Betta Fish Lifespan
Betta Fish Lifespan
Betta Fish survival?
Well, I’ve been thinking of getting a betta fish, since they require a very little tank and cost very little.
What I want to know is:
- What do I need in order for the betta to survive to it’s actual lifespan? (2 – 3 years)
- Are those 10$ – 20$ miniature tanks in Petland discounts good enough for the bettas to survive 2 – 3 years?
- Do I need to buy anything with the tank? (ex: filter, corals, stones, etc)
There’s a HUGE difference between “survival” and thriving!!!! You’ve fallen victim to some VERY common myths concerning bettas.
The smallest ***tank*** a betta should be in is a 2.5 gallon and a fitted lid and heater is required. A 5 gallon tank is even better because they are easier to keep at a consistent tropical temperature of 78F.
Bettas don’t like water movement, but a light sponge filter does provide a great benefit to a betta. Specifically, the water will be much healthier and you’ll only need to perform 10% water changes weekly instead of 25% without a filter.
Bettas do need plants to hide in and for a sense of security. You can use fake plants but be careful not to keep anything sharp or abrasive (like hard plastic plants). Betta fins are delicate and tear easily.
You should also plan on purchasing tap water conditioner that will neutralize chlorine/chloramine. Don’t use distilled or bottled water because much of it is missing essential minerals that bettas need to thrive….. and it’s expensive.
