW CAN I ENCOURAGE BUBBLE NEST BUILDING?

A few factors that will create the best environment to promote your betta fish to
build a bubble nest:

 Ensure your filter is set to a gentle flow – especially if it causes a current at the
water’s surface
 Floating ‘debris’ – such as Amazon swordplant leaves or even the lids of
plastic cups will often end up with a bubble nest underneath
 A very warm temperature – ensure your tank is heated to 78-82 degrees
Fahrenheit
 Clean water – betta fish in need of a water change will often lose interest in
building bubble nests

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  The presence of a female (or a strange male) betta fish will also increase the
urge for a betta to build a nest

HOW LONG DO BETTA FISH LIVE?

2 – 3 years is a common lifespan of a domesticated betta fish, however up to 6 years

is achievable and 10 has been done! You just need to make sure you can give your
betta fish the best environment possible.

DO BETTA FISH LIKE LIGHT?

Yes, betta fish do like light, and no, betta fish don’t like light. Make sense? Ok, let
me explain, betta fish prefer a schedule where they have regular light and dark
periods so that they can get into a normal sleeping pattern.

Bettas like light so that they know when to wake up and prefer a darker environment
to sleep. You may have an aquarium light on your tank and if so, it is probably best
for you to turn this on when you wake up in the morning and turn it off just before
bed time. This will give your betta a regular sleeping pattern that matches yours.

When you think about it, of course betta fish like light, they come from the tropics in
Thailand where there is a lot of sunlight! If you don’t want your betta fish to live in a
stressful environment, then you should provide some sort of light source for them.
Some lights can even come with a timer so that your light will automatically turn on
and off at the scheduled times.

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 DO BETTA FISH LIKE SUNLIGHT?

Keeping your tank in direct sunlight is not a good idea. Depending where you live,
direct sunlight could also heat up the water – leading to your tank overheating and
your betta getting ill (or almost cooking). Direct sunlight can also lead to excess
algae growth which will mean your tank will have dirty water which will require
leaning more often.

The main thing to remember is that your betta will do better in a stable sort of
environment. That means having a regular schedule of light and darkness for your
fish. You want your new little friend to be happy and healthy and keeping him in this
sort of home is what is best for him to live for several years to come.

DO BETTA FISH SLEEP?

A common question from betta fish owners is “do betta fish sleep"? Well yes, like all
animals betta fish must sleep to stay alive!

Betta fish sleep in a variety of places and positions. Some nestle into the tanks
gravel, some find a hiding place within an aquarium ornament, others can squeeze
between the filter and the tank and some with just float around at the top. Very
often the first few times you see your betta fish sleeping you will get a shock
thinking something is wrong – don’t worry they can sleep in some funny positions.
Please let your betta fish have his deserved rest, don’t tap on the tank to see if he’s
ok unless you really are worried.

I think these sleeping behaviors show the importance of having tank ornaments and
aquarium plants – the betta fish like to use the shadows cast or the holes that are
included with the ornaments to sleep in. Since they sleep in these places it is our
opinion that they find these places safe and secure. Betta fish will use these safe
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places to hide when they feel threatened for whatever reason and will retreat here
to reduce their stress levels – resulting in a happier betta.

WHEN DO BETTA FISH SLEEP?

Betta fish sleep at night and have a few rests throughout the day. Luckily very
similar to human’s sleeping patterns. It’s luckily because if the betta tank is in your
bedroom you will be able to turn off any lighting which in turn will help you sleep.
Whether or not you keep your tank in your bedroom it is advised that you turn off
any lighting at night time – this will help your betta get into a sleeping pattern and
will help it distinguish between night and day. Would you like to sleep with the
light on? I doubt it.

DO BETTA FISH HAVE TEETH?

Yes, betta fish do have teeth, very tiny, white teeth. To see these teeth you will need
to take a very close up look of your betta’s open mouth – sometimes they are so
small even at this close up look you may not see them, but a magnifying glass may
help.

Because people know the aggressive fighting nature of betta fish yet can’t see any
teeth they often ask if they have teeth. After hearing some of the fighting stories
and watching a betta tear at a bloodworm during feeding times owners are often
surprised that they can’t see the teeth with their naked eye.

WHAT DO BETTA FISH USE THEIR TEETH FOR?

The betta’s teeth are used for feeding time. Used for chewing and munching at
betta pellets and cutting up dried bloodworms (or any live food you may feed them)
before eating them. Betta fish are carnivores, in their natural habitat they would

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feed on small water bound insects and larvae – these fish have needed these small
sharp teeth for hunting and killing from the rice paddies they originate from.

As we all should know by now, betta fish are also known as fighting fish and these
teeth play a part in them acquiring that reputation! They will use those small, sharp
teeth to fight with other fish and rip up the fins of their opponent. As we have
already said, bettas are very territorial, especially male bettas towards other males–
they should never be kept together or these teeth will come out!

But you have no need to worry; these teeth can cause no pain to human hands. If
after reading this blog you are brave enough to put your hands in your betta fish
tank you may feel a little nibble but they can’t bite hard enough to do any harm!
They are just betta kisses!

WHAT SHOULD I NAME MY BETTA FISH?

Choosing your betta fish’s name can be a tricky thing to do. You want it to be
perfect! You don’t want to commit to a name you will get bored of or that you find
just doesn’t suit your betta – there’s actually a little bit of pressure once you start
thinking too much! But relax, owning a betta fish should be 100% pleasurable and
naming your betta should be fun. Don’t over think it, name them and you will be
surprised how often your betta’s personality will perfectly match their name.

There are a number of ways to choose a name for your new betta fish friend.
Whether picking a name you always thought was cute, looking at any distinctive
marks or features of your fish or picking a name that means something to you.

We like choosing a name that will always mean something to you and always put a
smile on your face. To do this here is our technique.

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Think of a movie, TV show that has really stuck with me throughout your life – it
could be a current movie or it could be an oldie from your childhood. Then think of
characters from within that movie or even sub-characters from the movie. And if you
have a shared tank with more than one fish think of partnerships from within those
movies too.

EXAMPLES OF A FEW GOOD BETTA FISH NAMES

 Chunk and Sloth (The Goonies)

 Joey and Chandler (Friends)
 Marty (Marty McFly – Back to the Future)
 Patrick (Spongebob Squarepants)
 Rocky

Or, another way to come up with names is to wait a few days and see the personality
of the betta fish and then choose a name that matches or is ironic of its personality.

Scrappy, Sleepy, Bubbles, Bitey, Jumper – You can always add Mr or Mrs to the start
of a name like this to give it an extra cute and humorous effect.

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 THE CONCLUSION

Betta fish are one of the most beautiful and interesting fish you could choose to
have in an aquarium. They are perfect for a family’s first aquarium or for an active
aquarium hobbyist.

There are many myths out there regarding betta fish that result in them not being
cared for in the correct way. We aimed for this book to answer all your questions and
give you all the advice you need to get started and to have the happiest healthiest
betta fish.

Image: Beautiful blue veil tail betta fish

Whether you’re treating your fish as a hobby, past time or a member of the family it
need not be expensive or problematic. Picture your aquarium now, your colorful
long finned betta comes out from its favorite spot, under the drift wood, and darts

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through some green aquatic plants, then gives you a look as if to say “is it feeding
time”. It’s so much fun!

Image: An amazing shot of a dumbo ear betta fish

We know once you get to know your betta fish’s personality and see him as happy
and healthy as possible you will not want anything less for the little guy. Neither do
we, it’s why we wrote this book!

All that is left to say is best wishes on your betta fish journey.

[Link]
Twitter: @bettainfo
Pinterest: [Link]/bettainfo

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