People often keep Betta fish as pets. Fish have specific needs and betta fish are often known as Siamese fighting fish. These fishes are unique and need even more specific care because they come in varieties of colours and are cheaper than any other fish.
Betta fishes are resilient little creatures. These fishes have a high sense of territorial personality. Betta fish lifespan is only a year old or a few months if kept in a fishbowl.
Betta fish lifespan
Betta fish have a lifespan of 2-4 years old. The lifespan of betta fish is directly related to the environment. A clean tank and nutritious diet will help them live a longer life.
Betta fish are primarily kept in pet stores in the small vase-like jar that enables the roots of plants to extend into the water. Betta fish have aggressive personalities and territorial nature. This betta fish should be kept separated for their healthier life.
A small container or vase is not suitable for betta fish to survive. A betta fish require at least 2 cubic feet of space in the tank to be healthy, thus bigger the tank longer the life of betta fish.
The water of betta fish needs to be clean but not sterile. The fish needs good bacteria to grow and survive in water to maintain their health. Live plants in the tank contribute to the health of the fish.
When changing the water of betta fish tanks, keep at least 10-15% of the water and mix it with fresh water so that the pet does not get shocked while getting familiar with the changing environment.
Nutrition for your betta fish
Betta fish are not suitable with flakes of fish food. Betta fish hunt insects and have special pellets to provide betta fish with suitable nutrition. Food for betta fish includes:
- Freeze-dried tubifex worms
- Mosquito larvae
- Bloodworms
- Brine shrimp
Tips for Caring Betta Fish
The following points can help your betta fish to live as long as possible:
Try to maintain a low-stress environment
Stress affects betta fish and seeing rival fish in their tank may cause stress to the fish. Betta fish might feel the threat and male betta fish cannot be housed together. Betta fish need real or plastic plants to hide between them when they need a break.
Pets like cats and dogs need to be kept separated from the betta fish so that they do not feel threatened. A veterinary doctor will tell about compatible fish breeds with betta fish.
Consult with Veterinarian
Consider which breeds share a tank. Talk to your local pet store or veterinarian about which other fish breeds are compatible with betta fish. It is dangerous for your betta fish health if it is not compatible with the other fish.
If you want a new fish then try to keep them separate for one week and slowly make them compatible with each other. This will also give time to adjust to a new environment. A betta fish can get sick, if you want your betta fish to live longer then you should consult with a veterinarian.
Signs of betta fish illnesses
Signs of sickness in betta fish include:
- Being disoriented
- Swimming in an odd pattern or upside down
- Not eating
- White spots appear on scales or gills
- Discolouration
- Trouble breathing is indicated by staying at the surface of the water
- Bulging eyes
- Mucus appears on the body
- Rubbing against hard surfaces
- Isolating from other fish
- Sores
- Bloating
- Change in shape, size, or appearance
Other illnesses that can affect betta fish are
- Physical injury
- Parasites
- Bacterial infections
- Fungal infections
- Fish pox (wart-like growths) caused by a fish herpes virus
- Ammonia or chlorine poisoning due to poor water quality
Conclusion
The lifespan of betta fish is based on proper nutrition, and a clean tank to survive. Installing a filter and heater in a fishbowl is impossible because it does not have a flat surface.
The essential nutrients for betta fish are protein and fat which can be available in pet food. Thus a fishbowl will reduce the lifespan of betta fish, a hostile environment is perfect for nurturing betta fish at home. You should always consult a vet for better information.
