Bettas are a great pet for both beginner and advanced fish keepers. They come in many different colours and fin shapes. Bettas have amazing personalities that can entertain keepers for hours. In this setup guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know to ensure your betta is happy and healthy.
Bettas can have a lifespan of 2-5 years, but many bettas rarely reach a year due to improper care and misinformation in many different places, including many pet stores. Therefore I wanted to make this setup guide to teach people how to properly care for this beautiful and intelligent animal.
Tank requirements
One of the things that many betta fish keepers assume is because bettas are in small cups in the pet store means that they can live in small containers right? Well… not exactly. Just because they can survive does not mean they are thriving.
The minimum tank size for a healthy betta is 2.5 gallons as a bare minimum. But a tank size of 5-10 gallons is recommended for a single betta. It is commonly believed that having a larger tank means more work, but in reality, it is the opposite. Larger tanks are easier to maintain both temperature and nitrogen cycling as well as fewer water changes (which means less work for you, and less stress for your betta).
Also, ensure that you have a tight-fitting lid on your tank as betta fish are surprisingly great jumpers and you don’t want to come home one day with your betta on the floor (trust me, I’ve had this experience… it wasn’t good).
There are also various tank kits that bundle several things you need for your betta fish (although beware, some accessories included in the bundle may not be suitable for bettas such as sharp decorations)
Note: bettas breathe with a labyrinth organ which means they actually breathe by taking gulps of air from the surface of the water so make sure they have enough space to do that.
Filters
Yes, your betta needs a filter. Filters not only remove visible debris from the water but also remove any harmful substances and allow for surface area for beneficial bacteria for nitrogen cycling. there are many types of filters out there including sponge filters, hang-on-back (HOB) filters and canister filters. There are even tanks with integrated filters.
Heating
Decorations
One of the most enjoyable parts of owning a betta fish is decorating its aquarium. but when choosing decorations make sure you choose decorations with no sharp edges as these could rip their delicate fins. To test decorations, you can do a pantyhose test. If the pantyhose can get caught, so can your betta’s fins. Live plants or silk plants are recommended.
Summary
With this, you now have the knowledge to create a proper betta fish setup that will allow your betta fish to have a long and happy life.
Check out our other articles on betta fish care! To ensure a happy and healthy betta
