Care of Siamese Fighting Fish

Siamese Fighting Fish, also known as Bettas are very easy pets to keep as long as a few basic steps are followed.

First and most important is know your water parameters. Every area is different! Siamese Fighting
Fish or Bettas require water that is medium soft with a PH of 6.8 to 7 and no phosphate. If your water does not meet these parameters then you will need to take the time to set your water. Do not set the water with your fish in it!!!  Set more water than you need so that you have extra for water changes. If you are not sure how to do this, talk with  your local fish shops. Keep asking until you find one that knows what you are talking about and then treat them like gold. Most fish shops will tell you to
simply add water and chorine neutralizers . Yes some Siamese Fighters will survive, but not most and this will not work if you are looking at keep the larger fin varieties. Keep both your Siamese Fighting Fish tank and extra set water away from chemicals, as these will kill your pet.

Temperature of Water: Siamese Fighting Fish are tropical fish and like their water temperature between 22 C to 25C. This means a heater in winter, and there are many mini varieties on the market today to suit small tanks or vases.

Filter or No Filter: Siamese Fighting Fish can survive happily without a filter, as long as you do the necessary water changes. 1L of water in a tank should have a 50% water change done every 2nd day to avoid ammonia poisoning. If you install a filter, remember that you will still have to go through the cycle process until the filter is biologically established. Once the filter is biologically ready, you will only need to do a water change when the nitrate reading is reaching 20. If you have found a good local fish shop then they may do the necessary testing for you.

Food: While SiameseFighting Fish will survive on pellets, frozen, dried and live food should also
be part of their diet. Your fighter will love live blackworms and mosquito larvae.

Plants: Siamese Fighting Fish like to hide, lie on or in plants. Live plants should be low lighting plants that do not require lots of light to grow. Stem plants need high lighting and will rot or melt quickly in a Fighter tank creating water problems.

Follow these basic steps and you should have little to no problems with your Siamese Fighting Fish. If you would like some more information about different fin types, more care tips or spawning tips, then
check out www.siamesefighting.com.