How Long Do Betta Fish Live?
Betta fish come in a wide variety of colors and fin shapes, are hearty and relatively easy to take care of. Combine this with their unique personalities, it’s easy to see how they make popular pets. Owning one can be rewarding and bring you many hours of enjoyment but how long can you expect to have with your new companion? The answer is it depends. The average lifetime of a betta fish is 2 to 5 years, but environment and diet play a vital role in increasing the longevity of your betta and contribute to their health and happiness.
It Starts With A Safe Environment
A healthy environment starts with the container or tank. In stores, bettas are usually kept separate in small containers or cups. This makes them easier to display and transport and avoids fighting between males. These accommodations are meant to be temporary, not as a long-term habitat. You may have seen bettas kept in bowls or vases and yes, they can live in those conditions, but it is the difference between surviving and thriving. To insure a happy and healthy betta, a tank should be at least 3 gallons with 5 gallons or larger being preferred.
Can I Have Other Fish In WIth My Betta
If you want companion tanks mates for your betta then the size of the tank should be increased. You want to allow enough room for the fish to avoid conflicts and to reduce the pressure for your betta to feel the need to defend their territory. Common tank mates that can coexist with bettas are snails including mystery snails and small fast-moving fish such as neons and tetras. Plants and small structures can be great additions helping to break up tanks space increasing privacy for the inhabitants.
It's All about the Water
Water quality is an important part of providing a healthy environment for your betta fish. Bettas are a tropical fish and thrive in water that ranges from 76F to 81F. An adjustable tank heater appropriately sized for your tank or a set ranged heater specifically for Bettas make this easy to maintain a comfortable temperature for your pet.
Next, water quality also encompasses the makeup of the water itself and chemicals or substances dissolved in it. Start with conditioned water and maintain it with a filtration system. Toxins can build up overtime from urine, feces, and uneaten food. A filtration system helps neutralize some of the toxins, usually using filters with activated carbon, but make sure the filtration is slow flow. Normal filter systems can produce too strong of current that can cause stress in your bettas especially long finned bettas like half-moons.
Regular water changes can help maintain healthy water quality as well. How often depends on your setup. There are test kits available to measure your water quality but usually removing 20-30% of the water every 1 to 2 weeks can help. Replace it with clean, conditioned water. The type of water matters. If using tap water, a dechlorinating chemical should be used. Bottled water can be used but distilled water shouldn’t because it lacks the minerals necessary for you fishes health.
Plants and Decorations With Your Betta
Tank decorations and plants can help make your tank attractive as well as provide variety for your pet and provide cover for tank mates. When selecting tank décor care needs to be taken that it doesn’t injure your betta or reduce the room for it to swim freely. Tank features should be smooth and not have sharp edges which can harm or damage your betta and for the same reason live plants are preferred over plastic plants. Live plants have the added benefit of contributing to water quality and can provide a little variety in diet for your betta.
Paying attention to a few details can not only extend the life of your betta but ensure that life is a happy and healthy one.