Three Tips for Acquiring A Happy, Healthy Betta splendens

Betta fish care
So if you're reading through this, I'm guessing that on some level you're considering acquiring a Betta. Which is great, because even though every single year more and more people get turned to this undeniably enjoyable pet keeping, there is always going to be space for more. Keeping and raising your own Betta is very gratifying, so long as you begin with the right advice and resources! Within the next few paragraphs, I am going to walk you through three super vital guidelines for choosing a fit Betta fish from the get-go, ensuring that your first Betta fish raising experience is a positive one!

Step 1) Picking Out Your Betta

Betta fish care
This step has always been one disregarded by first time Betta fish owners, not that they don't select a fish (they of course do that!) but that they don't know what to look for when choosing. Many people go to a large chain pet store their first time, instead of a breeder or specialty store, which is not a problem, but simply means you have to do additional inspection to ensure that you obtain a healthy fish. What you're likely going to see is twenty-some little plastic containers with a Betta splendens packed into each of them. Essentially, your primary task as a Betta owner is to pick out a pet that is healthy, free of illness, and (last but not least!) aesthetically agreeable to your tastes.

One of the most common kinds of conditions you'll see in fish stores is fin rot, so the very first thing you ought to keep an eye out for is torn or broken looking fins. Next up, ensure that your fish's eyes are not opaque, as they should be see-through and appear alert and engaged. After that, lift up the cup of a betta you like and observe what it does, it should move around at least a small amount; if it does not, the betta could be in poor health or excessively tired and should probably be left for a more advanced betta keeper. Once you find a betta that looks the way you want him to, and in addition is in tip-top shape, then you've found your winner!

Step 2) Having A Safe Journey Home

Once you pick out your fish you will likely be presented with a clear plastic bag, ask for a tinted one if you can because the fewer light/colors your fish can see, the less nerve-racking a ride or walk home is going to be. Additionally, contrary to popular belief, you don't need to have a bunch of air in the fish bag. Even though Bettas can breathe at the surface, they also possess traditional gills and can breathe the disolved oxygen in water with no trouble at all. Additionally, a bag with too much air in it permits for water sloshing and movement, which is incredibly stressful for a Betta that is already being taken from one home and placed in a whole new one.

Step 3) Ensure Your Aquarium is Already Setup!

This is one of the only times where Betta fish care gets tricky in the beginning: tank setup. This is largely because of a process referred to by aquarium owners as 'cycling'. Cycling entails growing a healthy ecosystem of bacteria and suitable chemical levels inside a tank before you actually add any betta fish to it. If done correctly, cycling makes sure that by the time you add fish to your aquarium, all of your chemical balance concerns will be a non-issue.

For more information about cycling a tank and general betta fish care tips and tricks, visit http://www.caringforbettafish.org/