Betta fish are a very popular fish to breed among fish enthusiasts due to their bright, vibrant colors and also the fact that they are relatively easy to care for. The Betta is native to Southeast Asia, where it is also known as the Siamese Fighting Fish, due to its aggressive and territorial nature these fish are used to fight each other. In their natural environment, Betta fish live in small mud puddles, making them some of the hardiest fish around.

The first thing to consider is the tank you want to keep your Betta in. It is a known fact that betta fish are so easy to keep that you could just raise them in a bowl of water. However, if you want to keep them healthy and vibrant, set up a good size tank for your fish, a half gallon tank would be fine for an individual male. Betta fish are extremely territorial, so never have two males in the same tank no matter how big they are or they will fall to pieces.

It is fine to use tap water for the Betta, but it is always best to leave the tap water for 24 hours before introducing the fish to remove excess chlorine. Try not to use bottled water and avoid distilled water altogether. The pH of the water should be as neutral as possible.

Temperature is one of the most important considerations since Betta fish come from a tropical climate. The ideal temperature for Betta fish is between 72 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Too cold and the fish will become sluggish and too hot will cause the fish to become hyperactive.

Plants provide your Betta with ideal cover that they will love and reduce the amount of stress they feel. Get the leafy type to provide you with good coverage. For the gravel, you can use natural gravel or even the colored artificial one, both are fine for Betta fish.

If your tank is less than five gallons, then you won’t need a fish tank filter. Just do a weekly water change of about half the tank’s water and always remove excess food. Use a siphon to vacuum up the gravel, but do not rinse it, as it will have colonies of beneficial bacteria doing the biological filtration. Since a betta fish’s natural environment is a muddy pond, you won’t need to provide aeration, as you’ll get air from the water’s surface.

Adult Bettas should be fed once a day. You can choose to feed your fish with Betta fish food that you can buy at the pet store, but it would be great if you could also include live or at least freeze-dried food. Mosquito larvae are the natural food for Bettas, so try to see if you can get your hands on some freeze-dried bloodworms.