| > | | | | replacement water is properly conditioned. Keeping |
| | | | the tank clean helps to keep down the level of |
| With it’s long flowing fins and vibrant | | | | toxins in the water and helps the fish resist |
| colors, it’s easy to see why the Betta | | | | disease. Another important aspect to keeping any |
| Splendens or Siamese Fighting Fish is a favorite | | | | fish is to make sure you do not overload the |
| fish for fresh water aquariums. Often seen in tiny | | | | tank — a general rule of thumb is 1 inch of |
| little bowls in the pet store, this male of this | | | | fish per gallon. So if you have a 20 gallon tank, it |
| species is fiercely territorial and must be kept in | | | | can safely house 20 inches of fish. The less fish |
| separate bowls or aquariums or they may fight | | | | the better, of course. Refrain from mixing your |
| to the death. | | | | Siamese fighting fish with any other fish that like |
| These interesting fish are equipped with a tipped | | | | to nip at fins, and remember only 1 male per tank! |
| up mouth that enables them to get air from the | | | | Siamese fighting fish are meat eaters and like to |
| surface of the water and, therefore live in small | | | | dine on insects and larvae in their natural habitat. |
| bowls or those plant vases that are so popular | | | | Of course this might not be practical for your pet |
| today. If you want to have a long lived healthy | | | | fish but the more closely you can resemble his |
| fish, however this method of keeping him, is not | | | | natural diet the better off your fish will be. If you |
| recommended. | | | | can give him live food once in a while that will be |
| The ideal environment for a Siamese fighting fish, | | | | great, in the interim you can feed him frozen |
| is a fish tank of 5 gallons or more with proper | | | | foods, tubifex worms and brine shrimp. This fish |
| filtration and heating. In nature, this fish lives in | | | | will eat flake food with no problem, but it is best if |
| very shallow water that has little movement. It is | | | | you can supplement that with some fresh or |
| a tropical fish and likes water temperature to be | | | | frozen meat. |
| in the high 70’s. For the best health of | | | | Proper care of this beautiful fish is not any |
| your fish, keep the water heated to 78 degrees | | | | different than any other tropical fish and they can |
| and use a gently filtration system that does not | | | | be a lovely addition to your tank. With good care, |
| create any strong movement in the water. | | | | proper feeding and maybe some luck, your |
| As with any fish, the Betta will be in best health, if | | | | Siamese fighting fish can live up to 3 years. |
| periodic water changes are done and the | | | | |