Siamese Fighting Fish Care

[WhySoSerious?]

Well, for a belated birthday present, my friend got me a "Betta" or "Siamese Fighting Fish", and I kind of need to know how to care for it.

She told me to buy special water purifier, the name for which I have written down, and she got me food.

However, I don't know whether this fish will need a heater for it's bowl, or a proper filter... ect.

So, I'd love to hear from anyone who knows:

Whether they need a heater (My room gets a bit chilly, being in the basement)
Whether they need a filter
How often to feed them.
How often to change the water?

Also, he looks kind of droopy and wilted at the moment... I'm hoping he will start looking healthier once I get some purifier and change his water.

[Mixtape91]

When I had a Betta fish i fed it everyday and cleaned its bowl every week and a half or so (just whenever it was noticeably dirty). As for the filter, I never used one. Though I know its important to use the same water source every time you change its water cuz it adapts to it or something. I'm not really an expert (I don't really having living fish now) but i hope that helps a little..

[~CourageousSurvivor~]

I have never had a betta before but I found this link (http://www.peteducation.com/article....+1918&aid=2340) for care and what not. I don't know how accurate it is but it might give you a general idea of what you should do.

Hope this helped and best of luck with your new pet.

Jenna

[x-gothic-princess-x]

Dont keep this fish in a bowl. They need a heater and filter and bowls are the hardest tank to keep clean and heated. I have been keeping bettas for almost a year now and never had a problem with them. They like to have a tank for 3UK Gallons (which you can buy from wilko for £5.00) They have special betta food and love brineshrimp too. Mkae sure there is a very light current in the tank as this can stress them out. They have to be part water changed (15%-25%) weekly and feed a pinch morning and night. Their tempertaure should be around 75-86F (24-30C) they grown to about 3 inches and live to around 5 years. Male cannot be housed together, and you should never put a female in with the male unless breeding...

[I-Love-him]

Originally Posted by WhySoSerious?

Well, for a belated birthday present, my friend got me a "Betta" or "Siamese Fighting Fish", and I kind of need to know how to care for it.

She told me to buy special water purifier, the name for which I have written down, and she got me food.

However, I don't know whether this fish will need a heater for it's bowl, or a proper filter... ect.

So, I'd love to hear from anyone who knows:

Whether they need a heater (My room gets a bit chilly, being in the basement)
Whether they need a filter
How often to feed them.
How often to change the water?

Also, he looks kind of droopy and wilted at the moment... I'm hoping he will start looking healthier once I get some purifier and change his water.

don't put it in a bowl!.
yes siamese fighters can breathe air from there enviroment easily because of there special labrynth gills but keeping it in a bowl will make it depressed and possibly ill. yes you will need a heater,they like there water warm,not too cold,not to hot. they need a SPONGE filter or a underground filter which isn't very powerful, betta's don't like fast flowing water,it can also damage there fins.i feed mine once a day everyday a week except one, don't over feed it, give it a food break for one day. change the water every 4 weeks or so,this depends on how big the tank is though.i know quite a bit about betta's,they are my hobby so pm me if you ever need to ask questions

if he looks droopy and wilted it could be a lot of different things,he could be old, ill, or the water temperature isn't right or there is something nasty in his water. try a water change,if that doesn't work he may be ill.

o yea and don't just feed it the same thing over and over,try vary the food,flake food,blood worms,daphinie,brine shrimp.

remember males can't be kept together,females can but only if the tank is big enough and if you get a female get more than one,else he will continuously bully her.

[x-gothic-princess-x]

Originally Posted by I-Love-him

don't put it in a bowl!.
yes siamese fighters can breathe air from there enviroment easily because of there special labrynth gills but keeping it in a bowl will make it depressed and possibly ill. yes you will need a heater,they like there water warm,not too cold,not to hot. they need a SPONGE filter or a underground filter which isn't very powerful, betta's don't like fast flowing water,it can also damage there fins.i feed mine once a day everyday a week except one, don't over feed it, give it a food break for one day. change the water every 4 weeks or so,this depends on how big the tank is though.i know quite a bit about betta's,they are my hobby so pm me if you ever need to ask questions

if he looks droopy and wilted it could be a lot of different things,he could be old, ill, or the water temperature isn't right or there is something nasty in his water. try a water change,if that doesn't work he may be ill.

o yea and don't just feed it the same thing over and over,try vary the food,flake food,blood worms,daphinie,brine shrimp.

remember males can't be kept together,females can but only if the tank is big enough and if you get a female get more than one,else he will continuously bully her.

This is brilliant information. Slightly different then what I have given you but more less the same. Each breeder/keeper always keeps the animal in a different way or the main things are always the same. Chose yourself if you want to feed it once or twice a day and every day or just the 6 days. Do some research online, as this might help you as well

[PutYourHeartsUp]

I've personally never heard of all this for a beta fish
I've had many, we bought the vase with the plant you put in top
supposedly you dont have to feed them with that, but I did

[I-Love-him]

Originally Posted by x-gothic-princess-x

This is brilliant information. Slightly different then what I have given you but more less the same. Each breeder/keeper always keeps the animal in a different way or the main things are always the same. Chose yourself if you want to feed it once or twice a day and every day or just the 6 days. Do some research online, as this might help you as well

thanks yh ours was slightly different but like you say,every keeper looks after them differently,aslong as you don't put them in a tiny tiny jar or bowl then it's cool

Originally Posted by ElfPunk

I've personally never heard of all this for a beta fish
I've had many, we bought the vase with the plant you put in top
supposedly you dont have to feed them with that, but I did

yh, people seem to think that because they have there special labryinth organ,they don't need a huge tank,but it's not fair on the fish,they love places to hide and swim. a tiny vase or bowl is just boring for the fish.

i love betta's though

[PutYourHeartsUp]

well yeah, the vase was not tiny at all, but it wasn't big either. I've never really seen beta fish swim around though...in the little containers walmart has or the tanks other places have

[I-Love-him]

Originally Posted by ElfPunk

well yeah, the vase was not tiny at all, but it wasn't big either. I've never really seen beta fish swim around though...in the little containers walmart has or the tanks other places have

yh because they are in little tanks and stuff lol.mine are in a huge tank and they swim around like crazy. it's great

[x-gothic-princess-x]

Lets put it this way... Would you like to be kept in a cupboard with no toys or anything to do. I know I wouldnt like to, and I would like any animal to feel this way either.

Most people think they need basic care of small tank, no heating and no filter. When they do. And this is how the fish shops makes their money. They tell you the lies and the fish dies and then you go back to the shop and buy another fish... Never ending cycle if you dont know what you are doing. Also its only been in the last couple of years that people have been keeping bettas better, before hand it was "alright" to keep them in tiny containers without looking cruel.

Bettas do swim around. Bubbles mine in a 3 UK Gallon tank swims around fighting the current happily. He likes he currents. Anyways Copper and Saphire doesnt because they are in breeding traps till they find a home. Small tanks are okay for tempory homes. The ones in pet shops dont move much, because they are depressed and dont have the room to move even if they wanted to

[I-Love-him]

Originally Posted by x-gothic-princess-x

Lets put it this way... Would you like to be kept in a cupboard with no toys or anything to do. I know I wouldnt like to, and I would like any animal to feel this way either.

Most people think they need basic care of small tank, no heating and no filter. When they do. And this is how the fish shops makes their money. They tell you the lies and the fish dies and then you go back to the shop and buy another fish... Never ending cycle if you dont know what you are doing. Also its only been in the last couple of years that people have been keeping bettas better, before hand it was "alright" to keep them in tiny containers without looking cruel.

Bettas do swim around. Bubbles mine in a 3 UK Gallon tank swims around fighting the current happily. He likes he currents. Anyways Copper and Saphire doesnt because they are in breeding traps till they find a home. Small tanks are okay for tempory homes. The ones in pet shops dont move much, because they are depressed and dont have the room to move even if they wanted to

very nicely put.
also betta's in pet shops/small containers,don't move much because they are most likeley also ill or dying.