by Peter K

Created on: November 16, 2006   Last Updated: May 09, 2007

One point of advice I can offer about Beta fish is to avoid the currently popular "bowl" method of keeping this type of fish. This includes any type of bowl, large and small, and the bowl & plant combination.

Beta fish should get, at the minimum, 10 gallons of water in which to live. To visualize that, 10 gallons is small square aquarium about the size of a large microwave. If kept with other fish, the Beta should have 10 gallons to itself plus the requirements for the other fish to equal the total aquarium size. Crowding the beta will prevent it from being able to roam as it does in its natural environment. Obviously, keeping it in a 4" diameter bowl (as I have seen some people do) is neither good for crowding, or worse water quality. Most of these fish die off within months if not sooner.

Healthy Beta fish should live for many years. The fact that many owners return to buy new fish frequently (not helped by the fact that they are relatively inexpensive) only goes to show that they are not being properly cared for.

Also, one of the most obvious things with a Beta is that you can only have one they will tend to fight when confronted with other Betas, or even with fish that resemble Betas. Consult your pet store, or do research online for compatible fish types. Don't torture your Beta by showing it a reflection of itself.

Follow all the standard good practices of keeping an aquarium. Monitor water quality, replace water as needed, aerate and filter properly, don't overfeed, etc. A fish is just like any other pet and needs a bit of your time to stay healthy. Be a responsible pet owner and enjoy!

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