Tips on how to care for your betta fish.

Overview
Bettas are known as Betta Splendens or Siamese fighting fish.

Do not put more than one betta in a fish bowl. Bettas will fight each other to the death if 2 or more bettas are put in the same bowl.

Bettas come from rice paddies in the wild and normally live in small pockets of water. They do not need an air pump and can live in a bowl of water and feel right at home. Male bettas by nature blow a bubble-nest at the top of the bowl. They do this as part of their breeding ritual. If a male betta pairs with a female betta, the male will collect the eggs and place them into the bubble-nest for fertilization and incubation. Do not be alarmed when you do not see a bubble-nest forming, a male betta can live without mating perfectly fine.

Baby Pellet


Feeding tips (Baby Pellet)
For a 1.5" betta, feed two (2) pellets of Betta Bio-Gold in the morning and two (2) at night. Add 1 (one) pellet per ½" of growth, never feeding more than three (3) pellets at one feeding. You can do more feedings but make sure they are at least two (2) hours apart and at least that amount of time before all lights are out in the room. During feedings, feed 1 (one) pellet at a time and make sure the betta completely consumes each pellet. Do not over-feed, overfeeding can be detrimental to the betta and the water quality. Remove any uneaten food after the feeding period.

Perfectly Sized Pellet


Feeding tips (Perfectly Sized Pellet)
For a 1.5″ betta, feed 5-10 pellets of Betta Bio-Gold in the morning and 5-10 pellets at night. Add 5 pellets per ½” of growth, never feeding more than 10 pellets at one feeding. You can do more feedings but make sure they are at least two (2) hours apart and at least that amount of time before all lights are out in the room. During feedings, feed 1 (one) pellet at a time and make sure the betta completely consumes each pellet. Do not over-feed, overfeeding can be detrimental to the betta and the water quality. Remove any uneaten food after the feeding period.

Cleaning and Maintenance
• Change some water weekly with a water conditioner to remove chloramines, chlorine and ammonia that is the same temperature as the water you are replacing.
• When cleaning the bowl do not use household cleaners. Simply use warm water and a clean brush or sponge.
• Do not place betta in direct sunlight or near heaters or air conditioners or where rapid temperature changes are possible.
Water change option 1: Full water change
• Fill a separate container with water
• Add Betta Ultimate® water conditioner to the new water (1 drop for every 16oz of water). Betta Ultimate® will ensure that the water is free of chlorine, chloramines, and heavy metals which can harm the betta. The use of Reverse Osmosis with de-ionization is acceptable also. Do not use regular drinking water without Betta Ultimate®.
• Make sure the water temperature of the new water is similar to the water in the betta’s bowl. Temperature fluctuations can be stressful to the fish. Perform a touch test, use your finger and touch the water in the bowl and then touch the new water and make sure the temperature feels the same.
• You can net the betta from the bowl or pour out the betta from the bowl into a net.
• Put the betta into newly prepared water
• Empty old water.
• Pour new water with betta into bowl.
Water change option 2: Partial water change
• Follow steps 1 (one) through three (3) under full water change above
• Pour out half the water out of the betta bowl. You do not have to remove the betta.
• Add new water.

For additional assistance contact us at fish@hikariusa.com or call (800) 231-5819.