| Betta owners and fanciers of the fish may well | | | | maintenance of what is reputedly one of the |
| wonder: how long are these lovely little fish | | | | most maintenance-free of all aquarium fish, but |
| expected to live? The answer is that betta life | | | | they can definitely extend the life of a betta |
| expectancy is only average by aquarium | | | | considerably. |
| standards: just around two to three years from | | | | There are many reasons for this. Foremost is the |
| when an average betta is purchased at an | | | | fact that a betta that is raised in dirty water is |
| average pet store. | | | | exposed, day in and day out, to bacteria, fungus |
| However, of course, this is hardly carved in stone. | | | | spores, and so on. Dealing with such organisms at |
| A betta can live far longer if it is cared for very | | | | an early age can force a betta to devote |
| well and all its needs attended to; and it can live | | | | considerable amounts of energy to such concerns |
| far shorter if the opposite is the case. | | | | instead of growth-in some instances, such bettas |
| One can start by purchasing a bunch of young | | | | can grow up stunted and weak instead of strong |
| bettas from a reputable, experienced store and | | | | and vigorous. Moreover, if it is not fed properly |
| or breeder and growing them the right way. | | | | there is no way it can ever be healthy-and if |
| There are ways to test for reputation of | | | | combined with being raised in poor water in its |
| course-ask around, do background checks, talk to | | | | "youth", poor food practices will guarantee that it |
| the breeder and/or store and ask about raising | | | | No such betta can hope to live long, even if given |
| conditions, food, water changes and so on. Have a | | | | the best care in its adulthood. So choose the |
| look also at how the bettas are kept. Are they | | | | bettas that are raised right from the start-those |
| maintained in simple plastic cups, seemingly | | | | bettas will have a far better chance of lasting |
| without too much care for their welfare? Or are | | | | very long. |
| they instead maintained in better, cleaner | | | | And of course, this also means raising them in as |
| environments-larger tanks with all the good | | | | excellent a manner as they themselves have |
| equipment, like gravel or substrate, aeration, | | | | been raised. Keep them in well-managed tanks-use |
| filtration, even plants? | | | | aeration and filtration and put in a live plant or two |
| The last four may seem like unnecessary | | | | if you can-and feed them only the best foods in |
| expense, but they are most assuredly not. They | | | | order to extend their betta life expectancy. |
| may add some fuss (and, yes, expense) to the | | | | |