How Often Should I Feed My Baby Betta
Betta Care Sheet
betta splendens
Developed with and canonical by a qualified veterinarian.
Betta
Table of Contents
- Appearance & Behavior
- Characteristics
- Habitat Size
- Habitat Setup
- Feeding
- Care
- Recommended Aquarium Mates
- Common Health Issues
- Recommended Supplies
- FAQs
Typical betta appearance and behavior
Bettas are generally calm, ho-hum-moving fish who practice not require as much space as many other fish. Bettas will "flare" fins when threatened or disturbed and to bear witness assailment.
Male person bettas volition attack other male person bettas, and males accept also been known to set on similar-looking fish and fish with flowing fins. Therefore, male person bettas should not be housed together or with other species who have long fins.
Characteristics
| Care Difficulty | Good for beginner aquarists |
| Average Life Span | three-5 years with proper care |
| Average Adult Size | 2 1/2 inches long, not including tail |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Minimum Aquarium Size | ane gallon or larger |
| H2o Temperature: | 72-82°F |
Betta
Betta fish habitat
Habitat size
- Single bettas- Keep in an accordingly sized aquarium, 1 gallon or larger. Bettas must be able to breathe from the surface of the water. Considering bettas are known to bound out of aquariums, in that location must be infinite at the elevation of the aquarium below the lid for them to surface and breathe
- Male person bettas - Should be kept individually and practise best in habitats of 1 gallon or larger. Male bettas can live successfully in a community aquarium of x gallons or larger that does non have aggressive fish (such as tiger barbs, gouramis or giant danios) or fish who bettas may go aggressive toward (such every bit fancy guppies)
- Female bettas - May be housed with other community fish or other female bettas. If keeping a female betta sorority, a minimum of xv gallons with numerous hiding places is recommended
Habitat setup
- Filtration - Bettas prefer water with little or no current, and so gentle water filtration is all-time
- Décor - Be sure aquarium décor is free of abrupt edges that may hurt a betta's frail fins. Ensure in that location is some floating cover under which bettas tin can hide
- Temperature - Use a heater to maintain water temperature between 72-82°F. If the temperature falls below 72°F, bettas may become less agile and prone to infection
- Water quality - Stable water quality (pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate) and temperature are disquisitional to the wellness of aquatic life. If you are unsure of your water quality, bring a sample to Petco for free testing
Betta Fish Accessories
Betta
Feeding
A well-balanced Betta nutrition consists of:
- A variety of meat-based foods consisting of flakes, pellets, freeze-dried bloodworms, daphnia and frozen nutrient to ensure consummate diet
- Bloodworms and brine shrimp are favorite treats and should be fed in moderation to forbid obesity
Things to recollect when feeding your betta:
- Feed bettas once a day to preclude overfeeding
- Feed sparingly and no more fish can eat in i-ii minutes; overfeeding can apace foul the water, specially in smaller, unfiltered aquariums
- Uneaten food should be removed to prevent h2o from becoming fouled
- Thaw frozen foods earlier feeding
- Baby bettas should be fed smaller pellets or finely crushed flake food
Betta fish care
Avoid overcrowded conditions, which are a major cause of stress and allowed system suppression and can increment chances of infection. Maintain skillful water quality with regular water changes.
- Daily - Check filter, h2o temperature and other equipment (if used)
- Weekly - Test check h2o quality at least in one case a week. Change a third of the water in unfiltered pocket-sized habitats (less than 2 gallons) once to twice a week every 3-4 days. In larger aquariums, change 10 to 25% of the total volume of water every 2-four weeks, or more often every bit needed
- Monthly - Change the filter media cartridge at least once a calendar month and use only dechlorinated water for water changes
Recommended aquarium mates
Male bettas must exist kept separately in individual aquariums or be the only betta in a customs aquarium containing non aggressive fish (such every bit tiger barbs, gouramis or giant danios). Female bettas can be kept in a customs aquarium. Practise non proceed male and female bettas together.
Betta fish wellness
Signs of a healthy betta
- Active and alert
- Eats regularly
- Vibrant colors
- Unfrayed fins
- Reacts aggressively to outside stimulus
Red flags
- Loss of color or appetite
- Spots or fungus on torso or oral fissure
- Cloudy optics
- Elevated scales
- Unnaturally frayed fins
- Listlessness
- Labored respirations
- Erratic swimming
- Weight loss
- Bloating
Mutual betta health issues
| Health Issue | Symptoms or Causes | Suggested Action |
|---|---|---|
| Health Upshot Fin or tail rot | Symptoms or Causes Frayed or disintegrating fins; the base of the fins normally reddens or blackens. | Suggested Action Improve water quality; add aquarium common salt; consult your local aquatic specialist or veterinarian for handling. |
| Health Issue Bacterial infections | Symptoms or Causes Cloudy optics, open sores and/or reddening of the skin. | Suggested Activity Ameliorate h2o quality; utilize a commercial antibacterial remedy equally directed. |
| Health ConsequenceIch | Symptoms or Causes White spots announced on fins and body; fish rubs against hard objects or swims erratically; rapid respiration. | Suggested Action Quarantine fish immediately; add freshwater aquarium salt and use a commercial ich remedy as directed. |
| Health IssueCottonmouth or Columnaris | Symptoms or Causes Cottony white growths along the body and/or gills; frayed fins; gills turn brown and necrotic in late stages. From bacterial infection. | Suggested Action Quarantine fish; ameliorate water quality; lower aquarium temperature to 72°F to deter leaner from growing; medicate as directed. |
| Health IssueDropsy | Symptoms or Causes Swollen torso; flaring of scales to make them await like pinecones. Viral/bacterial/parasitic infection. | Suggested Activity Quarantine fish; improve water quality and consult your local aquatic specialist or aquatic veterinarian. |
| Health IssuePopeye | Symptoms or Causes Jutting centre from poor water quality or bacterial infection. | Suggested Action Ameliorate h2o quality; apply antibiotics every bit directed. |
| Health IssueSwim bladder illness | Symptoms or Causes Floating on side; bug swimming. From overfeeding, constipation or bacterial infection. | Suggested Activeness Decrease overfeeding; utilize antibiotics as directed. |
| Health ResultVelvet | Symptoms or Causes Gold/xanthous discoloration looking like rust; rubbing on décor. From poor water quality or stress. | Suggested Action Amend water quality; increase h2o temperature to 82°F; subtract stress. Quarantine fish immediately; add together freshwater aquarium salt and apply a commercial ich remedy every bit directed. |
Betta
Betta fish supplies
- Appropriate size aquarium
- Appropriate nutrient (dry out and frozen)
- Décor
- Water conditioner
- Cyberspace
- Freshwater substrate
- Filter
- Heater
- Freshwater aquarium salt
FAQs
- How long practice betta fish live? Bettas tin can alive three-5 years with proper care.
- Can betta fish live with other fish? Male bettas must exist kept separately in private aquariums or exist the merely betta in a community aquarium with other, non ambitious fish. Female person bettas can exist kept in a community aquarium. Practice not keep male and female bettas together.
- How often should I feed my betta fish? Bettas should exist fed in one case a twenty-four hours, simply what they tin can consume in 1-two minutes. Uneaten food should be removed from the aquarium to forbid information technology from negatively affecting the water quality.
- How big do betta fish get? Bettas tin grow up to 21/ii inches long, not including their tail.
- Can male and female betta fish live together? Keeping male and female person bettas together is not recommended, as they may tolerate each other only can become aggressive and fight.
- Why practice betta fish fight? Betta fish fight to constitute their territories and to fight over resources, including nutrient, shelter and access to females.
- Can yous accept more than one betta fish in an aquarium? Male person bettas must be housed separately but can live successfully in a community aquarium of 10 gallons or larger that does non have aggressive fish (such as tiger barbs, gouramis or giant danios) or fish who bettas may become aggressive toward (such as fancy guppies). Female bettas may exist housed with other community fish or other female person bettas. If keeping a female person betta sorority, a minimum of 15 gallons with numerous hiding places is recommended.
- Can I take two female person bettas together? Female bettas are more than tolerant of each other than males simply often will fight in customs aquariums if they are overcrowded. If keeping a female betta sorority, a minimum of 15 gallons with numerous hiding places is recommended.
Boosted care sheets
- Tetras
- Platies
- Rasboras
Notes and sources
Ask a Pet Care Center associate well-nigh Petco's selection of products bachelor for the care and happiness of your new pet. All products acquit a 100% coin-back guarantee.
Because all aquatic life are potential carriers of infectious diseases such as mycobacteria and salmonella, always wash your easily before and after handling your aquatic life or habitat contents to assistance forbid the potential spread of illness.
Pregnant women, children under the age of 5, senior citizens and people with weakened immune systems should contact their physician earlier purchasing or caring for aquatic life and should consider having a pet other than aquatic life.
Go to cdc.gov/healthypets for more data almost aquatic life and affliction.
Note: The information in this Care Sheet is not a substitute for veterinary care. If you lot need boosted information, contact your veterinarian.
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