by B. L. Babb

Created on: July 17, 2008   Last Updated: January 01, 2012

They are regal with their bright red, blue, purple, green, and gold colors. Long flowing fins fan out behind them and stand up when displaying aggression. Typically you find these beautiful fish displayed in tiny jars of water wherever you normally purchase your fish.

Bettas are also known as Siamese Fighting Fish. This name comes from the willingness male Bettas have to attack other males in the same tank or even their own reflection.

One common misconception is that a male Betta MUST be kept separate from other fish. My experience has shown that if you find a retailer that keeps one male Betta in each of their display tanks, these fish are easier to integrate into a tank with multiple other fish.

Those kept in small bowls may be more aggressive towards other fish if added to a tank, but may be able to integrate over time. They usually reserve their nastiness for other male Bettas.

Because Bettas are able to survive in extremely poor water quality conditions, they are often times neglected. In a healthy tank, they may live up to three years or longer (in rare cases).

A tank no smaller than 2.5 gallons (5 gallons is better if only one Betta is kept) should be used for keeping a male Betta.

Heating and filtration will help keep the Betta healthy. Bettas like to hide, so artificial plants and some objects (not too many) in the bottom will help provide adequate hiding places.

Bettas are known jumpers meaning they will jump out of a tank given the opportunity. A screened cover will help keep these beauties in their environment. If you want some light, a glass cover will work just as well.

Like most fish species, female Bettas have nowhere near the coloring found in the males. It is possible to keep more than one female in the same tank as long as there are many hiding places. Never keep more than one male Betta in the same tank without proper separation panels. One of them will certainly not survive accommodations such as this.

Water replacement should be done at least 1-2 a week as well as adding when evaporation has lowered the level.

Live plants can be difficult to maintain with specific lighting requirements, so plastic or silk plants will be an easy way to show off the colors of your Betta without the hassle of trying to maintain live plants.

Bettas like a variety to their diet. All flake food is boring. Blood worms, frozen brine shrimp, even fresh brine shrimp (if available in your area just rinse in a very fine mesh net before adding to the tank) are all types of food I have successfully fed Bettas.

With minimal effort a Betta can be a great addition adding a splash of color into any aquarium environment.

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