Betta fish are lively, beautiful, intelligent and adoptable pets. They thrive as colorful, social inhabitants of a home aquarium. Unfortunately, Bettas are also finicky and difficult to keep. If you’ve recently acquired a Betta fish, you might be wondering why they are so picky. You might have already done everything the books have suggested but your Betta still refuses to eat anything. You might not be able to understand why your Betta is acting out. Or, you might be looking for a way to keep your Betta happy and healthy. In this article, click to find out more about why Bettas are so picky, as well as some simple solutions for keeping your Betta happy.
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What is the Cause of Betta Fish Pickiness?
The most common cause of Betta fish pickiness is feeding. Bettas are carnivorous, meaning they feed on live food. To keep your Betta happy, you need to find a way to provide it with the appropriate food. This can be done by purchasing live prey from a pet store or catching them in the wild. Typically, Bettas prefer live prey that moves on its own and has a wiggling tail.
Another possible reason for your Betta’s pickiness is temperature. If your aquarium water is too cold or too hot, this can cause your Betta to behave sickly or refuse to eat altogether. Bettas require an aquarium temperature between 78-82 degrees Fahrenheit and a water depth of at least 2 inches. The aquarium should also have rocks or plants for it to take shelter behind and explore. Keeping these conditions met will make your Betta happy and healthy!
Betta Fish Health and Nutrition
Betta fish are sensitive to changes in temperature and water conditions, so they need a stable environment. The water needs to be filtered and changed regularly as well. Bettas also have specific nutritional needs that must be met. Betta fish naturally subsist on small insects, plankton, and other small prey. A diet of frozen or live bloodworms can meet those needs for most Bettas.
Bettas are fragile creatures and their fins are highly susceptible to damage. They need a slow-moving current in the tank to ensure their fins don’t get caught or torn on any rocks or plants.
If you keep your Betta fish in low-quality water conditions, it will eventually weaken them to the point where they will die. Their immune system will become compromised by the poor quality of water, which is an easy way for diseases to spread quickly throughout the tank.
Aquariums should include some plants and stones, but no sharp objects like gravel or rocks (these can injure your Betta). If you want your Betta fish to thrive, keep these things in mind when setting up their habitat.
Betta Fish Bedding and Shelter
Bettas are domesticated fish that have originated in Thailand, and they are often sold to hobbyists as part of a small, contained aquarium. This means that Bettas require pets as you would provide to any other animal in your home. Bettas need a tank, a filter, and a heater just like every other pet.
One of the most important things for Bettas is shelter. Bettas are active swimmers who desire plenty of room to explore their habitat. Unfortunately, since Bettas originate from shallow rice paddies in Thailand, they do not feel safe or comfortable when surrounded by vegetation or other plant life for extended periods of time. That’s why one of the simplest solutions for keeping your Betta happy is providing them with lots of space to move around in and ensuring that at least half their water is open space that they can swim freely through. You should also try filling up the bottom with pebbles or gravel which can mimic the natural habitat environment of these fish.
Bettas also require bedding material on the bottom of their tank to feel cozy and secure while resting. You should be sure to provide this bedding material on the bottom of your tank so that your Betta feels safe enough to sleep there during the night without getting eaten by predators lurking under his bedding mound during the night!
Betta Fish Tanks and Setup
The small, individual fishbowl is not a good idea for Bettas. The key to a happy Betta is having the right living environment, which includes at least two gallons of clean water and a filter. Bettas also require plenty of space to move about in order to swim or play with other fish. To meet these needs, you need an aquarium that mimics their natural habitat-which means providing them with plenty of room.
Betta fish tanks come in many forms and shapes- round, rectangular, square and more. You’ll need a tank that’s 10 gallons or larger on average if you want your Betta to have enough room. In addition to this, Bettas are tropical fish so they require warm water temperatures between 78 degrees Fahrenheit and 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
