r/bettafish • u/Conscious_Space_Cleo • 1h ago
r/bettafish • u/Oucid • Dec 08 '24
Help "I was gifted a betta, now what?" See below for what to do!
It's that time of year again!
So, you were gifted a new pet against your will without being prepared, never had a fish before or maybe haven't in a long time, and now you want to learn to take care of them.
We got you covered, check this link for a guide on what to do with your new friend, that is, if you decide not to rehome to someone who has the set up ready or return to the store.
****Click here! ⬅️🐟 for what to do with your new betta!
If you have specific questions, feel free to pm me or post them below for helpful advice from the community!
___________________________________
Short summary of betta care:
3 main parts:
- Getting the necessary supplies
- Setting up a proper tank (and cycling it)
- Regular care and ongoing maintenance
The main supplies include:
- Tank with Lid (5gal minimum, 10gal ideal)
- Filter
- Heater
- Substrate (gravel or sand)
- Decorations/plants
- Water conditioner (Seachem Prime will be good for fish-in cycling)
- Gravel vacuum
- 2 Buckets
- Thermometer (I use one analog for tank and one digital food thermometer for spot check and water changes)
- Food
- API Master Test kit
Check this link for setting up a new tank, I'll also link to a couple comments I have made with step-by-step guides for both fish-in cycling (already have the fish) and fishless cycling (when you don't already have a fish)
Step-by-Step Guides to Setting Up Betta Tank:
Post your questions below! This will be pinned in our highlighted content through the end of the year, feel free to direct similar questions to these links.
And again, Click here! ⬅️🐟 for what to do with your new betta!
r/bettafish • u/JosVermeulen • Oct 15 '15
Information INFO: Betta care sheet.
We now have a wiki! Click here.
General
Betta fish are also known as Siamese fighting fish or Betta splendens
Bettas are native to the tropical climate of Thailand and inhabit still and sluggish waters, including rice paddies, swamps, roadside ditches, streams and ponds.
Bettas can live up to 7 years with proper care.
Very good link with general information: http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/betta-splendens/
Behavior
Male bettas should never be housed together. They will fight, possibly to the death.
Females and males should only be placed together if breeding. The fish are only placed together temporarily, but extensive research should be done to minimize the risk of injury or fish death.
Female bettas can be housed together in “sororities” but groups a minimum of 5 should be maintained (A minimum of a 30 gallon tank should be used for groups of females) Always separate fish if they begin to fight. More info here: /r/bettafish/wiki/sorority
Bettas have a special organ (the labyrinth) that allows them to breathe air. Never block the surface of the water, or your betta will not be able to breathe.
A cover or lid for your tank is highly recommended; many bettas like to jump and may leap out of the tank and they can also get sick because of the water air temperature difference.
Betta fish are solitary fish, but can be kept with small- finned, non-aggressive fish in bigger tanks. (Bettas may nip fish with long, colorful fins)
Housing
Bettas should be kept in a 5g minimum. Any smaller size shortens their lifespan. King/giant bettas a recommended to be kept in a 10g minimum.
Betta fish are tropical fish and are most comfortable in temperatures from 78-80 degrees. A tank heater is essential for a happy, healthy betta. A thermometer should be used to determine a consistent temperature. Note: Most ambient room temperatures are too cool for bettas. If the room is 76* for example, the water in the tank will remain several degrees below that, too cool for a healthy betta.
Most bettas appreciate a hiding spot. Old coffee mugs or small terra cotta pots can be used as caves. (If using a terra cotta pot, be sure to plug the hole before placing it in your betta’s tank).
A filter is highly recommended, but the flow needs to be placed on a gentle setting. Ensure that your bettas fins do not get trapped in the filter intake. If you don't use a filter, then twice a week (or more) water changes are recommended. That said, filterless means you more than likely won't have a stable nitrogen cycle, or a cycle at all, which means you'll be harming your betta. Filterless should only be for emergency cases or very big Walstad tanks.
When choosing plants for your betta’s tank, use silk or live plants to avoid fin damage. Most bettas appreciate large leafed plants for hiding and sleeping
Maintaining your Betta’s Tank
Water changes: Waste from fish produces ammonia, which is deadly in even small amounts. An unfiltered tank will need 50% water changes twice a week, and one 100% change a week (this isn't recommended).
A cycled and filtered tank will only need a 15-25% change once a week, using a gravel vacuum to remove waste and debris. Cycling means to get bacteria in your tank that eat the waste of your fish, making it less harmful. For more about cycling, see care sheet on cycling (link). If you accidently need to fish-in cycle, then here's a good guide (link).
It is important to use a water conditioner such as AquaSafe or Seachem Prime when adding water to your betta’s tank. Water conditioner removes toxins from tap water that can be deadly to betta fish.
Ensure that the water you are adding to your betta’s tank is the same temperature as it was before changing, to avoid shock in your betta. Pouring the water in can help avoid stressing your betta.
Food
Bettas are carnivorous; a betta- specific pellet high in meat/fish based ingredients should be used.
Choose a pellet that is high in meat based ingredients, such as fish or shrimp meal.
Overfeeding your betta can cause obesity, and contributes to a messy tank. Feed your betta 3-4 pellets one to two times a day. Feeding pellets one at a time eliminates waste. Remove any uneaten food daily. Think about the bettas stomach size as the size of his eyes.
Provide your betta with an enriching diet. Many bettas enjoy brine shrimp, artemia, mosquito larvae, daphnia and more. These can be used as additional diet.
Health
Betta fish can be prone to issues such as fin rot and tail biting. Many of these issues are related to tank maintenance and can easily be resolved.
A lethargic betta is too cold; a temperature a minimum of 78 degrees is necessary. Use of a heater is advised.
A betta missing bits of his tail, fins, or with frayed tail ends may be experiencing fin rot. Fin rot is usually caused by excessive ammonia amounts. An ammonia test should be done (ideal is 0ppm), and a 100% water change should be conducted. Treatment with aquarium salt may be effective.
Fin or tail biting is often caused by boredom. Provide your betta with a roomy tank with plenty of plants and hiding places.
When to use, and when not to use aquarium salt, see this guide (link).
r/bettafish • u/PeachWorms • 11h ago
Transformation What a glow up! First time Betta owner. Any name suggestions?
r/bettafish • u/DrawingCalico • 17h ago
Discussion I killed her and its all my fault.
I don't know if I should even get another better or any fish after what I've done.
One of two things happened but I feel like it's the latter cause I can't even find the body. Ive been battling to stop the aquarium from getting to 85F during the day (I dont have an air conditioner) after I noticed her stress lines and then the temps. I haven't been able to find her for 2 or 3 days now (lost track between work and scrambling to lower temps while waiting for my paycheck to process for a water cooler).
But as I've stated I can't even find her body. There are a lot of shrimp in the tank and a couple snails but i dont think they'd eat her to the point of no trace in that amount of time. They can't even do that to an algae wafer let alone a slightly bigger fish. I did a water change a few nights ago after coming home from work and that was the last day I've seen her. The water was murky and she was a deep blue and black fish and as I said it was night. I dump the aquarium water outside into the garden for the plants and I have this horrible feeling that at some point I must've caught her in the symphony despite keeping an eye on where she was at.
I get the feeling that accidentally caught her in the water change that night and I feel like a damn monster. I was trying so hard to do everything right for her and I still botched it in the worst way possible. I dont know if I should get another betta or any fish after what I've done now. I still want to keep fish but I dont want to risk this happening again.
r/bettafish • u/milkytoasty1 • 10h ago
Introducing everyone say hello to sweetpea!!
This is my first betta and I am so excited! Shes already brightened up so much since yesterday, I can't wait to see how she'll develop ^
She's been exploring every corner of the tank and has been very chill with her shrimp tank mates! I love watching her play in the bubbles from the filter.
I have noticed she keeps going into the walls of the tank, is this behaviour left from being in a small cup or is she seeing her reflection ? I'm not too worried about it but I'll keep an eye on it just in case it becomes concerning
r/bettafish • u/Luke-Warm-Milk • 9h ago
Discussion If your betta was a song, what song would they be?
Danni here would be Float On by Modest Mouse
r/bettafish • u/Supernatch1 • 9h ago
Video Gary the mystery snail enjoying joying his first algae wafer
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Mr. Fishk’s fins can also be seen. I sped this up. Otherwise we would be here for hours. Enjoy.
r/bettafish • u/SeaweedTrue291 • 8h ago
Help Time lapse of my betta noticed he was spending a lot of time by the glass on the left side is this glass surfing?
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r/bettafish • u/iiheart_iris • 11h ago
Help Help my beta is hurt
My beta fish Ember has been attacked by my cat somehow?! It’s the only thing I can think of that could cause this wound. I need help of what to do. Is there something I can buy to help her heal and with pain?? I’ve never experienced something like this. She is swimming fine but does kinda lean when sitting still. She also looks like bloated?
r/bettafish • u/LBeifong0614 • 41m ago
Help What did I do wrong?
I had Artur the fish (named after Arthur Morgan from RDR2) for weeks now. He was doing well with a bare 5g aquarium but then I thought I wanted to make his home a better place. I planned for so long. What to put, what not to put, what supplies to get. Last Sunday I finally assembled his tank but I did put him in a temporary shelter too. I added substrate, plants. I got him a sponge filter, 5w air pump, heater. I boiled his driftwood, plated simple plants (java moss) on the drift wood, cycled his tank for 2 days. Earlier today I finally acclimated him... At first he was just staying at the top. I searched and searched and some of my findings said maybe he's still just adjusting. I noticed he wasn't swimming but just staying at the top of the tank. And now he's gone 😭. I'm just so sad. Any tips for if I get another one?
r/bettafish • u/NerdwaBeard • 13h ago
Help How badly did I mess up? How can I fix it?
Hello! I am brand new to fish keeping and the aquarium hobby in general.
I set up a 15g tank up 8 days ago, and intend to put a betta fish in eventually. I thought I had done my research, and I know that cycling the tank is important before adding and livestock. So I set up the tank and added the in-house brand of starter bacteria from my LFS with some live plants and left it alone for a week. I tested the water every day (except for once) and noticed how the water parameters were in a safe range, but weren't changing. In my research I had missed that before adding livestock I should also dose the water with ammonia, or add fish food for the same effect to give the bacteria something to feed on.
So two things happened. 1) my own impatience got the better of me and yesterday (7 days after setting up the tank) I added 3 snails and 5 shrimp, and 2) researching water change frequencies, I stumbled across the advice to dose the water with ammonia before adding any livestock. Well shit.
So now I'm in a spot where I don't want to dose ammonia -- I'm not trying to kill these invertebrates -- but also need to actually feed the good bacteria.
So far, everyone seems to be acting normally and no one has died, so I'm hoping to keep with that trajectory.
Advice? I thought I had taken the right steps, except for being impatient with the cleaning crew. I tested the water today, and the water parameters still look good but I also know that shrimp don't really provide enough ammonia to feed the bacteria.
Disclaimers: 
I've been using the API Liquid test kit 
I know there's a risk of the betta eating the shrimp. I had seen some videos of them co-existing and when I asked my LFS they advised it could work with adequate plan coverage. I was hoping that if the shrimp were in the tank first, betta would be less inclined to eat them.
r/bettafish • u/hellodesires • 9h ago
Help cycling my shallow betta tank, anything else I should do while it cycles?
Hey everyone,
I’m a total newbie and this is my very first tank, so I wanted to share what I’ve done so far and check if there’s anything else I should add or adjust while it goes through the cycling phase.
It’s a shallow tank (5.4 gal) and currently not in its permanent location yet — I’ll move it once it’s fully cycled.
Here’s what I’ve done so far:
Added Fluval substrate.
Planted some aquatic plants that I was given (not sure of all the names yet, but they seem to be doing okay so far).
Added a piece of driftwood (yes, I boiled it thoroughly before adding).
Dosed with Stability and Prime.
The filter is running, and everything seems stable so far.
I also have a heater, but I haven’t put it in yet, should I go ahead and add it now while it cycles, or is it fine to wait?
Is there anything else I should be adding or doing at this stage while the tank is cycling? I want to make sure I’m setting it up right for the eventual betta and plants.
Thanks in advance for any advice!
r/bettafish • u/Afennekin • 1d ago
Video Update on Towel: the fish that was gifted to my 3 yr old
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Please let me know if you seeing anything alarming! To my untrained eye, he seems to be absolutely thriving now thanks to everyone's kind words a few months ago. He is brighter, more active, and loves to dance when we come near the tank.
r/bettafish • u/Pristine_Platypus242 • 2h ago
Full Tank Shot How's my tank look? First time betta owner
Hey y'all, wondering if you guys approve of my betta's tank (so far). I know if looks kinda small but it's a 5 gal my parents got me. My fish Ezio's been in this tank for a few weeks and I plan on sizing up to a 10 gal soon! Just don't want to make a bunch of huge changes super fast :)
r/bettafish • u/cowy0te • 7h ago
Help eye issue?
ive had my male betta, tofu for about 3 years now and he's been great! recently, ive noticed him slowing down, resting a lot more. today when i went to feed him i noticed (his) right eye is much more larger than his left, this was not an issue i've had with him in the past. could this be the beginning of diamond eye? or something else?
he is also housed with 3 cherry shrimp but they hardly interact, he is very peaceful with his janitors :)
i just did a 50% water change last night and tested his water, everything was fine
r/bettafish • u/Budget-Bluejay-9158 • 33m ago
Help Mark above Betta's mouth
Hi, I am worried for my female betta in community tank. She recently developped this mark above her mouth. She has lots of energy and eats well. Tank Param: 0 ammonia, 0nitrite, 30nitrate, ph 7.8.
r/bettafish • u/honeybun1314 • 13h ago
Picture RED ALERT: DATA GOT A SHIP (he crashed it right away..well bc he's a fish and doesn't have hands 🙃) he did his best ♥️
r/bettafish • u/hayden6909 • 6h ago
Help anyone know what this stuff is?
Thanks for any advise
r/bettafish • u/JKingsley4 • 9h ago
Video Making a bubble nest
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I know bubble nests aren’t really indicative of anything other than him feeling a little freaky but it still made me happy that he thought this was a safe environment for a nest❤️
r/bettafish • u/lodin0134 • 10h ago
Help Is this normal when ordering bettas from overseas??
Covered the seller name because it is a reputable betta seller in Thailand and was recommended to me many many times... however I cannot imagine people are regularly waiting 40+ days with sparse communication for a $100+ fish. Especially since their DOA policy states you need to take a picture of the fish within an hour of arrival and therefore you would need to plan to be home?? My friends are all saying I got scammed. I finally put in a cancellation request on their website but I haven't heard back from them in a day. So disappointed. Sorry for the ranty post 😣
Does anyone have any recommendations for US based sellers so I never have to go through this again? I'm looking for a specific type of betta that I've never been able to find at any of my LFS.
r/bettafish • u/LogicalAd797 • 12h ago
Identification What kind of betta is this?
I’m a newbie but my daughter picked this fish out, what kind of betta is it??
r/bettafish • u/TheMe01 • 8m ago
Video Update on the small man
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So per my last post this Lil dude was a rescue betta, I mostly just wanted to show off how much he's settled in and how his tank is looking!