Thursday 3 April 2008

Toys for Your Betta Fish



You would definitely know that your pet aquarium betta fish also require a bit of incentive. In the wild, there are numerous types of pastimes like avoiding predators, search for food, swim upstream, looking for mates; hide as required and in the tank, a fish can simply become fed up. Fin nipping and fish chasing are some of the activities which signifies that your fish is bored. A lonesome fish can turn out to be lethargic and insecure, or can pay too much interest to anything happening outside the tank. Though this is all right, but you would not be there at all times to see it. Adding some fun fish toys can facilitate your little fish with some friend.

The fun toys for your betta fish should be:
• Something to swim under or through
• Something to rest on
• Something to hide under
• Bright colors
• Soft, smooth edges
• Something that creates gentle bubbles
• Objects prepared with stone, hard plastics, glass or silk (ie - silk plants). Be cautious of adding things to the tank that can alter its chemistry or seep out contaminants, or porous objects that will support additional growths of algae.

Some of the objects that you can use are:
• Hamster tubes
• Parakeet ladders
• Fish caves and other aquarium decorations
• Silk plants, or plastic plants with no sharp edges
• Live plants
• Freshwater snail shells
• Live snails
• Smooth river rocks
• Smooth slabs of shale
• Small terra-cotta pots, rested on their sides
• Glass beads

If you like this article, then you might be interested in getting the "Caring for a Betta Fish: An Insider’s Guide for Betta Lovers By Marcus Song" ebook.

It has some important facts and information on how to keep your Betta correctly fed and what food to avoid, keeping your treasured pet safe, healthy and Happy.

We have reviewed it and the review can be found
here.


Copyright 2008, All Rights Reserved

Setting Up the Tank for Your Betta Fish



If you have bought a new Betta Fish, then you might be worried about setting its new home properly. So, following are a few steps that would make your hurdle easier.

• If your fish is in a cup or bag, put him on your counter in a secured place as you set up his new home.

• A betta fish is pleased in nearly everything water-resistant. Most of the people use big bowls or small tank aquariums. You should clean the container with hot water, without any soap or other disinfectant. Always keep in mind that soap would be deadly to your betta fish.

• Clean the container with a fresh cloth or paper towels.

• You can also put in some gravel, caves, toys or decorations whichever you want. You will, certainly, have by now cleaned these items underneath hot water! You can also clean old decorations, algae or "crud" with the help of a new toothbrush, or by prolonged soaking in hot water.

• Fill warm or room temperature tap water in the container. Settle on what warmth your betta's water will be and make an effort to get that set up before you add your fish in it. A small aquarium thermometer is very useful for setting up water the way your betta fish will prefer it.

• Put dechlorinator in the container as per the quantity suggested on the bottle. This makes water harmless for your betta fish. If you do not have a dechlorinator, allow the water sit out all night to "clear" the chlorine. Though, you must have to get some dechlorinator ultimately. Luckily, it is quite low-priced and time and again adds somewhat of useful slime coat additive. Generally all you require is one drop/gallon of water...and the bottle lasts for a long time.

• Add anything else you think you need to the water or container. A few people prefer a little of aquarium salt as a propylactic (disease preventive); and there are all types of ways to fight untidiness with your water chemistry, similar to adding pH remedies. It is better on your part to avoid as your betta will automatically adapt to the water pH and inappropriately added pH chemicals can burn your betta fish.

• Lastly, float your new betta fish in the new tank. Throw away water from the bag or cup as that water is possibly dirty.

• Place the tank in its place. Try to place the tank in such a place that it remains out of direct sunlight, away from drafts, and off of electrical appliances.

That's it. You don't require any additional filters, bubblers or other device. Betta fish is a very undemanding fish, provided that you maintain his water clean and the temperatures even.

If you like this article, then you might be interested in getting the "Caring for a Betta Fish: An Insider’s Guide for Betta Lovers By Marcus Song" ebook.

It has some important facts and information on how to keep your Betta correctly fed and what food to avoid, keeping your treasured pet safe, healthy and Happy.

We have reviewed it and the review can be found
here.


Copyright 2008, All Rights Reserved

How to Keep Betta Fish and Other Pets in Same House



It's quite easy to keep betta fish and other pets like dogs and cats together in same house if you follow certain important points. The main difficulty of putting fish tanks and dogs together is generally a rambunctious dog throwing down the tank. A mischievous dog or powerfully wagging tail can throw a fish bowl right onto the floor.

Dogs generally don't pay interest to fish like the cats do. Actually dogs don't pay attention to the activities of a fish. If you keep the betta fish bowl up in a safe height then, everything would be all right.

If you place a cover on the bowl, then you won't have to be concerned about a dog playing with a jumping fish that has fallen down on the floor. A cover on the top is only a reasonable safety measure anyhow. Make certain that the seal is not hermetically sealed, so the betta will get fresh oxygen to breathe.

If you have a dog that is excessively fascinated in the activities of your fish, you might have a desire to dog proof your bowl as you would do if you had a cat.

Cats are born fishers! However cats can be trained! To guarantee the protection of your fish, although, there are strategies you can apply to make their surroundings a harmless one.

Training cat needs patience. You can train your cat to "sit" and "stay" and "Lie down", along with other tricks to keep them away from being aggressive with your fish. We should also take great care of our kittens and cats and give them what they require to be hale and hearty so that they will not imitate. Try to be their friend and well- wisher and they will be yours!

An aquarium is always the most excellent option for your fishes' security and well-being. In addition supporting good water quality to guarantee a longer, happier life for your betta fish, a tank comes with a cover! This is certainly a great security from the outside world - together with kitty's cute little paws and claws!

Specially made table and cabinets are also available in which you can place the aquarium to keep it away from anything or anybody falling into or else getting into the aquarium!

If you like this article, then you might be interested in getting the "Caring for a Betta Fish: An Insider’s Guide for Betta Lovers By Marcus Song" ebook.

It has some important facts and information on how to keep your Betta correctly fed and what food to avoid, keeping your treasured pet safe, healthy and Happy.

We have reviewed it and the review can be found
here.


Copyright 2008, All Rights Reserved

How to Cure Fin Rots of Betta Fish



Now a day's most of the betta fish owners are facing the problem of fin rot. Fin rot is a type of bacterial infection that occurs mostly in the bitten or torn fins - generally tails – which gets dragged across polluted gravel. Bacteria very easily enter the injury and starts 'feeding' off the soft tissues of the fish's tail. Betta Splendens, the fantastic betta samuri fighting fish, is very vulnerable to these types of fin rots because these bettas have long, flourishing fins which mostly remain in touch with the tank floor, soaking up that infection causing bacteria.

Solution of this problem is definitely within your reach. The solution is clean water and clean gravel. You can place different toys, rocks, caves, snail shells, silk plants etc. for your fish to rest on. This helps to keep them away from the gravel. Bettas like to rest very much.

Cleaning gravel is simple. If you possess a tank which contains ten gallon water with filter, then you can plan your cleaning procedure like water changing and gravel vacuum cleaning in 2-3 weeks. It might be done at an interval of a month.

But for fishes living in small tanks the water changing procedure is very important. If you have lively fin rot circumstances, you should change the water in small intervals. Change it daily if possible, and add a little quantity of aquarium salt, which will make the water less friendly for microbes specially disease causing bacteria's. You can utilize a turkey baster to get rid of gravel crud as often as possible. Don't allow the fin rot get a foothold by any means!

Fresh water and salt are the best precautionary measures against various fish disease causing microbes. Various medications are available in the market, but many of those might make the things go worse. Actually, most of the medicines have side effects, and which generally result in killing off the good microscopic plants together with the bad, which many a times stresses out the fish. Adding something to water raises the ion load. Finally, if you have placed a filter in the tank, then you must take out the carbon when you medicate...or else the carbon will take away the medicine. On the other hand on lacking carbon, your fish will also have to deal with with increased levels of ammonia.

If you like this article, then you might be interested in getting the "Caring for a Betta Fish: An Insider’s Guide for Betta Lovers By Marcus Song" ebook.

It has some important facts and information on how to keep your Betta correctly fed and what food to avoid, keeping your treasured pet safe, healthy and Happy.

We have reviewed it and the review can be found
here.


Copyright 2008, All Rights Reserved

Hiding Spots for Bettas



Bettas like being the center of attraction in your home. They are inquisitive little beings and flourish when they can observe the world go by. However, a betta fish also require a place to move away for peaceful expression and solitude. You can effortlessly make available your betta fish with a "room of his own".

Depending on the dimensions of your betta fish tank, there are all types of caves, rocks, toys and decorations where a betta fish can conceal from the world.

In betta fish tanks of small dimension – you can make available big fresh water snail shells. Betta fish will bend in these for sleeping and concealing themselves. If you have a big freshwater snail shell, be certain to draw off the "bottom crud" from the center of the shell – weekly or as required - with a turkey baster. This will avert fin rot.

You can also put in small terra cotta pots for creating wonderful betta caves. You can also pile things like rocks to build a betta cave. Be cautious to place the whole thing so it will be very unwavering in the tank - or else you could cover your poor fish, or in any case hurt him, when the rocks reallocate.

You can make well-built and attractive caves from all types of substances if you stick them jointly with aquarium silicone. This is a great mode to maintain rock caves from breaking up!

Make certain your hidey hole is smooth, with round edges. Doesn't matter what you select as a "room" for your betta fish, he will feel more comfortable if he knows he has a safe place to hide in. Though, don't be concerned about never seeing him another time. Inconsistently, having a shady, secretive little recoil will make him even more liable to come out and play!

If you like this article, then you might be interested in getting the "Caring for a Betta Fish: An Insider’s Guide for Betta Lovers By Marcus Song" ebook.

It has some important facts and information on how to keep your Betta correctly fed and what food to avoid, keeping your treasured pet safe, healthy and Happy.

We have reviewed it and the review can be found
here.


Copyright 2008, All Rights Reserved

Changing Colors of Betta Fish



Very little people in this world know that Bettas can change colors. This is common and nothing to be concerned about.

Most of the betta fish used to start their life as pearlescent white or piebald. As the time gets passed on a few color patches appears on their body which gradually covers the entire body and after a certain time your betta fish gets completely unrecognizable.

In most of the cases a male betta fish used to react to great circumstances - appropriate temperatures, hygienic water and a protected hidey hole - by coloring up beautifully. A male who is brought into breeding appearance (higher temps, many live foods) will excel up further brightly. A female betta fish who is prepared to mate generally (not always) builds up vertical striping, in the middle of no matter what color she has, to at her finest.

Female betta fish's mostly were of dull colors initially, although can flourish into some very attractive, bright colors when they feel secure, and are appropriately taken care of. Despite that, generally a bright female betta fish can relapse back to those brownish tangential strips and be deficient of pigmentation when frightened or discontented. Also, a male betta fish, which is very much terrified, might drop color and demonstrate fear stripes.

If this happens in any case, just take away the traumatic or terrifying circumstances (ie – contaminated water quality, children shaking the tank, whatsoever), put in a drop of slime coat preservative or aquarium salt for some further healing, and leave them lonely for a sometime. They should get back their color when they are feeling passive all over again.

Last of all, if a betta fish has injured fins, they might grow get back to dull colors. They generally color up in due course with appropriate betta care!

If you like this article, then you might be interested in getting the "Caring for a Betta Fish: An Insider’s Guide for Betta Lovers By Marcus Song" ebook.

It has some important facts and information on how to keep your Betta correctly fed and what food to avoid, keeping your treasured pet safe, healthy and Happy.

We have reviewed it and the review can be found
here.


Copyright 2008, All Rights Reserved

Bowl Jumping of Betta Fish



Many a times you have seen that bettas jump out of their bowls. The below article will tell you more about this.

At times a betta fish will not recognize that it is not jumping into further water. In the "wild", a betta fish used to jump from one wet pond to another – to move to one which is bigger. As bettas breathe oxygen straight from the air, a betta fish will stay active as long as it stays wet. If it wriggles and jumps around, it might simply find a better water hole for himself. Bettas are very strong as per body strength in comparison to other fishes and can jump quite high and far.

In your bowl, it will usually stay right where it is. At times it will jump out by mistake. You can help betta to recognize the upper surface of the water by putting a cover on the top of your bowl or by placing some floating toys.

Many a times a betta fish jumps from his tank intentionally. This happens if he has just been placed into a new bowl. You should cover your bowl for a week or so - until he adapts his surroundings.

Be cautious of those tanks that have break up regions for more than one bettas in one tank - a lot of betta fancier has come home to discover their males together, splitted to shreds, or even dead. A betta male will make an effort to jump into those special sections if they can. In this type of case you must maintain the water to a low level so that your betta fish cannot jump the hurdles.

A betta fish may also jump from his tank to get rid of bad water conditions. Just ensure that you make available clean, dechlorinated water to the betta fish. The smaller the size of the tank is, the more essential this is. If he is provided with bad water conditions, he will do everything he can do to get rid of that water.

Finally, at times bettas jump from their tanks as the tanks were filled with additional water mostly after adding water or doing a water change.

If you return home and discover your betta fish on the floor, straight away put it back in water! It might still be breathing and might get well soon. Always keep in mind, that betta fish can keep breathing very easily from the air, and won't be dead unless he's dried out.

If you like this article, then you might be interested in getting the "Caring for a Betta Fish: An Insider’s Guide for Betta Lovers By Marcus Song" ebook.

It has some important facts and information on how to keep your Betta correctly fed and what food to avoid, keeping your treasured pet safe, healthy and Happy.

We have reviewed it and the review can be found
here.

Copyright 2008, All Rights Reserved

Adding Suitable Companion to Betta Fish

You might be experiencing a huge confusion in choosing the suitable companion for your betta fish. However, you should keep in mind that betas love to be alone.

The companion you choose should be one who can assist you to clean up gravel and algae.

Gravel Cleaners

1. Corydoras Catfish – These fishes are perfect option for unfiltered tanks as like betta these fishes also swim up for a guzzle of air. They will also keep your gravel clean by separating and excavating around for additional food and other things. In view of the fact that these fishes prefer company, the most excellent thing will be to have groups of three corys.
If three is not possible, then it should be at least in the group of two. Don't forget to place some caves or other hideouts for these catfish.

2. African Dwarf Frogs – These companions are again great gravel cleaners. African Dwarf frogs are actually underwater amphibians. At frequent intervals they swim up to the surface of water for guzzle of air, and also don't require any filter. You have to provide it with a cave or a rock in which it can make hole and a floating plant.
They will time and again hang still at the surface, for no matter what reason, or move stealthily in around the decoration.

3. Ghost Shrimp– They are used as a companion mostly because they are a fun to watch. However, betta used to eat them most of the times. You can't put salt or medications in these tanks.
These shrimps are the perfect choice for the betta fish owners with small tanks.

Algae Eaters

1. Otocinclus - these small wall suckers are wonderful for taking away algae from your tank walls, plants and decorations. Extremely calm and attractive, and will also guzzle air if you don't have a filter in your tank. Bettas can create problem for them, if they are feeling tired of something, so make available a hidey hole. Oto Cats prefer the company of their own kind, but won't hang around if they are alone.

2. Chinese Algae Eaters– These were very attractive initially, they get violent when they grow-up. They also become quite big.

3. Livebearers– They will throw away algae, although this isn't truly their specialty.

If you like this article, then you might be interested in getting the "Caring for a Betta Fish: An Insider’s Guide for Betta Lovers By Marcus Song" ebook. It has some important facts and information on how to keep your Betta correctly fed and what food to avoid, keeping your treasured pet safe, healthy and Happy.

We have reviewed it and the review can be found here.

Copyright 2008, All Rights Reserved

Adding Gravels in Betta fish Aquarium



If you follow up a regular schedule of cleaning your betta fish tank by changing water and cleaning daily with the help of an aquarium vacuum, then there is no requirement of any gravel in the tank at all. In case if your tank is small with respect to the number of betta fish you possess then you should follow up entire water change and should not think about gravel.

On the other hand, if you possess gallon or big betta tanks, you will almost certainly have a desire to add to decorate with some attractive bottom cover. For bettas, it's essential to choose smooth-edged gravel that will not catch fragile, flowy fins of betta fish.

Always keep in mind that if in any case the fin of betta fish gets ripped, he gets extremely vulnerable to picking up the fungus which is the root cause of fin rot. Therefore it is very essential to employ smooth gravel with your betta fish. This is not that much essential in the case of short-finned plakat betta males or betta females.

Actually, the round edges of smooth gravel are good for bettas. You can utilize gravel of any dimension. Mostly people utilize large, smooth glass stones from craft stores for their betta fish tanks. Always make sure that you conscientiously clean up the uneaten foods and poops. In most of the cases, the water of the tank turns unhealthy and foul due to the cruds which slip down under the gaps of the stones. Again, the solution is cleaning routinely.

Betta fish doesn't have any fascination towards the color of the gravel. You can you’re your idea and can select color as per your choice.

Before adding gravel, don't forget to wash them under running water to remove all the dust from it. It doesn't matter whether you use hot or cold water for washing the gravels but don't make use of soap. Now you can add gravel to the tank followed by your desired decorations, and water with dechlorinator. On getting the desired temperature of water for your betta fish just add your betta fish to the tank.

If you like this article, then you might be interested in getting the "Caring for a Betta Fish: An Insider’s Guide for Betta Lovers By Marcus Song" ebook.

It has some important facts and information on how to keep your Betta correctly fed and what food to avoid, keeping your treasured pet safe, healthy and Happy.

We have reviewed it and the review can be found
here.


Copyright 2008, All Rights Reserved

Adding Air Stones and Bubblers in your Betta Fish Aquarium

Though nearly everybody knows that a betta fish aquarium doesn't require any air stone or filter - actually, that is why these fishes are so well-liked - there are people who like the look of a column of bubbles in their tanks.

Normally, betta fish does not like current in their water. They like better a pleasant, still surrounding with numerous things to look at outside their bowl. A bubbler (drinking fountain) ruins their Zen stillness, however you can still add one in the tank, if you truly want one.

The most important thing to keep in mind is you have to break up the current. You can hide the bubbler, initially, and place a stack of rocks, few plants or an attractive toy over the air stone, to break up the bubble flow.

You can also acquire gangway valves (very reasonably priced and undemanding to install; simply ask for one at your pet shop) that directs the flow of air coming into your stones.

With a little testing, you can regulate the valve to allow only a lethargic trickle of air through the tank. If the betta fish tank is big and can contain approximately 10 gallon of water then you can place a bubbler in one corner.

The betta fish can easily move to the other corners when he has a desire to rest. If you have any current flowing through the betta fish's tank, think about purchasing a cave or other aquarium toy for him to hideaway

Betta fish like to rest on and also in their caves and may even sleep on top of aquatic plant leaves in their aquarium. If your betta fish feels relaxed in their resting area, you may also notice that it moves towards the bubble stream quite often to test out things.

A few betta fishes are more inquisitive than others. Some bettas are scared of bubblers and will be a discontented little fish if one is imposed on them. You will have to be observant and take note of how your Betta respond to the existence of an air stone in their bowl.

You should also take note, if there is any current in your betta fish's aquarium, it might affect it's behaviour and might not create a bubblenest.

Bubblenest building is a thing which all bettas like, so you might feel like taking out the bubbler at times, to permit your Betta some creative expression time!

If you like this article, then you might be interested in getting the "Caring for a Betta Fish: An Insider’s Guide for Betta Lovers By Marcus Song" ebook. It has some important facts and information on how to keep your Betta correctly fed and what food to avoid, keeping your treasured pet safe, healthy and Happy. We have reviewed it and the review can be found here.

Copyright 2008, All Rights Reserved