Betta fish types and care guide that will help fish keepers have healthy pet fish. Betta fish, also known as Siamese fighting fish, are a popular type of freshwater aquarium fish.
Betta Fish Types and Care
They can live in a relatively small area and require less special care than many other types of fish. However, betta fish should always have clean water and be kept in a stable environment with proper temperature control to live healthy lives.
Types of Betta Fish
Betta fish are one of the most popular types of aquarium fish, but there are several different types of betta fish. Here is a quick look at the different types of betta fish you might find in pet stores or through breeders.
Betta Splendens
Betta Splendens of the Siamese fighting fish is probably the best-known type of betta fish. This type is typically more expensive, but they are also usually available in a larger size for their price.
Betta Imbellis
Betta Imbellis is also known as the Peaceful Betta or Pygmy Betta, this is easily one of the smallest types of freshwater aquarium fish you will find.
They only grow to be around two inches long and they are much more delicate than other types of bettas.
Betta Minima:
Betta minima are also known as the upside-down betta because it spends most of its time swimming on its head due to a reduced swim bladder.
Adults tend to be about three inches long and breeding them in captivity can be difficult. The easiest method is to breed them in a net or bag so that their eggs can fall through the mesh.
Betta Anabanto
Betta Anabanto is a type of betta fish that was developed recently in Japan. It tends to be more tolerant of changes in water conditions than many other types of betta fish are.
They are also good at jumping out of tanks, which means they need a lid on their tank.
Betta Patoti
Betta Patoti is a type of betta fish that is also known as the Java Fighting Fish. They are considered one of the closest relatives to Betta Splendens due to how similar they look.
Males will grow to be about three inches long, while females stay closer to two inches in length.
Betta Macrostoma
Bettas can also come with a mouth that is shaped like a “V” instead of the standard round mouth. They are sometimes known as super delta betta fish and these types of betta fish can be more aggressive than other types when they feel threatened or if they are put in an overcrowded tank.
Best Betta Fish Types for Beginners
The best bettas for beginners are Betta Splendens because they tend to have a mild temperament and they get on well with other tankmates.
There are a lot of different types of betta fish and they tend to look very similar, so it can be difficult to tell some apart from others.
As a beginner, ask questions and also check all the features carefully so that you don’t end up with a type that you don’t want or one that will bring rouble to your tank.
Betta Fish Tank Size
Betta fish can be kept in a relatively small tank due to their limited swimming needs. In the wild, they live in slow-moving or still shallow water bodies.
For this reason, a five-gallon aquarium will house two betta fish adequately if it is not overcrowded with other tank mates.
Water Temperature And Betta Fish
Betta fish require a constant water temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Change the water in the tank once a week using tap water treated with a conditioner.
Do not use distilled water, as it lacks minerals necessary for cells to absorb nutrients and release waste products. Replace substrate occasionally with new gravel to prevent bacteria and disease from accumulating.
Betta Fish And Water Filters
Bettas are not known to be particularly sensitive to poor water conditions or polluted water. However, they can still die from exposure to decaying organic matter or toxins such as ammonia released by uneaten food and waste products in the tank that decomposes over time.
A good way to reduce the presence of such particles in the water is to use a filter that traps them before they have a chance to disperse.
Betta Fish And Aquarium Plants
There are several aquarium plant species, including Cabomba furcata, Echinodorus cordifolius, Echinodorus major, Hygrophila corymbosa var. Angustifolia, and Vallisneria spiralis, that can be safely added to the aquarium with betta fish in it.
They are all fairly easy to care for and will help keep your tank clean while providing a home for small creatures like shrimp or snails that eat decaying plant matter and waste particles produced by your fish.
Betta Fish Companions And Tank Mates
You should only keep one betta fish in a tank, as they prefer to live alone. If you want more than one betta fish, make sure that the tank is large enough to accommodate them comfortably.
If you want to keep another type of pet like shrimp or snails with your betta fish, make sure that the tank is large enough and has plenty of hiding places for all your pets.
Feeding Betta Fish
You can feed betta fish a variety of nutritious foods, but you should make a point to vary their diet whenever possible. Bettas are carnivorous fish and will eat worms, insects, or dead animals in the wild when they are available.
They can be fed a quality flake food supplemented with freeze-dried bloodworms and brine shrimp to ensure that they get enough protein in their diet. Live foods like mealworms, wax worms, or fruit flies can be used as treats.
Betta Fish Health
Betta fish are carnivorous-eating animals living primarily on insects, crustaceans, and worms in the wild. In captivity, their diet should be supplemented with high-quality flake food that is rich in protein to ensure they get enough nutrients.
Bettas are also sensitive to changes in water conditions and require clean water to live healthy lives.
Feeding betta fish treats like bloodworms, waxworms, and feeder fish can cause disease outbreaks, so it is best to avoid them.
Also, betta fish are aggressive toward unfamiliar tank mates and smaller fish should not be kept with them in a tank that is less than five gallons.
Betta Fish Diseases
The most common diseases of betta fish include fungus infection, fin rot, bacterial infections, and ich. Symptoms of these diseases include lethargy, clamped fins, loss of appetite, discolored gills, and cloudiness in the eyes.
Bettas can also contract constipation from poor diets or ingesting indigestible materials like gravel. Check out this post on common aquarium fish diseases.
Betta Fish Breeding
Male betta fish are more colorful than females and have long, flowing fins. In the wild, male betta fish display their fins to attract females during courtship.
If you want to breed betta fish in captivity, you should purchase a group of six or more young adult female bettas for every one male so that they will not kill each other while trying to establish territories after breeding.
Betta Fish Lifespan
The average life span of a betta fish is two to three years, but they have been known to live up to five years if properly cared for.
Betta Fish Types and Care
Betta fish are some of the most common aquarium fish. They are popular for good reasons; they are beautiful and one of the easy to care for pet fish.
I hope this article on betta fish types and care gave you some information on caring for your betta. Please share it and also follow Fishbasics Pinterest for more on aquarium fish.
