I know that everyone must of at least tried Betta fish breeding, but I can honestly say that it is not easy at all.
A few years ago when I was keeping other fish as well as Siamese Fighters I decided that I was going to try and breed them. After weeks of research and preparation I was ready to set up the tank and start the search for the perfect specimens. Well eventually I did set up the tank and after a few attempts one day the fish bred.
It was such an amazing feeling, but the best part was still to come. Once I had the fry I raised them and I told the local pet shop owner what I had done. He was amazed and eager to see my fry. The next day he visited and was amazed that I had been able to successfully breed Betta fish.
So I thought that was the end of that and now I was going to be able to raise and keep my new little additions, but I was wrong. The pet shop owner asked me if I was willing to sell some of the fry to him, and he offered me a great price.
To cut a long story short, in the end I was able to make a little money doing something I love. Who could have guessed that there would be a little cash in the hobby
It was a great feeling to be able to do what I love and as a bonus make some cash out of it. If you would like to try and breed Betta fish and have the opportunity like I did to raise good quality fish that are sellable then I highly recommend you take a look at the book below:
This is a great video of a healthy Betta fish that is well cared for and lives in a tank that is suitable. As you can see the tank is clean and the external filter system is working at optimum level to ensure the best conditions for this obviously treasured Siamese Fighting fish.
As Betta fish owners we should all strive to keep our fish happy and content by giving them the time and energy that fish deserve. Always make sure you clean the fish tank, feed your fish etc and perform all the necessary maintenance.
Betta fish can become weak and then easily catch a number of diseases such as fin rot if left in poor water quality or tanks that are not cared for.
The video above is motivation for all betta fish keepers and fish keepers in general, I happy fish is a healthy fish.
In the next post I will be talking about Betta fish breeding, believe me it will be a very informative post that you do not want to miss.
Male betta fish are different when compared to female betta fish. Females are usually smaller and their fins are short. Males have long, trailing fins that are beautiful, males are also larger and slim in shape.
The food that you feed your betta fish can have a effect on the color and growth of those amazing fins. It is in your best interest to feed your fish the recommended betta fish food.
The male betta has a variety of roles and when breeding it’s his job to create the bubble nest and he will also fetch any eggs that fall during mating.
Male Siamese fighting fish should never be put together in the same tank because they will fight each other which can end in permanent damage to the fish and sometimes ever death. It is your responsibility as a betta fish keeper to ensure the safety and well being of your fish.
Male betta fish can become stressed if they see a reflection of themselves in a mirror or glass and this will cause them to assume the defensive posture which includes violent thrashing and the opening of the gill flaps.
Betta fish are beautiful, please look after your fish and don’t cause unnecessary stress on your male fish.
Breeding Betta fish is a wonderful and very rewarding experience, but you need to be warned that it is not easy. If you follow the correct steps and make sure your fish are in the best possible condition, then the chances of success are far greater.
Before anyone embarks on the challenge of breeding betta fish you will need basic knowledge about the species and the nessecary process.
Female Betta fish look similar to male Betta fish, the only difference is that the female does not have the long, trailing fins that the males have. Females will not build the bubble nest, only the males will build the nest. The picture at the beginning of the post is an example of a female Siamese Fighting fish.
Betta fish mainly eat insects and insect larvae such as mosquito larvae in the wild, and it is your duty as the owner of your fish to feed your fish and keep him/her content. Betta Fish will happily eat processed food such as the fish food that is displaced at the top of this post. Let me tell you more about the betta fish food displayed above:
The reason why I have included the above link is because Hikari Betta Bio-Gold is one of the most well know and widely used Betta fish foods. Most expert fish keepers use this food and so do I because I want to make sure that my Siamese Fighter is kept in the best condition. Scientists have created this food by researching the needs of Betta fish and the vitamins needed to ensure the best growth and fin colors.
Betta fish are known for their amazingly beautiful finnage and that is why this food is so important as it will help maintain the extravagant colors of you fish. Hikari Betta Bio-Gold is designed to float and this makes the fishes life easier. Siamese Fighters have an upturned mouth that is specially designed to catch food off the water surface.
Fish also require variety and so other than Hikari Betta Bio-Gold, live foods such as frozen bloodworm and of coarse mosquito larvae will also be quickly eaten by your fish. Flake food can also be fed to your fish, but the right type of food such as Hikari Betta Bio-Gold is highly recommended in terms of your fishes health and well being.
Betta fish are wonderful pets, and just like most pets - they require care and have special needs. The health of your Betta fish is be most important aspect as it can mean the difference between a short lifespan or a long, happy and strong lifespan.
Constant maintenance and care as well as the cleaning of your tank will be sufficient is maintaining your fishes health. Most fish diseases are curable and the methods used to cure the illnesses are convenient and easy. The old wise words “prevention is better than cure” are exactly true in terms of your Betta fishes’ health.
If you take the time to clean the filter and perform regular water changes then your fish will be able to develop a strong immune system and lead a healthy life. Remember that your Betta fish relies on you to care for him/her.
I have found a very useful and informative video above that will help you by pointing out vital aspects in keep your Betta fish in the best condition possible.
For more information on Betta fish health care and fish diseases please click on the link below: Betta Fish Health Guide
This is a perfect filter for a small sized Betta fish tank
Although Betta fish are able to survive in jars or small bowls with nothing expect water this does not mean that it is right or ideal for your fish. Betta fish are just like other fish, except they have a labyrinth gland that enables them to have the ability to breath in oxygen from the surface of the water.
This does not mean that a fish tank filter is not necessary, because the filter plays an important role by cleaning the water and removing dangerous chemicals in the water that the fish release. Uneaten food can cause the growth of harmful bacteria and a filter will catch and decompose the uneaten food.
Fish tank filters also assist the fish keeper by reducing the amount of time and effort spent on cleaning the fish tank and other maintenance duties. Remember that even with a filtration system, you will still need to manually change the water in the tank with fresh water, on average do a 10-15% manual water change on a weekly basis.
The type of filter that you purchase will depend on the size of your fishes tank. Also be careful that you do not purchase a filter that is too strong or your fish will not be able to swim with a strong current in the water.
For small to medium fish tanks I recommend a small corner filter (the picture is placed to the left) that will perform the basic function of moving the water around as well as collect debris and clean the tanks water.
Once you have the fish tank the next step should be the fittings and “furniture” of the fish tank. After the fish tank comes the substrate. Substrate is the sand, pebbles or gravel that gets put on the bottom of the fish tank. Many fish keepers use substrates for a number of reasons other than decorating the fish tank. The gravel or substrate of a fish tank plays an important role is growing beneficial bacteria that is essential. The bacteria acts by consuming harmful nitrates and other potentially dangerous chemicals that are released by the fish.
Betta Fish are no different, and this is why a substrate should be used in a Betta tank. Other advantages of substrate is that it will help to secure ornaments and rocks in the tank. Always rinse out new substrate before adding it to the tank as there is always dirt and dust in it. You do not need large amounts of substate, the general rule is that is does not need to be deeper that 2 inches (+-5 cm).
Most Betta Fish keepers will purchase substrate that contrasts the color of their Betta fish which looks stunning as it will help to concentrate the attention on the fish.
The video above is really cool. It shows a Betta Fish that has actually been trained to jump out of the water and catch the food out of the owners hand. Siamese Fighers or Betta fish have the ability to be trained to a certain extent. All that is required from you is patience and determination.
Using flake food or some other kind of treat is essential to get the fish interested and willing to perform the trick. This sort of trick is easy to do after a few days of practice and it will also be a talking point between you are your friends.
If you get a chance I highly recommend playing and interacting with your fish such as trying to teach it a trick or feeding like the video above.
Before deciding to purchase a Betta fish it is important to consider the fishes’ home. The Betta fishes’ tank is going to be his or her home for the rest of their life.
Many people believe that Betta fish are able to live in small containers with no filtration or comforts. This sort of mindset is wrong and it needs to be set right for the sake of Betta fish.
The ideal Betta fish tank is a glass aquarium that is at least 10 gallons (37L) and rectangle in shape. Fish tanks or aquariums are not very expensive so it is recommended that you purchase a decent sized aquarium now to avoid the hassle of having to upgrade in the near future.
Betta fish originate from Thailand were their natural habitat would be small, shallow bodies of water such as rice fields and pools of water. If you want your Betta to thrive then you need to strive to make the aquarium habitat as close to the fishes natural habitat as possible.
Small tanks, bowls and jars can have major side effects on the fish especially in terms of health. Small containers cause temperature and water quality to fluctuate which stresses the fish.
Just because most pet shops store Betta fish in bowls or containers does not mean you have to give the fish the same fate. It is in yours and the fish’s best interests to provide a decent sized fish tank with an adequate filter and heater if necessary. Betta fish are not used to deep water so the best tank will be a rectangular based Betta fish aquarium.
Siamese fighters or Betta fish can live in small containers, but only for a limited amount of time until the stress and poor conditions start to take a toll on their health. Remember that your fish has to live in that tank for the rest of its life so it is worth creating a comfortable living environment.
I am going to be setting up a new fish tank for a Betta fish and I will post details and keep all readers updated on my progress. By setting up a new tank and posting the details you will be given first hand information on the tank set up process.
