OkcPets Magazine November 2022

November / December 2022 • OKC Pets 35 I n the wild, betta fish live in tropical fresh waters in Southeast Asia. They stay near the surface of the water defending their territory, exploring their environment, and feeding on tiny crustaceans and insect larvae. There’s no doubt that these fish also make great household pets. In addition to beautifying any room, they have unique and often feisty personalities. They can even be trained to swim through hoops. However, between setting up the tank, monitoring pH and nitrate levels, and knowing what to feed them, learning to care for a fish can be daunting. Here are some ideas for keeping your betta happy and healthy. Set Up an Ideal Tank Although some pet stores sell products for bettas such as betta cubes or fishbowls, it’s a myth that bettas will thrive in small spaces. As with any animal, bettas need room to roam so they can stay active. Seasoned betta owners recommend a min- imum tank size of 2.5 gallons. Once you have a sizable tank, you will need a filter. Betta fish in the wild live in still, stag- nant waters. Male bettas also have large, weighty fins, not making them the best swimmers. A filter with a gentle setting is needed so as to not stress out your betta. The next step is a heater because betta fish will be uncomfortable in water outside the range of 75 to 80 degrees. Heaters cost about $10 to $15 and can be purchased at most pet stores. Once you have a good-sized tank, a filter, and a heater, the tank needs to be cycled for about a week before you put your betta into the tank. It’s a tough wait, for sure! However, this is necessary for chemical levels in the water to balance out. If you are too anxious to wait the full week, you can speed up the process by purchasing API Quick Start for your tank. Either way you choose, once your tank is filtered, heated, and cycled, it is ready for your betta friend. Once it is cycled and your fish is added, be sure to do a 20 per- cent water change every week to keep those levels intact. Provide an Engaging Environment One of the most challenging parts of tak- ing care of a betta (and honestly, the most fun) is providing a stimulating home for him to live in, for example, decorating the tank. Bettas are accustomed to marshes or rice paddies with lots of plants and hiding places, so live plants are a great choice for your betta. However, if you don’t want the extra maintenance of taking care of live plants, fake ones are great too. One thing to keep in mind when decorating is that male bettas have long, delicate fins. The fins, although great for display in the wild, come with a lot of extra baggage. They weigh the betta down, meaning your betta will be a weak swimmer, and he can easily get snagged on jagged surfaces. When selecting your decorations, try to pick those that don’t have pointy edges. Pick smooth decorations, and provide plenty of places for the betta to explore. Another great option is the betta leaf, a plastic leaf that suctions to the side of the tank. Bettas like to hang out toward the surface of the water to take gulps of air and create bubble nests. Betta leaves make a perfect lounging area, and you will likely see your betta sleeping on it often. To keep things interesting, switch out the decorations in your betta’s tank occa- sionally. This will give him new opportu- nities to explore his surroundings, keeping him active and engaged. Keep Your Betta on a Healthy Diet Bettas are notoriously picky eaters. Howev- er, when they find food they like, they usu- ally devour it quickly. Many betta owners report that bettas avoid fish flakes. Instead, try betta pellets first as his daily staple. Of course, your betta will also love an occa- sional treat. Freeze-dried bloodworms are a good option. Although the betta can eat bloodworms as is, it is generally recom- mended to soak them in a separate bowl of water for a few minutes before feeding the betta so as to avoid constipation. For something extra special, consider let- ting your betta practice his hunting skills by buying live food. Ideas for live food to purchase include baby brine shrimp, daph- nia, and blackworms. Monitor Your Betta’s Health Knowing what a happy, healthy betta fish looks like is an important part of learning how to care for your betta. First, a healthy betta should be brightly colored, with This healthy white male betta with long, flowing fins swims around gracefully.