Betta Care Guide

More Than a Pretty Face

Bettas are intelligent, curious fish that need proper housing, warm water, and enrichment — not the tiny cups pet shops suggest.

Tank Requirements

• Minimum: 20 litres (5 gal), 30+ litres ideal
• Heater: Yes — 24-28°C, tropical fish
• Filter: Yes, but gentle flow (sponge filter or baffled HOB)
• Lid: Essential — bettas jump!
• Decorations: Indian almond leaves (lower pH, antibacterial), no sharp objects

Water Parameters

• Temperature: 24-28°C (stable!)
• pH: 6.0-7.5
• GH: 3-12

Feeding

• High-quality betta pellets (2-4, twice daily)
• Frozen bloodworms 2-3x/week
• Brine shrimp, daphnia for variety
• Fast 1 day/week (prevent constipation)

Varieties

• Veil tail: Most common, flowing tail
• Halfmoon: 180° tail spread, stunning but harder to swim
• Plakat: Short fins, most active, best for beginners

Tank Mates (30+ litre tank)

• Good: Corydoras, kuhli loaches, nerite snails, Amano shrimp, ember tetras
• Avoid: Other bettas (males fight), guppies (fin nippers), tiger barbs

Enrichment

Bored bettas become stressed. Provide: live/silk plants, Indian almond leaves, brief mirror flaring (5 min max, 2-3x/week), rotated decorations.

Pro Tip: Female bettas are often more interesting pets — less colorful but more active, curious, and interactive. Consider one for your first betta tank.