There's a reason people of all types love bettas. Sometimes called Siamese fighting fish, these feisty fish pack a lot of personality into a very small package and make great pets for almost every living situation. You'll find them right at home on a desk at the office, enhancing the look of a living room or bringing some welcome life lessons into the classroom.
Available in a wide variety of colors, these beautiful fish are one of the easier freshwater fish to care for - making them a popular choice for beginning aquatic hobbyists. If you've been considering adding a betta fish to your home, first you'll need to decide which type of betta you'd prefer. Most people tend to choose a male as their first betta as they're more striking in appearance. The main differences between the males are their color and their tails. They can have short tails, veil tails, double tails and possibly the most impressive of all - the crowntails. From a color standpoint, you'll usually be able to have your pick of vibrant red, blue, green, yellow, white, black and more. Another popular fish that's similar to bettas in care, looks and personality is the paradise fish. It's well worth checking them out in addition to Siamese fighting fish to see if you'd prefer to start out with one of these captivating fish instead.
Female bettas make just as interesting of pets as the males but are muted in their coloring and have tails that are somewhat plain and smaller than the males'. As they're less aggressive, they'll have an easier time living with other fish and can successfully be kept in a community environment as long as you choose compatible fish. Use caution, however, as some of them can get belligerent. They must be monitored a lot, especially at first, to ensure they're not picking on their tank mates.
Once you've decided what kind of betta to get (male or female), you'll want to select and set up a tank that best suits your fish, while also complementing your décor. Bettas have gained a lot of popularity for their ability to live in smaller tanks but tend to thrive in tanks that are five gallons or larger. Although a larger tank takes a little bit more work to set up initially, it pays off in the long run as water changes are easier and fish tend to stay healthier.
The accompanying infographic is packed with care tips and facts to walk you through each step of caring for your betta - from setting up the tank to proper feeding schedules and maintaining water quality.
There is one vital thing to note if you want to sound like a betta pro from the get-go. Many people commonly say "bay-tuh" (count me in as guilty of this!) but true betta enthusiasts know that the proper pronunciation is "bet-ta", like the word "bet." The mispronunciation is so common at this point that most people will know what you're talking about no matter how you say it but purists know "bet-ta" is better.
If you're just dipping your toes into the water of freshwater fish care, be sure to check out this freshwater fish compatibility blog to learn a little more about these intriguing underwater creatures.
To see more freshwater fish for beginners, check out Live Aquaria.
Article by: Leah_Pet