Lifespan of a Betta Fish

The normal lifespan of a Betta fish is approximately 3 years. But in many cases it has been observed that they lived up to five years. So, 5 years would be maximum life expectancy for a Betta fish.

The betas that you find the pet stores are already in the adult stage and minimum of 6 months to 1 year age. If the fish possess a healthy breathing habit and a sound health the fish will most probably have a better lifespan. You can keep the Betta in sound health by providing it a suitable environment, diet and proper medicines.

Healthy Environment begins with a sufficient amount of living space. That means you have to provide a spacious tank to the Betta. You must also ensure fresh water changes twice every week to make certain that your Betta fish lives for longer in a healthy condition.

The next thing which you have to care of is his diet. These striking beauties can carry out very well with a combination of high quality Betta pellets or other food products specially planned for him. For example Hikari Betta gold in combination with certain live food thrown in the tank for change at least in every three or four days together with some solid or chill dried treats. If you provide them proper diet it will definitely help them to lead a long and healthy life. Proper diet will also improve the bloom of your Betta fish.

Try to make use of as minimum as possible aquarium salts then you didn’t have to worry about proper medications. Most of the diseases that hit the health of Betta happen due to poor water quality. Therefore if your water quality is fine then you need not to worry about diseases. Also treating with any medicine might stimulate nervous tension.

Betta fish breed very well before they get to 1 year of age. They are generally bred from 6 months to 1 year. They usually breed inside bubble nests and do not necessitate any particular tank or apparatus. Actually the male Betta fish looks after nearly the whole thing.


Betta Fish recommended resource: here.

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Diseases of Betta Fish

There are many types of Betta fish diseases. Some of them are as follows:

Fungal Infection
If your Betta is suffering from fungal infection then it will have white cottony scraps on its body or head. He may be inactive, may be not taking its food, fins may be bunched, color turned to be little pale.

You have to change the entire water of the Betta tank. Then you should add “Fungus Eliminator” by Jungle. The measured quantity should be approximately 30-40 grains per 1/2 gallon of water. Water should have a pleasant gold color, not too gloomy. Do not give overdose of the medicine. Try to change water twice a week and put in fresh dose of the same medicine each time you change water. Keep on repeating the process until all fungus has vanished. Then put in BettaZing (8 drops per gallon) to uncontaminated any other bacteria/fungus that may still be there in the tank.

Tail Rot Or Fin Rot
This disease happens mostly due to dirty water. It is not excessively infectious, your Betta will more than liable get well if treated on time. Fins/tail will grow again, however may not have similar color or may not look as excellent or be as long as earlier.

If your Betta is suffering from this disease then its fins and/or tail appear to be getting shorter and smaller. Or they look as if to be falling separately and melting. There may be a shadowy color to the rim of the Betta’s fins/tail. He may be still active and eating usually, or may have stopped taking his food, fins may be bunched, and color may turn pale.

You have to change the entire water of the Betta tank. Put in tetracycline or Triple Sulfa mixed with Fungus Eliminator. Try to change water twice a week and put in fresh dose of the same medicine each time you change water. Keep on repeating the process until fins/tail stop diminishing and begin showing some fresh growth. This may take a minimum of 4 weeks, therefore don’t loose hope. Just the once rot stops and fins begin growing again you can stop putting in the medicines, but not previous to that.

Advanced Fin And Body Rot
This disease begins like a normal fin rot, however the rot grows quite quickly and is harder to prevent. In a little while no fins are left because all the tissues are eaten away. After that the rot moves toward to hit the body.

You have to change the entire water of the Betta tank. If possible make available a fresh jar. You must mix more than a few medications to have a possibility to stop this thing. Put in Ampicillin and double the dose if required, and put in tetracycline. These medicines generally come in the form of capsules. A complete capsule generally treats 10 gallon of water. A little overdose might be helpful. Try to change water twice a week and put in fresh dose of the same medicine each time you change water.


Betta Fish recommended resource: here.

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Betta Ailments

The major problem people face when they have a sick fish is that they are not ready. Many a times when a Betta fish gets ill, people waste lots of time. For the reason of:

• They don't catch it near the beginning,
• They don't know how to analysis the sick fish and finally,
• They don't have the appropriate medicines readily available.

Well, if you believe you can quickly run to your neighborhood pet store and acquire the medicine your Betta will require, just think twice! Most effective Betta medicines cannot be found at your neighborhood pet stores and number of people live in areas where even your fish store will not have them.

Following are a few medicines for your Betta fish:

BettaZing
This is an immense replacement to Bettamax - anti scrounging, anti protozoan & anti fungal. This is good for all around defensive. Very useful in cases like velvet & clamped fins. Use anytime you put in new fish or become accustomed.

Tetracycline
This is an antibiotic. It is excellent for bacterial infections.

Kanamycin
This is an antibiotic. It is very effective in case of serious bacterial infections.

Ampicillin
This is an antibiotic. It is very effective in case of pop-eye and gram positive serious infections.

Maracin 1 & Maracin 2
This is anti fungal and antibiotic. This is for easygoing infections like minor fin rots, although not very useful for severe stuff. These are solid tablets and can be harder to manage in bowl functions.

Jungle Fungus Eliminator
This is anti fungal. It is very effective in case of fungus infections.

Difference in appearance between a healthy and a sick Betta is :
Healthy Betta Fish
1/ Eating habits are similar to that of a little pig.

2/ Swims here and there. It is energetic.

3/ Acts usually

4/ Is bright and lively.

5/ Fins and tail are wide and appears like fans.

6/ Body appears glossy and spotless

Sick Betta Fish
1/ Does not eat in any way or eats unwillingly and may throw out his food.

2/ Is not energetic. May remain at the surface of water in a corner or lie down and come to the surface of water after sometime only for air.

3/ May flit and intentionally runs into everything he/she can (gravel, rocks, etc) in an attempt to scratch itself.

4/ Appears a little paler, color is unexciting, may become gray.

5/ Tail and at times fins are bunched, closed, rigid looking or falling separately.

6/ Body may have: raw sores, white cottony scraps, red spots, swellings or white spots.

Betta Fish recommended resource: here.

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How Should Plants be Sterilized and Placed in the Tank with Your Betta Fish

Plants should be sterilized before introduction into the aquarium by placing them in a pink solution of Permanganate of Potassium for 10 minutes. As an oxidant, Potassium Permanganate can act as a disinfectant.

After disinfection, the plants should be rinsed thoroughly under running water and any metal clamps removed from their roots.

Fill the tank half full. With a finger, press a hole in the pebbles (or gravel) at the base of the aquarium and insert the plants, packing the gravel (or pebbles) firmly around the the plant roots.

When the plants are firmly in place, pour the remainder of the water from a pitcher onto the hand held low over the plants or distribute the water evenly over the surface using a watering can. This prevents uprooting.

PLEASE BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR PLANTS, BECAUSE APART FROM BRING IN DISEASE TO YOUR AQUARIUM, THEY CAN ALSO BRING IN UNWANTED SNAIL EGGS.

Betta Fish recommended resource: here.

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Are Ornaments in the Aquarium Harmful to Your Betta ?

They may not harm your Betta, but the ideal aquarium is one which simulates natural conditions as closely as possible.

Sea shells and corals are best reserved for salt-water aquarium and mermaids can be safely relegated to the nursery along with Santa Claus and the pixies.

When shells are used they should be placed with the opening facing down so that any un-eaten food do not accumulate in them.

Stones may be cemented together to form an arch but great care must be taken to cure any cement before the stones in the aquarium.

PLEASE USE NON TOXIC CURED CEMENT (NOT GLUE)

Under the archyour Betta will play and rest and it becomes covered with green growth (algae) over time and your Betta will discover new browsing places. The effect is quite pleasing to the both eyes (Bettas and human) and also looks very natural to your fishy friend9s).


Betta Fish recommended resource: here.

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