Meet the Betta! Here’s How to Keep One in Real Life

Kids have been keeping bettas in their aquariums for more than 100 years! Their long, colorful fins have a lot to do with their popularity. In fact, you can find these fish in a wide variety of colors including red, blue, orange, yellow, green, black, and white. Although there are so many great colors to choose from, you shouldn’t keep more than one male betta in an aquarium, because they will fight with each other. Females can be kept in together in larger tanks by experienced fishkeepers, but keeping a male with another betta—male or female—can cause fights that hurt the fish. Here’s everything you need to know about how to take care of a betta:

Step 1: Set Up Your Betta Aquarium

You’ll need an aquarium that’s at least 2 gallons to make sure your betta has plenty of space to roam. Before buying a fish, here’s what you’ll need to set up your aquarium:

• Aquarium heater: Check the box before buying a heater to make sure it’s strong enough to heat up the size of your aquarium.
• Aquarium thermometer: Most aquarium thermometers have a suction cup that sticks to the inside of the aquarium.
• Filter: A filter helps keep the aquarium water clean, and many aquarium kits come with one.
• Fish food: Flakes will do.
• Gravel: Ask your parent or guardian to wash the gravel before adding it to your aquarium.
• Gravel vacuum: This tool will help you remove gunk from your tank and keep the water clean.
• Plastic plants: Bettas come from streams and ponds in Southeast Asia, and giving them some plants will help them feel more at home. You can also add aquarium decorations.
• Water conditioner: Available in a bottle, this liquid helps make tap water safe for fish.

After your tank is set up, it’s time to fill it with water. With an adult’s help, use a pitcher or hose to fill the aquarium with tap water that’s about 77°F. (Water that’s too hot or cold can make your fish sick.)  

Step 2: Add Your Betta to the Aquarium

Once you choose a betta from the pet store, you’ll need to “float” it in your aquarium. Your fish will be given to you in a sealed plastic bag filled with water, and you should place this bag in your aquarium as soon as you get home. This will help your betta get used to your tank’s water temperature. After 15 to 20 minutes, gently untie the bag and let your fish swim into the aquarium—their new home!

Step 3: Take Care of Your Betta

Bettas are usually very strong and healthy fish. As long as you follow the steps below, you’ll be helping your betta live a happy life!  

Daily Jobs

• Feed your fish: Only give your betta as much as they can eat in 30 seconds. (Overfeeding can make them sick.)
• Check the temperature: Make sure the aquarium water stays around 77°F.  If it gets too cold, your aquarium heater can help raise the temperature.
• Monitor your fish: If you see white spots on the body, sores, or faded color, your fish may be sick and might need some medicine from the pet store.
• Turn the aquarium lights on/off: Fish generally need 8 to 12 hours of light each day.
• Inspect the equipment: Make sure your filter is running and the lights are working. If something is wrong, ask an adult for help.

Monthly Jobs

• Vacuum the tank: Fish waste and uneaten food build up in every fish tank over time! With some help from an adult, follow the instructions on your gravel vacuum to remove this gunk.
• Refill the water: Draining some water and replacing it with fresh water can help keep your fish from getting sick. Once you finish vacuuming the tank, ask an adult to help you refill the water with a bucket or hose. You’ll need to use a water conditioner to make the water safe for fish. Just follow the instructions on the bottle!
• Replace the filter cartridge: Most aquarium filters contain cartridges that remove junk from the water, and they generally need to be replaced once a month.

Step 4: Find Friends for Your Betta

If you have a big enough tank, you can give your betta some friends—or as we like to call them, tankmates! Here are some great freshwater animals to keep with bettas:

• Cory catfish
• Ghost shrimp
• Mystery snails

Great Pets? You “Betta” Believe it!

Bettas love to show off their long fins and bright colors—and we bet you’ll love watching them! Whether you keep your betta alone or with some friends, we hope you have a great time enjoying your aquarium.