Siamese Fighting Fish; They can make great pets

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Geriann

Having Bettas, additionally recognized as Siamese fighting fish, can certainly be a great experience. Individuals have actually been gathering Betta fish as distant as the 17th century. Initially, they were located in the waters of Thailand (then referred to as Siam), and were named “pla kat,” and that translates into “biting or tearing” fish.

Assuming that Siamese fighting fish are supplied a right daily diet and kept in very well managed water, they are able to reside in captivity for around 2 to 5 years. Over the last decades, breeders have actually produced close to a dozen various scale and finnage types of Betta fish.

If you have actually ever noticed Siamese fighting fish or Betta fish for purchase at the neighborhood pet shop, you are undoubtedly cognizant that they are maintained in compartments by themselves. The male Bettas have an exceptionally aggressive nature and will certainly dive into or kill virtually any additional male which gets into its individual area. Female Bettas, alternatively, are accommodating enough to be kept in schools of 3 to 8 fish, so long as their surrounding is a sizable tank which provides a number of areas for the less aggressive females to hide.

In addition to recognizing the fundamental nature of this fighting fish, it is essential to find out about Betta fish ailments, appropriate plants, and water chemistry along with exactly how to select the ideal fish for acquisition. There are a wide range of publications that can help provide a lot of information to maintain and keep a healthy and balanced pet. At the same time, people enjoy sharing their expertise with others through the internet forums.

Understanding all about Siamese fighting fish, or Betta fish, their environmental needs, diet, behavioral patterns and well-being concerns, will help one conquer the most typical errors lots of pet owners make. Being aware of the fundamental prerequisites of such fighting fish will give you numerous years of pleasure with your pet.

 

 

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Give Your Betta Fish A Better Life!

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Geriann

Article by Jackie Robinson

Have you ever been to your local pet shop and seen the Bettas (also known as Siamese Fighters), in a tiny little tank? When I questioned my local pet store about the size of container they were kept in, they proceeded to tell me that it is what Bettas prefer! They had obviously been asked this many times, because they handed me a photocopied piece of paper explaining how to care for a Betta, and how they like to live in tiny spaces.

Now I don’t know about you, but I personally think it is extremely cruel, and I think the fish think so as well, as they look pretty miserable. A good indication of it is that they aren’t showing off their beautiful fins, instead they are usually skulking near the bottom, fins down.

Now the pet shop’s theory is that Bettas live in small puddles of water in the rice fields of Asia, but what they don’t tell you is that they move from puddle to puddle, and then on to bigger expanses of water. They are not stuck in one small puddle all their life, never meeting up with another fish! The species would be extinct by now if that was the case.

If you own a Betta in a small tank, please consider getting it a bigger home. You cannot keep two male Bettas together, because, as the name Siamese Fighter suggests, they will fight! You could easily keep your Betta in an aquarium with other tropical fish. Whatever you do, don’t keep them with fish that like to nip fins, like Barbs, and especially not with Guppies. Male Bettas view Guppies as competition and will most probably fight and kill them.

The other alternative is to get one or two female Bettas. It is much better to have a couple of females, rather than just one, as it will give each female a break from amorous advances. When the male is ready to breed he will make a bubble nest near the surface of the water. Once the female has laid the eggs, which can be anywhere from 400 to 500 eggs, he will guard them.

Make sure that the aquarium in which they live has some vegetation they can hide in, as well as easy access to the surface of the aquarium, as they like to breathe air at the surface from time to time.

So, if you do own a male Betta in a tiny tank, please think about this, give him a better home, and watch how much happier he will be.

About the Author

Jackie Robinson is a keen hobbyist and has kept tropical fish for many years. See more information about Betta Fish, or other tropical fish at her website http://www.JustTropicalFish.com

Use and distribution of this article is subject to our Publisher Guidelines
whereby the original author’s information and copyright must be included.

Jackie Robinson


GoArticles.com

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Care Of The Siamese Fighting Fish

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Geriann

(PRWEB) May 11, 2005

With it’s long flowing fins and vibrant colors, it’s easy to see why the Betta Splendens or Siamese Fighting Fish is a favorite fish for fresh water aquariums. Often seen in tiny little bowls in the pet store, this male of this species is fiercely territorial and must be kept in separate bowls or aquariums or they may fight to the death.

These interesting fish are equipped with a tipped up mouth that enables them to get air from the surface of the water and, therefore live in small bowls or those plant vases that are so popular today. If you want to have a long lived healthy fish, however this method of keeping him, is not recommended.

The ideal environment for a Siamese fighting fish, is a fish tank of 5 gallons or more with proper filtration and heating. In nature, this fish lives in very shallow water that has little movement. It is a tropical fish and likes water temperature to be in the high 70’s. For the best health of your fish, keep the water heated to 78 degrees and use a gently filtration system that does not create any strong movement in the water.

As with any fish, the Betta will be in best health, if periodic water changes are done and the replacement water is properly conditioned. Keeping the tank clean helps to keep down the level of toxins in the water and helps the fish resist disease. Another important aspect to keeping any fish is to make sure you do not overload the tank – a general rule of thumb is 1 inch of fish per gallon. So if you have a 20 gallon tank, it can safely house 20 inches of fish. The less fish the better, of course. Refrain from mixing your Siamese fighting fish with any other fish that like to nip at fins, and remember only 1 male per tank!

Siamese fighting fish are meat eaters and like to dine on insects and larvae in their natural habitat. Of course this might not be practical for your pet fish but the more closely you can resemble his natural diet the better off your fish will be. If you can give him live food once in a while that will be great, in the interim you can feed him frozen foods, tubifex worms and brine shrimp. This fish will eat flake food with no problem, but it is best if you can supplement that with some fresh or frozen “meat”.

Proper care of this beautiful fish is not any different than any other tropical fish and they can be a lovely addition to your tank. With good care, proper feeding and maybe some luck, your Siamese fighting fish can live up to 3 years.

 

Definitive Guide to Everything You Need to Know About Tropical Fish: http://tinyurl.com/75poj

 

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Feeding Betta Fish

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Geriann

Ok, so you brought your Betta home from the pet store. And you have bought some food the sales clerk recommended. And yet you don’t really know a whole lot about feeding Betta fish. You want to be a super Betta parent, though. You are committed to having the healthiest and happiest Betta on the block! You want to know what will make this Betta be with you for many years to come.

If all that is true, here are some tips for you:

You are right – feeding Betta fish the best diet possible will have a profound effect on its health and longevity. In fact, next to the quality of tank water, it’s the second most important factor in caring for your Betta fish. And the two are very much connected. You will see in a minute, why.

The first question is: How much should I be feeding Betta fish?

Be careful not to overfeed it! That’s number one.

We can be very eager to make our Betta happy and full and we often go overboard. Remember, they are tiny creatures, with tiny stomachs and huge appetites. And they don’t have much will power when it comes to food. Yes, they can be finicky, but they will also eat until their stomachs are bulging, if left to their own devices. So learn these quick rules:
Feed it only what it will consume right away (in 2 minutes)
Do not leave any uneaten food in the tank (it can be a challenge to pick it all out…)

There are many theories out there, but it’s enough to feed your Betta fish once a day. Pick a time that is convenient for you and stick to it. Bettas like consistency when it comes to feeding time.

Since you want to be a super Betta parent, I will tell you a secret: the best time for feeding your Betta fish is an hour after sunrise or an hour before sunset.

In the wild, this is the time when the insects swarm and land in the water for the Bettas to scoop them up.

The second question is: What should I be feeding my Betta fish?

We already mentioned the fact that Bettas are carnivores. A vegetarian diet will not sustain them. The healthiest food for them is called Hikari Bio-Gold. It’s imported from Japan and used by many breeders.

Since your Bettas need a varied diet, here are some other elements of their weekly menu:

Blood worms – give infrequently
Daphnia (water fleas) – twice per week at the most
White chicken meat
A tiny piece of steak
Vegetables – a cooked and peeled pea, for example

Variety will contribute to a strong immune system in your Betta.

And once again – whatever is not eaten right away, needs to be removed from the tank. Leftover food will rot and produce bacteria and ammonia, making the environment dangerous if not deadly for your Betta.

Mischa Hill is a Betta fish enthusiast. He likes to contribute to the well-being and health of all Bettas by providing information and resources on Betta fish care and breeding Betta fish to Betta fish owners at http://www.betta-fish-care.net/

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Secrets of the Lifespan of a Betta Fish

Posted on May 12, 2012 by Geriann

Article by James Conar

Much information can be found on the internet about the lifespan of a Betta fish. More people are starting to purchase a Betta fish. These fish come from Southeast Asia. Their appearance is very colorful and bright. Caring for these pets is easy! Keep their tank clean, and feed them.

They can live up to six years as long as you take really good care of them. This fish is very beautiful and full of bright colors. You’ll find them in pet stores when they are very little. And they don’t get much bigger after that.

One thing that is interesting is that the males are more colorful than the females. The males will defend the babies until they can take care of themselves. Be sure to remove the females from the tank after the nest has been constructed.

One thing to watch out for is keeping males in the same tank. They will attack each other, and most likely, one of them will be killed. In a few days, the eggs will hatch. They will be taken care of until they are of age.

It’s easy to locate and purchase books online. Many of these items will only cost thirty dollars. These items will help with taking care of your Betta fish. Be sure to locate a quality tank. Five gallon tanks are the best choice. This is because your fish will have plenty of room to explore.

These fish will be sold in smaller jars. Keep in mind that you will want to put them in something larger as soon as possible. This is because small tanks will limit their lifespan. Keep the jar though. This is because you will want a place to store them when you clean their tank. A water heater is required. This is because these fish are used to high water temperatures. Be sure to pick up some plants for them to enjoy.

You can locate many accessories that will aid you in your Betta care. They won’t cost much money, and can be found easily. Plants are a great addition to their new home. They will provide shade, and hiding space. Another accessory that you should consider purchasing is rock. This will help keep them comfortable. The tank will appear to be a natural environment to them. As you can see, much information can be found about the lifespan of a Betta fish.

Learn more about the lifespan of a betta fish today! Discover more facts about betta fish to ensure your fish is healthy.

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Breeding Betta Fish

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Geriann

Since Betta fish have a very short life span many people turn to breeding them to keep more of them at a time. Those who breed Betta fish sell them to pet stores when they’re about six months old. Betta fish breed in bubble nests that they create themselves by going to the surface and taking in air. Once they’ve taken in a big gulp of air they blow the bubble out into the water and it will create the nest. A small tank is all that is needed to breed bettas.

Many breeders use a ten gallon aquarium with nothing inside except something for the female to hide in, the male and female bettas and the water. The fish should be conditioned and healthy before breeding. This can be done by feeding them a healthy diet of live foods and keeping the water at a pH level of 7.0 and around eighty degrees.

After the male is placed in the breeder and is ready to spawn, he will start building a bubble nest.

The female may spend a great deal of the time hiding due to the fact that male bettas become very aggressive during spawning time. When they are both ready to spawn, their colors will become very intense and they will circle each other underneath the bubble nest. The male will then squeeze the female and she will then start dropping her eggs. The male will fertilize them as they begin to sink. Once they are all fertilized he will scoop them up and place them in the bubble nest. Once they have spawned all the eggs, it is a good idea to remove the female from the tank since she has played her part and is no longer needed.

The male should remain in the breeder in order to tend and fetch any eggs that should fall out of the bubble nest. The eggs will usually hatch in about one to two days and the newly hatched fry can be visible in the bubble nest with their little tails hanging out of the bubbles.

They will feed on the leftover yolk in the egg sack for the next thirty six hours before they will begin to swim around the breeder tank. After about two days the male should be removed from the breeder tank because he may mistake them for live food swimming around the tank.

While the fry are still in the breeder tank, they should be fed twice a day. The best food to feed them is live baby brine shrimp. Do not overfeed the fry because the leftover food that they do not consume will dirty the tank which will quickly kill them. They will soon grow into full sized Betta fish if they are well cared for.

Mischa Hill is a Betta fish enthusiast. He likes to contribute to the well-being and health of all Bettas by providing information and resources on Betta fish care and breeding Betta fish to Betta fish owners at http://www.betta-fish-care.net/

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Preventing Betta Fish Diseases

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Geriann

Article by Kelly Wright

Pet lovers often prefer Betta fish to other animals because bettas are known to be hardy. They need little care and attention, eat just about anything given to them, or can get without food for a week or more. In fact, ideal choice for home or office to add that look of nature.

What many novices don’t know that there’s certain preparation to be made before purchasing a betta fish. While some experts say bettas live happily in small bowels (in which pet shops sell them), it is not the best house for them. Betta-bowls are torturous devices, and it is insane to make fish live in them. Same with us, humans; we can live in a tiny room, but prefer more spacious apartments and houses. Space is what every living creature needs. Therefore caring betta fish lover will buy a 3-gallon tank, but normally knowledgeable pet owners tend to buy tanks with 5 gallon capacity. Also, in a bigger space of water the temperature will not shift nearly as quickly or as much.

Keep the water level lower than the tank allows. Bettas need air no inhale and can jump out of the tank. A cover is a good and inexpensive method to protect the fish from leaving home.Contrary to a popular opinion about live plants needed in tanks, it is possible to get away with artificial imitations. Live plants are not neutral to the environment and may cause water contamination thus deteriorating the living conditions for the betta. Remember that sick betta fish usually lives in dirty, contaminated water.

This is always a reason why regular water change is important. With a large tank, it is possible to limit changes to once in a month, smaller tanks will need water to be changes once every two weeks. With bowls, this frequency increases to a couple of time a week. Water temperature is crucial to ensure betta fish is never sick. In cold water, bettas are exposed to diseases. Natural processes in fish body require water temperature to be higher than room temperature. Let’s not forget that betta splendens (also known as Siamese Fighters) come from tropical countries! All Betta keepers should have an aquatic thermometer. The temperature should not drop below the low seventies Fahrenheit. It is best to maintain the level in upper seventies or even lower eighties, but it is even more important to keep these level protected from vacillation.

There is no real need to use distilled water. Though paranoid experts in betta fish care defend the idea of purest water, in natural conditions splendens are not found in distilled water. In fact, tapped water is OK, but water conditioner is required. Quality water with regular changes is vital in preventing betta fish diseases.Betta fish diet should be diverse. Sticking to one kind of food from pet shop is good for manufacturers (because they make profits), but mortal to poor bettas. Make a rule to include frozen worms, betta pellets, meaty foods occasionally. At least once a month it is good to fasten your betta. That is, give him no food for a day or so. This is absolutely harmless and helps to regulate the digestive system, which in turn is effective in preventing betta diseases (such as constipation). It is always better take precautionary measures rather than cure illnesses.

In a decent, stable environment betta fish diseases are rare. With a bit of experience you’ll notice what your betta likes best, take not of his behavior, and then you can maintain his healthy being for years to come. Although bettas don’t live that long, when properly cared for they can thrive for several years without any diseases.

Want to maintain healthy conditions for your betta? Following some simple steps to ensure stress-free environment, you’ll prevent most betta fish diseases with very little or no expense.

Kelly Wright is a betta fish lover and contributing author to several websites providing tips on betta fish care.

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Taking Care of Betta Fish – 3 Tips For a Thriving Betta

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Geriann

Betta Fish are an excellent pet that offer a high reward to cost ratio, however you’ll have to make sure you’re caring for your fish properly to keep it around. Is it difficult? Well, yes and no. Without the right information, sure it can be hard to know what’s going on but with proper guidance you can easily be on your path to a healthy Betta with years of enjoyment for the both of you! Below are 3 tips you can use to help become a successful Betta owner.

1) Regular water changes, but do it right! You can hear a lot of different things about how to change the water in your Betta tank, what I can offer you is simply what has worked in my experience as a betta fish owner. Change 10-20% of your water every few days, this really seems to be enough to keep your fish healthy! Many people change their water too much and kill the beneficial bacteria colonies that form and help keep your chemical levels balanced.

2) Don’t overfeed, and get the right food! So you’ve got a whole lot of options when it comes to betta food.

You can narrow it down pretty quickly to flake foods and pellet foods because they are the two that give you all of the nutrients your fish will need (live foods are a great treat but not very healthy). Out of the two I choose pellets because they are easy to measure out (being roughly the same size). Flakes are many sizes and can make it difficult to consistently feed your betta the right amount of food. Two pellets in the morning, two at night, and you’re all set!

3) Interact, form a bond! Will this one benefit the health of your fish? Absolutely, and it’s little talked about. Think about it, how many betta fish are in that tank? One.

It’s all alone. It is for this reason that Betta fish so easily bond with the person feeding them. No interaction means possible depression which will cause a fish to become lethargic and sometimes even lose color and vibrancy. I always have Gilbert (my betta) eat a pellet off of the tip of my finger, he jumps out of the water to get the food and is always excited. I also have his tank next to my computer so that while I write, he can watch me. This may sound silly but he spends a good deal of his time on the side of the tank nearest to the computer and stares at me while he swims about. A loved fish is a happy fish, show him you care!

Most deadly Betta mistakes occur without the owner even knowing what’s going on. Avoid these mistakes and give your Betta fish the best life possible. I found my “salvation” so-to-speak in Caring For Betta Fish. In just a few minutes I learned a whole lot about little things I was doing that were harming my fish.

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Caring For Siamese Fighting Fish

Posted on May 6, 2012 by Geriann

Caring For Siamese Fighting Fish
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Caring For Siamese Fighting Fish

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4 Of The Most Aggressive Freshwater Fish You Can Buy For Home Aquariums.

Posted on May 5, 2012 by Geriann

Article by Jason Williams

When you create a picture of an aquarium in your mind, most likely it will be tranquil and serene. After all, most aquarium enthusiasts maintain an aquarium precisely to have a beautiful and inspirational bit of nature indoors– a source of passive beauty. This of course is accomplished by having a mix of fish that are compatible with each other. If you have a freshwater aquarium you must be versed in the temperament of aggressive freshwater fish species in order to keep the peace.

Before we look at the most common species known for their harsh temperament, it must be prefaced with the following. All fish will be aggressive and all fish will be passive. This may sound like a contradictory statement, but it is essentially a law of nature. Until one starts keeping great white sharks in a home aquarium, every species that you will have in your aquarium will be both a predator and prey of other species in nature. Yes, even your plant eaters prey on plants! Being aware of this natural occurrence will help you in avoiding Wild West style saloon fights, “fish-style.”

Now, who are the toughest of the tough… the meanest of the mean in aquarium freshwater fish?

Red Bellied Piranha

When it comes to aggressive freshwater fish, you cannot get more aggressive than the red belly piranha. They can make for great aquarium fish when kept with others of their own kind. They are large, growing as big as 12 inches and will eat fish smaller than them, so contemplating an introduction of red belly piranha into a cross-species tank would be a mistake.

Siamese Fighting Fish

This is the species most commonly labeled as an aggressive freshwater fish. This reputation is well deserved, but it should be tempered slightly. First, male Siamese fighting fish, or Betta fish as they are also known, are very aggressive. If two males are placed in the same tank they will fight to the death. This is how they establish mating and feeding territories in nature. Obviously, you would want to avoid this situation. Female Betta fish do not display this behavior and can live communally.

Male Bettas could be placed in a tank inhabited by other species, but even here caution should be taken. If your other fish display long wavy appendages similar to a Betta or if the tank is crowded, fights could break out which can be deadly for other less aggressive species.

Angelfish

Do not let their common name fool you. These cichlids can be as aggressive as they are beautiful. They can coexist in a tank with tetras fairly well, as the tetra is rather docile with the angelfish and the angelfish’s mouth does accommodate a tetra to well for biting or killing purposes. Guppies, however, do not generally mix well with angelfish. The guppy has a tendency to nip at the angelfish’s extended fins and due to their small size, often resulting in seriously injured or dead guppies by the mouth of an angelfish.

A good rule of thumb with angelfish is to avoid placing them with smaller species. When new fish are introduced into an aquarium environment with angelfish present, it is best to do so after feeding time and preferably under low-light or dark conditions.

Paradise Fish

Males of this species can be aggressive, but tend to temper their aggression once a hierarchy has been established within the aquarium population. Females will not display aggressiveness.

As was stated at the beginning all fish can be aggressive and all can be passive. It is just a matter of you, the aquarium keeper, being aware of each specific fish species’ temperament before blindly adding a new member to your tank.

Always keep in mind that your fish selection should not be based entirely on how beautiful a fish looks. Never abandon the temperament and aggressiveness comparability factor. As long as you do this, even the so called aggressive freshwater fish can be beautiful additions to your aquarium.

If you want to learn more about Aggressive Freshwater Fish, you can visit my website at http://www.learnfreshwateraquariums.com for helpful tips on setting up, maintaining and caring for both your Freshwater Aquarium and the fish that inhabit it.

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How to Take Care of a Betta Fish – The Essentials For a Betta Fish Owner

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Geriann

Article by T L Gallamore

Owning a Betta is a great joy to any pet enthusiast, they flit about, respond to their owner coming in the room, and can easily be trained to eat food off of the tip of your finger. The only problem is that they’re just as delicate as they are fun to own. Below I’ve put together some essential “how to take care of a Betta fish” tips and even given you some questions to help determine if you’ve got all the knowledge you need to own a thriving Betta!

Tank Size: It is important to know that Bettas come from the vast rice paddy expanses of eastern Asia. Because of this, they are used to lots of space and are always happier when able to move around. An idea size ranged for a Betta fish tank is 5 to 10 gallons. My Betta is always very active in his ten gallon tank and always has a place to go whether he wants to explore, hide, or just get some exercise in!

Temperature: The perfect temperature for Betta fish is highly debated but anything in the range of 76 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit will work great. I keep my tank at about 82 to 83 and haven’t had any complications. The most important thing to remember about a Betta’s water temperature is that it should stay constant, so if you have a tank maintained at 82 degrees, keep it there. Rapid fluctuations in temperature are stressful to Bettas and can be detrimental to their health.

Feeding: Feeding Betta fish is another subjective debate in the pet owner world. While opinions from every direction can be confusing, I can offer you what has worked well for my fish. I choose to use pellet food because it is easy to measure food intake in pellets (overfeeding is then #2 killer of bettas, second to poor water quality), and it contains a full blend of nutrients. Live foods have a hard time delivering a well balanced diet and flakes are tough to measure out consistently, for these reasons I feed mine pellets. I like to do smaller meals twice per day, two pellets when I wake up, two before I go to bed.

Questions for every Betta fish owner from Betta Care Made Easy.

Do you know…-How to maintain proper water conditions?-When and when not to use a filter?-How to correctly setup a Betta tank and the 5-part checklist?-What to do if your Betta won’t eat?-How to care for Betta fish that are ill, and how to diagnose and cure every Betta sickness?-The step by step surefire instructions for breeding bettas?-About heaters and thermometers and how to get your temperature right?-Why the wrong type of lighting can kill your Betta?

<em>Everything you need to know at</em> http://BettaCareMadeEasy.info.

Originally published at How to Take Care of a Betta Fish

Proud betta enthusiast, owner of Gilbert the betta fish and frquent contributor to goarticles.com!

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