I've always kept some sort of fish while I was growing up. I also always had a fascination with the beautiful Betta Splendens. When the time came for me to go away to college, bettas were great way to brighten up my dreary dorm room. At the time, I didn't know much about them but I can say that now I have thoroughly been bitten by the betta bug.

Bettas can be easy to care for, but they do have special needs. The pet industry (of which I am a member of, so I'm allowed to talk smack) is guilty of passing a lot of misinformation on to consumers. This page is not meant to be a comprehensive guide by any means. I just want to clear some things up so that everyone can enjoy bettas the way they should be enjoyed.

First things first, bettas do not live in tiny mud puddles! They live in large rice paddies and slow moving streams. It is also not bad for their health to live in a space larger than the tiny cups the pet store keeps them in. Bettas, especially males, should have a minimum of one gallon of water. The teeny tiny Betta Hexs you see in pet stores are not appropriate at all. I've seen some so small that the fish could barely turn around in.

It is true that bettas do not need filters. They even have a bit of a hard time if a filter produces a very strong current. They have a special organ called a labyrinth that enables them to breath atmospheric oxygen. However, they are still fish. They produce ammonia and waste. A larger container of a gallon or more is better, and gallon containers only require full water changes once or twice weekly. Bettas seem happiest in larger tanks of at least 5 gallons, with heaters, plants, rocks, and filters.

Betta vases are another point of contention. Bettas are carnivores. They never have and never will thrive from eating the roots of a plant. In the wild they eat insects and larvae along with microorganisms. The roots of the plants in these set ups also take up the surface of the water. Your betta needs to get to the surface to breath if you do not have a filter.

Despite what you may have heard, they are tropical fish. It is essential that their water stay between 75 and 85 degrees. Any warmer and you'll cook your betta. Do not keep their tanks on top of appliances like vcr's and cable boxes. Any colder and your poor fish will freeze.

Male bettas cannot live together. They are extremely territorial and they will fight to the death. Females can live together, depending on the personalities of your individual fish. Males and females should never be in the same tank, except for when breeding. Male bettas can be kept with peaceful fish of other species. Make sure to use any with long, flowing fins. They could easily be confused for another male betta.

Bettas do require a specialized diet. Most tropical fish flakes are not formulated for their nutritional needs. Make sure to use a floating pellet that is specially formulated for bettas. It should be high in protein since they are carnivores. Bettas also enjoy freeze dried blood worms as well as frozen foods. My bettas enjoy daphnia, baby brine shrimp, plankton, blood worms and cyclops.

As I said, this in no way a complete guide to betta fish. If there is anything I missed please let me know so I can add it!