They are labyrinth fish, which means they have a special organ called a labyrinth that allows them to take in air from the water’s surface directly through their skin. This makes it especially important for them to live in waters with high levels of oxygen. Keeping your betta tank clean and well-maintained will help your pet thrive. Follow these tips on how you can maintain a clean tank and healthy betta fish for sale at the same time.
What Type of Water Is Best for Your Betta?
Bettas are tropical, river-dwelling fish native to Southeast Asia. They are members of the family Osphronemidae, which also includes gouramis and Mormyrids. The two most popular types of betta fish are the regular blue-or-redfin betta and the fancy or tiger-like betta. Fancy bettas are genetically mutated, showing unusual or rare colors. They are not suitable for eating. Fancy bettas come in a dazzling array of colors, including red, orange, yellow, black, blue, green, blue-green, turquoise, brown, and violet.
Change Your Water and Filter Regularly
Fish are naturally messy, and bettas are no exception. Your betta fish may leave more water when it is eating or when it is moving through the tank, especially if it is a bigger fish. You should change 20 to 30 percent of the water in your tank every week and clean the filter of your tank every two to three weeks. If you notice your fish acting lethargic, it may be a sign that they live in water with poor water quality.
If you notice a clog in your filter, you should clean it immediately because it can cause your tank’s water to become dirty quickly. If you don’t clean the filter, it can clog completely, and your tank’s water will become “stagnant,” meaning that it won’t be able to “flow” properly and will become dirty. You should also check your tank’s water level from time to time and add water as needed.
Use a Coarse Filter to Remove Particles
You should use a coarse filter on your tank because it will help to remove small particles that can cause your fish to get sick. If your betta fish are constantly swimming through these particles, they can cause your fish to develop “swim bladder disease,” which is a disease that can kill your fish. If you notice that your fish are staying at the bottom of their tank a lot, they may be suffering from swim bladder disease.
You should seek veterinary care for your fish as soon as possible if you notice that they have this disease. If you have a coarse filter on your tank, your fish will be protected from these particles and will be less likely to develop swim bladder disease.
Add an Absorption Pad to Maintain Good Odors
Bettas are tropical fish and love to be warm, but they can be messy, producing detectable odors. An activated carbon filter and a water change every week or two will help to keep the water clean, but it will not remove these odors. You can address the odors in your tank by adding an “absorbent pad” in your filter.
There are commercial “deodorizing pads” that can help with the smell in your tank, but you can also use a loose piece of fabric or a cotton ball or pad to help with the smell. For best results, change the pad or cloth frequently, every few days or once a week, depending on how strong the smell is. If you have an especially strong-smelling betta, you may need to change the pad or cloth more often.
Add Plants to Maintain Good Organic Matter
Bettas love to swim, but they also like to rest occasionally on a “substrate” or material that is at the bottom of their tank. You can use any type of loose material that your fish can rest on, but you may want to choose a material that has some “organic matter” or is “organic” like peat moss, aquarium gravel, or sand.
Organics are “living organisms”, so they will help to keep your tank clean and provide your fish with food. You should change the material in your tank once a month or more often if it becomes too dirty. Your betta fish will also enjoy swimming through loose material in the tank, helping them to exercise and stay healthy.
