5 Things I Wish I Knew BEFORE I Got My First Betta Fish

[@GirlTalksFish]

*What's the #1 thing you wish you had known before getting a betta fish?* If you're new to bettas, get started by checking out my Betta Fish Care 101 videos: kzbin.info/aero/PLlBBJ7xBuquZ99Swlttl7nLIMHTqc3mMy

[@xXdutchieeeXx]

That there are better brands than Tetra betta flakes!!

[@butterflyera4628]

I wish I bought a 5 gallon instead of a fish bowl🤡

[@venusforfran]

That bettas are very prone to jumping! Almost lost my first betta from escaping though a little gap in the lid!

[@AlexK-ew1mo]

Blue bettas are prone to more diseases. Fancier the more susceptible.

[@venusforfran]

I didn't know that! :)

[@Katiethewizard]

My number 1 tip would be to either GET A LID or keep the tank waterline lower. My betta fish is a super active female, and even though she has a 6gal planted tank all to herself with healthy water parameters, she has jumped put of her tank TWICE! Thankfully I discovered her relatively soon both times, but bettas are jumpers and even if they've never done it before, it's better to have a lid on the tank than to accidentally step on your fish one morning 😬

[@sampathjosephkumar]

👍🏻

[@elicuevas7]

nightmare fuel

[@fxvera8290]

I’ve owned three bettas. The first two jumped out. Never discovered the second body :)

[@Katiethewizard]

@@fxvera8290 👁👄👁

[@fxvera8290]

@@Katiethewizard 😃

[@TheShaunNerd]

1 properly cycle your tank 2 heater 3 use gravel and sand as a base layer 4 live plants lots of live plants. 5 get a snail 6 get water test strips and test regularly. I have had my fish for a while and I haven't cleaned the tank since I set it up, or changed the water. Betas evolved to live in mudpuddles they don't mind somewhat dirty water as long as the water parameters stay in the safe levels.

[@Guthix198]

but what if you like clean clear water bruh

[@henrydudas6992]

then you might wanna try getting a fish that enjoy clearer water@@Guthix198

[@TheShaunNerd]

@Guthix198 my tank has clear water, no tanins, no algae, I recently added a light for the plants and it looks perfect.

[@Hyperion_ML]

Any species recommendations for snails?

[@TheShaunNerd]

@Hyperion_ML I have a fondness to Mystery/Apple snails. They come in a variety of colors I have a golden shell creamy pink foot in one of my tanks his shell is aprox 1.5 inches across. My other tank has a light blue shell with dark blue foot he is only a little over half an inch but I just got him so he is still young. They are both BEAUTIFUL and very active.

[@shrimpshramp]

My beta, Shoto, lived to six full years and passed on yesterday. It was so hard to part with him after so much but I couldn't bare to see him struggle for life anymore. I had him since my first job in the pet store and took him home when I moved on from that store. I miss him.

[@gailcousins9609]

Elaine I am sorry to hear about your betta that was blessed to live six full years! That is Awesome! You gave your betta a great life!

[@someone-wi2qm]

So sorry for you pal.

[@themarinefan]

That's a long life! That's something to celebrate. You gave him the best life he could have, living to six means he was happy and healthy.

[@markvonmerck7735]

RIP Shoto🙏

[@shreyaxjoseph1040]

omgg shoto

[@cecilia7259]

How refreshing to see a parent take so much interest in a child's first pet, to the point where she becomes an expert on it.

[@ramonaneyrinck2292]

This is totally me!! ❤

[@Christian-cw9mp]

That is me. 10 gallon tank for my 7yo's birthday in Oct2023. Feb2024, I have 10 tanks. Haha.

[@rosieposie2835]

This is me right now. 😂

[@leenycole1]

Me right now 🤭

[@HomesteadGirls]

My son, who was 8 at the time, fell in love with a female Crown Tail Betta. He didn't even realize she was a girl but he fell in love with her spikes. She's in a 30 gallon community and is very happy. People overlook the females but they are just as cool as the males and are easier to take care of. You don't have to worry about fin issues and they still have the water puppy personalities.

[@sherryshah1797]

The only problem with female bettas,,when they are too full with eggs,they can die.

[@chynajache1091]

Before I got my third betta, I was looking for a female, but petco was wiped out. One day

[@TIMOTHYEET69420]

I have a male beta he is a delta tail. With extremely butiful colors he enjoys his 10 gal with 3 fish friends one small female pindani a dojo loach and pleco they get along super well tjey dont nip or fight they are all chill

[@xBloodxFangx]

Thank you for being a parent who understands pet care needs. Most parents just get a tiny glass bowl for their kids pet fish and say if it dies it dies.

[@TIMOTHYEET69420]

@@xBloodxFangx yah my dad bought me the 10 gall but we took out the pindani after it bit a hole in the bettas fin but its regrowing now and the dojo is nice the betta i also added a bristlenose pleco

[@Ceretrea]

This is great. I haven't seen anyone discuss old age in fish and I've been watching a LOT of fish care videos! Thanks for including that, it's really helpful xx

[@Definitelynotacelebrity]

Good call on including betta retirement, when my favorite betta got old I floated him in a big Tupperware container with his favorite hides and stuff. He still had a lot to look at, but it was shallow so he didn’t have to work so hard to breathe at the top. Worked well for a few months!

[@allthatglittersis]

I have one at this stage now, and it can be hard to watch. I think his time is coming, but I don't want to rush him as he is still able to eat ok.

[@lorianthony4892]

Excellent!

[@cottoncandyaddict]

I just randomly came across this video because my son was gifted a betta and I unexpectedly fell in love with the thing😆 and now I’m constantly worried he’s going to die or get sick. My son is way too young to take care of a fish so it kind of became my fish and I’m attached to it so I’m learning as much as I can so it can live as long good little fishy life. Thank you for making these videos!

[@tktulises]

Same! 😂

[@Valentina-yay]

Kids can surprise you and turn out to be Betta experts

[@Valentina-yay]

But how is your son

[@cottoncandyaddict]

@@Valentina-yay my son is 3 now and has been promoted to “Fish Feeder” lol, so he gets to drop the food in the tank when it’s the fish’s dinner😆

[@Valentina-yay]

@@cottoncandyaddict oh so your son can't take care of the Betta fish because he is too little I thought he a bit bigger or a lot bigger

[@dianarobinson4539]

I just love the way you so humbly share your beginner experiences and kindly help new people along. I’m not even a newbie, but I always learn from your videos. I love your presentations better than any other KZbin aquarium/fish videos. I love that you keep it moving and interesting without being all jacked up. I bet you are a great mom!

[@HeatherRoot-Art]

Live plants are better for their fins too which can easily rip and snag on artificial plants. A lot of people don’t know that.

[@Mill_O]

One of the best pieces of advice in this video came at the end, because honestly I've seen Betta fish behave almost dead whilst in the local aquarist store. It makes sense to ask the store how long the Betta you want from them has been in the (typically tiny) container they've kept them in to help determine how long you might even have that fish alive after purchase.

[@amirh9466]

Yeah good advice. I hav made that mistake on my first ever betta. I just randomly choose beautiful colour & big betta without concern about the age. Only realized that after i got home and put my betta in tank. It doesnt move much and it swim like a child just learn on how to walk as in this video. Now i know my betta already old. :(

[@elise666ify]

They typically don’t last very long at the pet stores in those tiny cups… they have a really high turnover rate- they either get sold or they die, and they get new ones all the time. So you really don’t have to worry about the age your getting, they are more than likely adolescents or young adults, and just like people some will be bigger than others. If you get one that seems slow or ill it’s not due to old age, it’s because they’ve been kept in a tiny cup and have any number of afflictions that it can cause. When you get a fish home from the pet store they just need a lot of care and monitoring and they will be in tip top shape in no time, and you can take pride in knowing you saved their lives and gave them a good home!

[@leilaz2033]

My fish loves the filter in the tank. He spend a lot of his time just chilling in the flow. He’s so odd. He has plants, a lil hammock, and everything but he spends his time nestled in between the filter and thermometer

[@Christintu]

That’s cute

[@l01s]

where did you get the hammock?

[@tishckahernandez982]

@@l01s it’s just a little leaf with a suction thingy. You can get them anywhere really. Just ask a store clerk. I see them at petsmart, petco, Walmart…

[@l01s]

@@tishckahernandez982 yeah got it thanks

[@kjdesignsltd1]

A hammock!

[@kimp7160]

OK, this seems like a small thing but I want to thank you for saying "congratulations" if your betta reaches even 2 years old. We've had my 9 year old's betta for over 2 years now and he was likely nearly 1 when we got him, making him nearly 3 and it's very clear he hasn't much time left. We were 'newbies' when we got him so we made lots of mistakes at first -- he was in a betta bowl the first month we had him-- and my daughter knows she wasn't perfect at everything so she is feeling really rough about it. When you said 'congratulations' and that two IS an old age for a betta I saw the look of relief on her face. It means a lot.

[@kimp7160]

Just to give an update: our daughter's fish passed away today so he lasted a little over a month after my post. She has talked about this video A LOT and how she felt like Irene was talking straight to her. It has brought her so much comfort. And the tips helped make her fish as comfortable as possible as his time neared. We slowed down his filter flow (it's a sponge) and did smaller water changes because it was knocking him unconscious when we did the usual amount. We have two other betta tanks we've started since and they are getting the correct treatment from the start. And eventually, we will get another betta for the current empty one.

[@AliGee_]

@@kimp7160 can you please share more about the "knocking unconscious" part? We just got a betta and have yet to do our first cleaning cycle and am sooo scared something will go wrong :(

[@DittzyDJ]

@@AliGee_I think the “knocking unconscious” comment was meant as an exaggeration… a joke about how fast the water flow was in the tank. 😊

[@mcpie566]

I had a half-moon betta (creatively named Moon) that lived for five years! He was a delight to have around and I do miss him sometimes. I definitely noticed that he kept trimming his fins and he grew a lot more slow in his old age, but he was still happy to see me until the end.

[@dw9740]

Thank you, Irene, for constantly educating and enriching my fish keeping experience. Even after 2 years and two bettas going strong, I still learn something new every time I watch one of your videos. Keep ‘em coming!

[@ACockatielsSong]

The first betta I ever had lived for 5 years! It was just him and a gold snail in a 2.5 g tank and I had such fun decorating that tank! Now things have got more complicated - a 5 gallon tank with a too loud of a filter that I will replace, but can only use an internal filter because the lid opening for the filter is too narrow to accommodate a hang-on back filter, the lights are blue and too dim for plants and ... I miss the old days where it was just my betta Puddles and Sebastion the snail.

[@erinjoy5625]

Lol, puddles , that's cute

[@jemhensley5528]

Great vid!! Something to keep in mind also is when you are buying a betta, think about how long it's been in the cup. My last Betta, Irving, died after 2 to 3 weeks despite having a 5gal with live plants, regular water changes and being fed Hikari Bio Gold. He developed Ich, which I treated, but then he got Dropsy and died. When I went back to the fish store one of the employees told me that Irving had been in a little unfiltered tank for like 2 weeks. Dont think they did water changes as often as they should have either. Got a new betta from the same store when they advised they had new bettas only been in for a day or so. New betta Marvin is doing much better (lol) and so far so good

[@frankiethefrog1752]

Yes how is Marvin doing?

[@FluffyEclairs]

I need an update on Marvin 😭

[@zemog3776]

In my experience I think y’all should find a beta fish you connect with and not just the one that looks the prettiest, I went to a couple different pet stores while my fish tank was cycling and I found one that didn’t look that cool in the cup but he was so chill and every time I put my finger up to the cup he would come to it and just be really aware Vs the other “cooler” ones that just freaked out or whatever so yeah long story short once I put him in the tank he started thriving and he’s now BEAUTIFUL more than the ones I thought were cooler so now I have a beautiful Beta that has a cool little personality and I love him

[@c0smicgal]

I just wanna take the time to say I love the effort as well as the information that you put into all your videos, I refer to them all the time for my little community tank. Thank you for everything! :)

[@AvengerWolfteam]

emr?

[@apss5736]

because of you and other youtubers i did tons of research my betta is in a planted 5 gallon and is very happy and healthy.

[@sampathjosephkumar]

👍🏻

[@FluffyEclairs]

Is your fish still doing good 😄

[@quantum7064]

Thank you so much for this video. I wasn't looking for it and it just popped up, but I have recently lost our first family Betta (I'm a mum of two) and I felt so guilty and ashamed. Your video helped me to realise that he was probably a bit old and it's nice to know that other more experienced fish keepers have also shared the same struggles with keeping Bettas. You've really helped me to release my guilt and I feel that I want to try again with a new Betta. I will definitely be checking out your other videos too. You're my new go-to fish gal :)

[@_Nanalae]

When I was in a college program, I had a hard time taking care of my last two bettas and live plants because of my packed schedule. They had bit their fins so much (halfmoons) and my "low-maintenance" live plants just kept dying no matter how hard I tried to keep them alive. So now I'm done with school, I have a female betta crowntail with fake plants, and her fins look so amazing with no nips in them at all and her water looks clearer than when I had my last two. I'll eventually switch back to live plants once I figure out how to properly care for them, but for now, the setup I have works great for me and my girl.

[@zeriyx]

i don't even try with live plants anymore. they become such an irritant to my aquarium hobby when i don't even care about them lol. they hate my terrible public water.

[@interstatesign]

Live plants usually do better in substrate marketed towards live plants, so maybe try that.

[@drshrutikakankariya1017]

@@interstatesign yes , like aquasoil and just regular soil from a backyard or something

[@LulaMae21]

Java fern and anubias are some great easy plants. Be sure not to bury the rhizome (the part the leaves grow from) if planting in your substrate as it will rot. I have never used planted tank substrate, just gravel.

[@_Nanalae]

Thanks for the tips everyone, but my female betta is still thriving for close to a year in her current setup! I have used low maintenance plants, gravel, soil, ferts etc during my time in college already with my previous bettas with little to no success. You'd think a green thumb would work on aquarium plants also, but I guess not for me. :/ I'll try them again for my next tank setup with more research now that I have the time. Looking to buy 10gal in the future for another female betta using the walstad method! Like foo the flowerhorn. c:

[@delilah4166]

i had a betta that lasted almost 3 years and died recently, today I got a bumble bee betta and he's a lot more active and curious. lets hope this one lasts as long as the last.

[@violinplant2947]

good luck :)

[@FluffyEclairs]

Is your Betta still good?

[@delilah4166]

nope @@FluffyEclairs 😬

[@pieterpuk7684]

I have an extra one! Exercise your Betta! It kind of links to the old age tip you give. My brother used to be a big Betta fanatic and at one point he actually went so far to put two in a tank with a black divider in the middle and then sometimes he would replace the black divider with a glass one for like 30 minutes. The Betta would find each other and start flaring their tails and making aggressive moves near the glass but since the glass was there they couldn't actually fight. We feel like this natural behavior is good for body and spirit of the fish. The idea was borne from having a Betta in a community tank where he would be active and kind of chasing some Danios (who where way too quick to really be bothered about it) and then when he was placed alone for a while he really became lethargic and we interpreted that as being bored and lacking challenge. When we put him back he really perked up again and became quite a little proud rooster once more. After the tank divider sparring sessions we saw the same thing. They would be more active, eat more and do more. Since the old name at least in my country is "Siamese Fighting Fish" it kind of makes sense that they need a place to direct some of their natural fighting spirit.

[@sherryshah1797]

Instead of two bettas,and a divider,you can use a mirror, at the outside of the tank where he can see himself,you can leave it for awhile,and remove it when you think it's okay.

[@soonie420]

So danios and beta fish can get along?

[@ashleyhipol2823]

Best thing for bettas fish are longer tanks than taller tanks. They love the length to swim. Plants the are tall an have little to lots (not too much) roots. They along love little water flow if you can get a filter that runs no extra water and get an underwater bubbler 💕

[@susanstaples6171]

You are such an inspiration. I love my betta and always try to make him have the best life. You have helped so much

[@brennakobes6852]

I’m really glad you gave the bonus tank, my beta of two years just passed today, and even though I’ve kept several bettas i always worry that I did something wrong. Even when I know I didn’t.

[@mianakerekes1388]

Hy. I want to ask you some questions. I am really struggling to expend the life of the batta fish.

[@mianakerekes1388]

Last week my betta fish, which was 4 months old, died. And I try to document myself so that it doesn't happen again. I have a 10 l aquarium, a natural plant and a heater. The problem is that it had fin rot. A disease he contracted in the first month. I treated it with special drops for fin rot. It got better, but in each month the tail was damaged again and it was not active at all. What did i do wrong? If you could answer me I would be very happy. Thank you!

[@mianakerekes1388]

And I am sorry for your lost 😔

[@Kharmaa7]

@@mianakerekes1388 sometimes when I see repeated injury I try to think what they could be hurting themselves on, I removed some coral I used for water quality when I discovered the cories kept hurting themselves on it. Sometimes longer fin fishies I have are too fast and hurt themselves on bits of wood if it’s sharp enough or they whip by too fast. Wounds won’t keep getting infected if the water quality is well maintained. Follow the med dosage exactly, provide lots of air since meds can lower the water’s air levels. keep checking the water ph, kh especially. If your kh is too low the ph can swing widely with any little change, ammonia or nitrate spike.

[@mianakerekes1388]

@@Kharmaa7 Thank you for all these informations! They are very helpful! 😊

[@schuckit5300]

I’ve had betta fish on and off since I was about 8 I haven’t had any fish in about 4 years but I’m ready to get a new betta. Your video was super helpful. I can’t wait to get started again.

[@deltasriracha8830]

I don’t know if you’ve gotten one yet, but a 3.5 gallon isn’t big enough! Get at least a five.

[@jamesholbrook7785]

Good stuff. Seems so simple, but not if you don’t know. I don’t keep Bettas anymore, but all these tips are priceless.

[@kkdoes]

I just purchased my first betta today, and this video helped so much!! Thank you

[@cosmoplakat9549]

I chose a plakat betta to try to avoid the fin issues I've seen so many times. He's in a 10-gal and the maintenance literally could not be any easier (gotta have plants tho). Even after a month my nitrates are

[@zeriyx]

yeah i had to remove my betta from my community tank recently because he ramped up the platy forehead chomping

[@STEPH-kk8gi]

Same I tend to get short finned bettas now or crown tails, I find them to be easy but that's just me

[@nuclearcatbaby1131]

I refused to buy the bettas if they came in a container with snails.

[@JERK1NS]

Absolutely loved that you have given the metric values 😭 THANK YOU!! Also I love your passion for the little beta

[@stariadreamtea]

I have a golden betta in a 80l tank with blue neon tetras and bronze cory doras as compatible community fish. He really likes the cory doras. 🌟 Bloodworms are their favourite foods. The Hikari pellets are quite good. Bettas are intelligent enough to get bored of the same foods.🌟 I tried a few plants and so far only the sword grass and anubus plant grow. I use silk plants as any hard decoration can cut the tails. 🌟 I also agree with the sponge filter being a nice gentle option.

[@anthonyvaranelli3483]

Im on my 1st betta fish and went all out with a high tech setup, 10.8 gallon tank. He seems to like high flow?? he likes to play in the current swimming back and forth and i have an artificial plant that is close to the highest flow, he will attach himself to the plant and just chill in the flow lol. the other end of tank there is less flow and he seems to go to both areas of tank equally. He is also very aware and social with humans? he seems to like human interaction more than anything and will swim right to anyone who goes near the aquarium.

[@celestecornish6943]

Thank you so much for these helpful tips! We recently got a beta after struggling with guppies for more than a year. I grew up with betas the way you first described with the tiny tank and marbles, but knowing what I know now, I'm hopefully better equipped. This video was super helpful!

[@lorenalozano2513]

This video was very helpful 👏 I did everything right. Just 4 days with my betta. They gifted to my son and it was just in tap water in super small glass cup it looked beige. In mins once in filter water heater and filter it went blue and purple. Putting them to sleep it is as pricy as putting a dog down?

[@tillyfricker1128]

I love how much good information goes into these videos. I also love the suggestion of short finned bettas, I just got my first plakat betta from prism bettas in Chicago and he is awesome.

[@PhajEjHmoobLis]

I agree with you about fish with bigger fins. What I realize is that a lot of fishes are inbreded due to selective breeding, so overtime their fins tend to wrinkle. And also the stress of a fish having to swim with fins that are too big will stress them out. So I’ve been mainly raising plakat kois.

[@chlexiel.1022]

Great tips. I did all these things and never had success. Two tips if I can, everyone has stone countertops. I think that could be problematic with making the tank/bowl cold if it’s on there. Also, when mine got to the point they were dying, I would let them rest in the net near the top of the tank so they could get air easily. Thanks for the video. Great tips, I just didn’t have luck I guess.

[@jonathanharvey5478]

I am thinking about buying a betta for my niece's oldest. I really appreciate your video, because I think you said everything that needed to be said in a very succinct way. Awesome video which I will share with my niece!

[@sneekyalexa2657]

I'm excited to watch this video! I got my own first betta in October of last year and I hope to have several years with him! Its just said that someone can say they have had one "for a while" and mean a few weeks, maybe months! It shouldn't always be like this!

[@sierra3830]

I recently got a 10 gallon tank that Id love a betta for, your videos have been super helpful for learning about bettas and what tank buddies I could have with it, so thank you!

[@xXdutchieeeXx]

Hey Irene. You should look for a betta pellet that has a minimum of 40-45% crude protein, compared to hikaries 38%, as they are carnivores and need lost of protein. I recommend fluval bug bites betta flakes, or Northfin betta bits

[@TonyVainosky]

What about frozen foods? I notice my bettas LOVE frozen blood worms and brine shrimp

[@arthurheine5631]

@@TonyVainosky frozen and live foods are usually very high protein sources, it's definitely good

[@xXdutchieeeXx]

@@TonyVainosky live or frozen or freeze dried should always be supplemented into your fishes diet, but not as a staple, so you can’t feed it everyday. What I do is I have my staple pellets for my bettas and than on Friday I feed freeze dried brine shrimp, Saturday is frozen bloodworms, Sunday is frozen mysis shrimp, and Monday is fluval bug bites

[@TonyVainosky]

@@arthurheine5631 I agree (and feed all my tanks) frozen blood worms, brine shrimp, spirulina brine shrimp, baby brine shrimp etc.....their comment, to me, seemed to suggest that frozen doesn't provide the type of protein value they're saying another food has

[@pjp9383]

I usually feed frozen blood worms once a week, and frozen brine shrimp once too. Recently started pre-soaking them in Vita-chem. I tong feed those foods, and love interacting with my bettas that way. Time consuming though! (I have 5 bettas, and 6 other tanks) So pellets the rest of the week, and I mostly use the Hikari ones. But I would love to change that up, just have had trouble finding pellets that are small enough for a couple of my bettas. For example, I have some Cobalt (I think that's the name) and they're big, so I'm standing there rummaging around in the jar for the smallest pellets to feed 2 of my bettas. Just *try* to pick a particular pellet out of a jar! And then do it 10 more times! And they also *must* float, because the fish are so conditioned to come to the surface for food that they do not eat any of the pellets that sink! Any suggestions for high quality pellets that are small and also float?

[@isweetieh]

When I started to take care of my Betta , I was like: I don't want to watch this kind of videos they're trying to make me fear the life of my betta! But now, after 6 months I know how important this tips are. Thank you!

[@Shottie78]

I somehow managed to keep mine alive for about 3 years while I was in college. I called him King Fish. He had a travel bowl and a setup at my parent's house for when I'd visit on weekends and holidays. It was a very sad day when Dad and I decided poor King might need to go to the big fish castle in the sky. My dad actually took time and researched the kindest way to do that, and I went back to college with no King fish. My next one, Jerry, lived about 2 years. I do enjoy them!

[@franklinstephen3268]

Hello how’re you doing?

[@hobbitofalltrades]

What size bowl did you bring? I might bring a betta in smaller bowl around 1gal?

[@Shottie78]

@@hobbitofalltrades he had a 5 gallon tank and home, a 1 gallon bowl at my parents' house, and the travel bowl was about a quart. He had decorations in the home and away bowl, but nothing in the travel bowl so he didn't get poked or cut if he sloshed around a bit.

[@hobbitofalltrades]

@@Shottie78 smart! Did you enjoy having a fish during college? I can't decide if it will be too much work

[@DiannaKGreen90]

Thanks so much for taking the time to share this!

[@scottie_lassie6045]

Your videos are so helpful, thank you. I’m 1 week into cycling my new 57L tank I eventually want to use for my 1st betta and some little tetra friends😊 Can’t wait!

[@pjp9383]

Congratulations! This is a great hobby, and I hope you have an amazing experience with your first tank. May I suggest researching best ways to set up your tank when keeping a betta with tank mates, and how to actually introduce them? Things like using plants to break up line of sight, and introducing the betta last, so you aren't adding fish into "his" territory. And do have a plan in mind for if it doesn't go well. Have a clean, decently sized jar, plastic bin, or second tank at hand so that if your betta immediately starts attacking the other fish, you can remove him right away, and have time to figure out what to do. Some are fine with tankmates, others are stone cold killers, LOL!

[@scottie_lassie6045]

@@pjp9383 It’s my 3rd tank, it’s a very addictive hobby😆, but my 1st betta tank. I’ve watched lots of videos and will no doubt watch many more before I actually get a betta. Thanks for the advice👍🏻

[@pjp9383]

@@scottie_lassie6045 Oops! Sorry that I misunderstood. Maybe the advice will help someone else reading the comments though, now or down the road, if they're considering doing the same thing. What fish do you keep in your other tanks? I have guppies, corydoras (pygmy and panda), ember tetras, neon green rasboras, and amano shrimp. Plus nerite, ramshorn, and so-called pest snails (I don't mind them). Oh, and 1 rabbit snail too. 9 tanks total, and counting. 🙈

[@scottie_lassie6045]

@@pjp9383 I have kept fish for many years but I am still grateful for advice. I’ve got neons, rummy noses, emperor tetras which are having lots of babies, Buenos Aires tetras, blue gourami, pearl gourami and bristle nose plecos. Oh! And snails, lots of snails😆

[@pjp9383]

@@scottie_lassie6045 Very cool. I want to try some more tetras ... lemon and green neon are on my desired list! Moved recently and in the process of re-scaping and re-organizing some tanks, which means deciding on stocking lists. They are both in the running but it will depend on what else I decide on.

[@IsminiFistouris]

Great helpful video and tips. Thank you very much! We lost a Betta in 2-1/2 months and then bought another one which we lost in 3 weeks. I’m informing myself more now before purchasing another one. I found your video very informative. 😊

[@zeriyx]

great video with good information. however, i know you're affiliated with a certain company which produces coarse filters, but i really recommend against using those for fish with flowing fins. i personally witnessed my betta snag his tail on a particular popular green sponge filter. fine sponge filters are the way to go with bettas.

[@serenitycarlos2]

Thanks for the great tips! I used to have bettas in a 50 gallon tank with lots of plants and decor. Had about 20 in one tank for about a year. They had their territory spots and for the most part lived in peace and harmony. Eventually nitrates took them out instead of a gang fight. Fast forward four years later a friend gifted me a male half-moon and I freaked out. Said, no..I don't want it. After about two hours decided to accept the gift. (I have 5 parakeets and 200 tropical plants, so didn't want to be responsible for another living thing.) Well, Gustavo worked his way into my heart and is doing very well in his large vase / bowl. He arrived last Friday, so today completes a full week in my care. Previously (4yrs ago 50 gal) used chemicals to treat tank but now using sun to purify for two days before use. I feed him 3 pellets twice a day (6am,6pm). Sometimes I may drop 2 in and the 3rd after an hour or two. Started out with 5 pellets, he didn't want that much so had to scoop out a couple. Came here to get info on frequency of water change. Glad I did because the retirement home/senior center concept was definitely new info. Thanks for such great information. I am looking forward to seeing where this new journey leads.

[@kjdesignsltd1]

Tell me how you purify with sun. Very interested

[@serenitycarlos2]

@@kjdesignsltd1 purify with sun.... I simply mean I fill containers with water and let them sit by the window a couple of days before use. I do this for Gustavo betta fish and for 200 tropical plants. The birds had been receiving straight tap water, but now they are on the bottle two days b4 schedule also. Six parakeets now. Bacardi had a baby 🐣 Amarillo | Yellow

[@gailcousins9609]

Hello Irene. Great Video! Your videos are always informative especially this video on what you should know before getting a betta. I am blessed to have three male bettas in their ten gallon and five gallon tanks with their favorite plants and decor for a good three years. I look forward to them to continue living a healthy and long life with lots of love and tender loving care!

[@Valentina-yay]

Do you have them together because Bettas are fighters

[@gailcousins9609]

Hello! Yes I have my three male bettas in their own tanks.

[@Valentina-yay]

@@gailcousins9609 good 👍🏻

[@Jseverinsen]

What about 7 gallons? I’m 12 and I’m planning on getting fish, I really want beta fish cus they’re very pretty. I’ve heard that they need to be in an at least 5 gallon tank so if I have a 7 gallon tank how often do I have to clean it and should i get more fish for it? If yes what fish are the best and fits tube best with the vibe of a round aquarium?

[@twunderaquatics1770]

I prefer the shorter fins on a betta also. These fish do age a little faster. Great information. 👍

[@gordonmaddieandlily1739]

The picture you showed along with the story of the office fish in the beginning- not the bowl but the one that was more squarish- how big was that tank?

[@scottplumer3668]

I've been thinking about a betta tank for my office, and this was very helpful. Thanks!

[@lizdyson3627]

Hi Irene, i've just watched a video stating it's perfectly ok to put a Betta with reticulated hillstream loaches. Kept Bettas before but not Hillstream loaches but understand they need complete opposite water flow conditions. Just wondered what your thoughts are on the subject?

[@noelbrucker135]

Always so enjoyable to watch your videos, Irene - beautiful footage and great information. I completely agree about the plakat- After several years of owning a couple of long fin bettas with fin issues, I had great success with a double tail (I think because the top fin stays more buoyant/ less heavy) and now just got a galaxy koi plakat (Peter Quill ;) who is SO gorgeous and so active since he’s not dragged down. Happy Saturday!

[@franklinstephen3268]

Hi how’re you doing?

[@FluffyEclairs]

How is your fish doing 😄

[@PerAllwin1963]

One of my biggest tips on raising bettas is never overfeed them, especially with dry pellets. Feed only three or four small pellets. I’ve lost bettas from bloat and constipation from overeating.

[@AliGee_]

My bf constantly wants to overfeed our betta. It's like having our own child and i'm the "strict" parent and hes' the "fun" one that spoils them.

[@cheyennef.2935]

I just got my first betta (as an adult), she is so beautiful she looks like a wild type, but I don't think she is because she was the only one that looked like that. Anyways she has a 20g long with plants, after she settles in I might get her some tank mates.

[@biglwrab9634]

My first ever tank is a 40 gal Ciano tank. It is planted and has 4 corydoras, 8 phantum tetras, 1 black nerite snail, too many to count ramshorn snails, and 1 betta. Some thing I wish I knew before hand was the flow rate of the aquarium. my betta has a very long tail, and struggles with the water current. However I need the water current to regulate certain parameters in the tank. Make sure to take into consideration the things you cannot change before getting your fish. Notice all the issues in the aquarium an think: Will this fish fit into the environment (even if you planned to keep the fish originaly) I also recommend NOT keeping phantom tetras with bettas. The phantom tetras are very territorial and pretty aggressive. its not uncommon for 1 or even 2 tetras ganging up on my only slightly larger betta fish. Coupled with the fact that he cant swim very much, he tends to run away into the dense plants. I have once or twice seen him facing off to the tetras, but its clear that he is the one losing here. For my second tank, i'm getting a 20 gal, ADA tank with a twinstar light, tidal hang on filter from Seachem, and a lot of plants! I will be moving the betta over to the tank in hopes of giving him a better environment, away from strong water currents and phantom tetras. I gotta say I am really feeling sorry for the betta, since I basically control his life and his problems are mine, his pain is mine, and those phantom tetras are my fault.

[@Cichlid_4_ever]

3:35 minute mark what plant is on the right side very broad leaf. I’d really like to hear about that one. It’s literally amazing I’ve NEVER seen those that big.

[@Aquafinity]

@James Manning That is a very big anubias. I have one that looks just like it. I made a video of that big anubias a few weeks ago.

[@Aquafinity]

The fishkeeper I bought it from said that the anubias was 5 years old.

[@lauragehant8101]

Thank you for these tips! I'm still figuring out the filter sitch; the sales associates at the commercial pet store are all very anti sponge filter; every time I go in looking for that they talk me out of it. The most recent one said he doesn't recommend them if you have substrate and live plants.

[@GirlTalksFish]

Weird! I use sponge filters in all of my tanks and they all have substrate/live plants. Never had a problem with them. 👍

[@darkbeansidhe5385]

Sponge filters were a game changer for me, and are one of the best ways to develop the good bacteria needed to cycle a tank and keep nitrates/ammonia levels low. I can't comprehend why any pet store employee would say not to use them... that would definitely make me question their knowledge on aquariums.

[@LulaMae21]

From my experience, pet store employees are rarely the best sources of information on much of anything beyond the most basic. Sponge filters are an excellent option for bettas and there's no problem with using them with live plants, any more than if you had a hang on back filter with plants.

[@misomie]

I'm assuming it has to do with activated carbon. A lot of sales reps are trained you need it but it's really only necessary if your local water is absolutely awful/contaminated or you're cleaning up after medicating. Plants don't care what kind of filter you have unless they're a super niche plant or something

[@LostInWestTexas]

Most big box pet store employees have no idea what they’re talking about. I’ve used sponge filters on my 20 gallon and below tanks for 8 years now, and they work really well, especially for more “delicate” fish like Betta or shrimp.

[@rockinval93]

Can Beta’s be with other fish? Where do you recommend to get a starter tank from?

[@rat_dragon]

My very first betta tank was a 4 gallon bin from Target. I did 2 years of research before I got my first girl, Bluestar. It wasn't the best setup but it was far better than a bowl. I then moved her into a 5 gal MiniBow which she lived in for maybe two years. I then upgraded her to the 5 gal Retreat where she lived her last happy year until I had to move her into a 1 gal. She passed a month before her fourth birthday due to a malfunctioned heater. Though that was 2 years ago, I miss her to this day :'(

[@CookingwithArjun]

why a 1 gal

[@rat_dragon]

@@CookingwithArjun I was downsizing greatly and afraid she'd get knocked over if I didn't temporarily move her to a 1 gal. Sadly, she passed a month before her 4th birthday. I was going to gift her a heavily-planted 29 gallon to herself :'(

[@sampathjosephkumar]

Watch my Betta fish Care video

[@chamrongnature]

Fantastic capture!! that's very beautiful watching to your video The betta fish is really beautiful in the world, thank for sharing video. Have a nice day friend!

[@JayRockDoesStuff]

Thanks for the Tips! I also live in CO. I herd you gave a talk recently at the CAS thing. I came home today with a twintail halfmoon , beautiful fish but after 30 yrs of keeping fish off and on , I have never kept a betta. He is going to be in a project Im doing for growing erbs in a water garden. Have you ever done a water garden with your bettas?

[@mzfitmama2361]

So crazy because I see these fish in vases all the time and they survive a decent length of time seeing this they need bubbler, plants, heater etc. definitely this video should be shown to anyone that buy these fish! They shouldn’t be allowed to be in those small tiny enclosures when people buy them. Thank you so sharing this!!!!

[@littlemidwestrebornsdolls]

Great information. I enjoy my betta Monet everyday. I've been adding more plants to his tank. It really looking better and I am doing water changes less often. Once every two weeks instead of once a week. I changed it once a week before adding live plants.

[@franklinstephen3268]

Hi how are you doing?

[@donovanw.2943]

Thanks!

[@zeriyx]

i get jealous when i see people with bettas in community aquariums. my last two bettas have been so aggressive to all tankmates. my current betta is probably my last one i will get.

[@MacMurka]

I have a female betta that would chase around my endlers and kuhli loaches in the beginning but she has calmed down

[@Lazy_Fish_Keeper]

David, a lot of it depends on breeding and shipping conditions Try to find a local breeder, and get a sorority of sisters who are **never** separated. The differences in behavior are enormous. Once bettas are isolated, they get stressed, and like humans.... stress can encourage aggression. A friend moved into a home with an outdoor 'pond' that had gone wild. Shallow end was ~ 2 ft and deep end was 4'. It was a rectangle 8' wide by 12' long, and had been depending on the filtration provided by the plants for quite some time. Two thirds of the pond was covered in floating plants...... And the pond was **full** of bettas and live bearers. Both had been breeding, and had filled the pond😳 It all depends on sufficient space at the beginning, sufficient plants to facilitate hiding, and never separating them....

[@zeriyx]

@@Lazy_Fish_Keeper i am not interested in female bettas. i like the long flowing fins and larger size. my primary community tank is heavily planted. every betta i have ever had just gets increasingly aggressive. the betta i currently have- i would watch him slowly stalk the unsuspecting platys who were just minding their business and nail them. so i removed him and moved him to a five gallon on my computer desk.

[@zeriyx]

@@MacMurka mine was the opposite. he totally ignored my horde of platys initially. then he'd flare at them occasionally. it escalated until i saw him actually injure them or tear fins. he gave one of the platys a pretty bad wound between its eyes so he got to live in a cup for a day until i set up his bachelor pad.

[@sampathjosephkumar]

I have successfully kept

[@akaustin2179]

Irene please tell how did you know whether a betta is playing with a tetra or trying to attack it like how did you know your betta fish was chasing the other fish aggresively not out of fub

[@aryah1513]

The standard recommendation for a 10G tank is 50W so I don't think the standard for a 5G would be 10 or 15W - it would be more like 25W. The thing is 25W would already be more than powerful enough for most climates unless you're keeping your fish outdoors in Antarctica. I would say use a heater that struggles to keep your tank warm so there's SOME fluctuation. I have personally (in my warm climate) been using the heaters that are always on... On cold days the water is 75-78 on warm days 78-82. My betta can rest at night and be active in the day. PS Sonic has way too much eye-protrusion; that's mild pop-eye. There's also footage of "Sound wave" with major pop-eye but no mention of it. I think that's important to mention so people don't think "Well I guess it's normal if mine has that..."

[@misomie]

I have to use two 25ws in my 5 gallon because I let my room dip to the 60s and they can't keep up otherwise. When it's really warm out I can take out one of the heaters but small bodies of water can fluctuate easily, especially if the tank has a lot of surface area

[@nameunknown5736]

I have a 3 gal fishtank with a filter for my betta. I have ìt turned away towards the wall but it seems to actually enjoy playing in the flow. I hope I am not misreading his "playing" with being stressed with the current. How would you tell the difference? Usually at night once the tank light goes off it goes into the plant area and relaxes though. It doesnt have large fins so maybe that helps. Im not sure.

[@ann-sofienilsson9400]

Never forget to look at the natural habitat in asia, water ph about 6-8, rainforest with puddles or slow moving water, lots of plants some floting on the surface, leave some areas free from plants. Use roots & stones to make some places for the fish to hide, water temperature 25-30 degrees Celsius. You can only have one male in an aquarium but he can have several females as companions, select other companion fish with simular requierments from the same area. Never put the aquarium in or near a window, use a good light fixture in a spectra made for the aquarium.

[@psycobasschick]

I have a 2.5gal for a Betta with 2 tiny green neons and some snails. Tons of plants (took 2/3 of the plants out for my 10gal). He seems pretty happy. Got an internal that has really slow water movement and an air stone. About to set up a bowl/drum with an under gravel filter. Getting bamboo for it because it is what I want to do. It's going to have marbles since it is what I have. It will be another Betta. Also going to set up a frog tank with live bearers and a Betta. Small tanks, I use a turkey baster to clean the gravel. Super easy. Also great for spot cleaning. All Betta in my house are named Frank. We are on #4 in 2yrs. Previously I had one for about 4yrs. My husband likes them because they are pretty to watch move.

[@legendsandtalesrandom8793]

so I had a betta fish that was 5 years old and she had some SPEED that fish was so strong and she was odd she was definitely female but she had long fins and she was very healthy that fish lived with two of her little sisters both only two years younger for a very long time one of her sisters ended up having babies with a male betta who was very calm they lived together for about a year until they had babies and now three years later we have their great-granddaughter snowflame and her mate muffin :D

[@ay_lxh]

im about to get a betta fish! i’m so excited!! thanks for the tips

[@dusk1947]

I killed my first three Betta's. I thought they were pretty, but knew nothing about them. I had a 2.5 gallon tank, no heater, and kept throwing them in oblivious of the "cycle".... And as a aquarist, I've never gotten past wanting to keep Betta's; my current "betta" tank is a heavily planted, 70 gallon display. I adore these little guys. For that reason, I love the starter video's you put on on these. After more than 10 years, a biology degree, multiple tank upgrades, and an unhealthy fixation with automation and lighting technology; my husbandry many have improved. But I remember making every mistake on this list and more. Good Tip's Miss.

[@pjp9383]

I also lost several bettas sooner than I really needed too due to not having enough knowledge and understanding. Now I have 5 bettas, mostly in divided 10 gallon planted tanks with filters that are just right, etc. One of my current ones is a LFS purchase, but 3 are Craigslist / Kijiji re-homed bettas (my newest came from the LFS, but from the customer drop-off tanks, so same idea). I've had the 3 rescues for about 2 years, and not sure how old they are now. 2 have definitely been doing less well lately, and showing those old age signs Irene talked about at the end of the video, and I know I won't have them too much longer. But even though I've gotten bigger other tanks, and branched out into other less common types of fish, there'll always be a place in my home for these special fish!

[@sampathjosephkumar]

Watch my Betta fish Care video

[@tuongmai677]

Amazing video. Before the internet was around I had to learn half of this the hard way.. small tip for anyone that happens to find mosquito larva, (maybe in your back yard,). Beta natural food is mosquito larva, get a fishing net and put in the beta tank and the beta will go nuts, like how a cat go nuts over cat nip

[@Sigyd]

So, in terms of the water changes she suggests here... Becoming a fishkeeper is becoming a water keeper. You need to be watching your water parameters regularly. The most reliable method for this is an API Liquid test kit. The results of those tests will help you determine how often you should be doing your water changes, no matter your tank size. But to play it safe, you'd be smart to do weekly water changes. Weekly. Not monthly. Unless you have like 300 gallons. 10 gallons of water changed once a month is a no.

[@flygirl6048]

Definitely changing your water based on nitrates is the best way to go. Thanks for making mention of API.

[@LulaMae21]

A lightly stocked tank or heavily planted one will need less frequent water changes. Aiming for weekly is a good goal, but certainly not required for every tank. I do recommend it for beginners though; best to develop good habits at the outset.

[@photonut63]

My fish store is walking distance from where I live, and they use the same water. Will a female beta do okay in my 20 gal Platy community tank: dKH 6-7, dGH 12-13, pH 7.5, occ nitrite to < 0.25 ppm, nitrate 10 ppm, no ammonia, temp 75 F. There are shrimp, one mystery snail, 2 otos, 2 Cory, and live plants.

[@aceofclay]

Thank u for pronouncing betta correctly

[@jdssurf]

oh please

[@hyicrotai9801]

I remember at Petsmart when we cleaned bettas. We'd get a bucket of water from the aquarium system in the back. Then just quickly strain the cups like they were bowls of pasta. And fill up the cups with the clean water. Thise lil fish are troopers

[@meaghanb9118]

Sad to hear that you didn't reccomend a 5 gal as the minimum for Betta.

[@Aquafinity]

Me too! 5 gallons is like the best tank size for bettas. I made a video on the best fish to keep in 5 gallons and betta was one of them. :)

[@vinvu9978]

can I put an betta with an otocinclus together just to help to clean the algae in an 24l tank ?

[@hampton1315]

I’m getting a new beta fish… I plan to get the worst looking one and help him.

[@interstatesign]

Make sure you research a bunch on Betta fish diseases and how to treat them :)

[@hampton1315]

@@interstatesign I’m a pro don’t worry. Plus I’m buying them from a pretty good LFS so he shouldn’t be to bad.

[@sampathjosephkumar]

Watch my Betta fish Care video

[@GirlTalksFish]

How did it go??

[@martinbutorac4325]

I’ve watched your vids and really appreciate all your help. My 1st fish ever, a blue betta fish, after about 2 1/2 years just stopped eating. I’ve watched some vids online but none remedied the situation. Any suggestions as I would appreciate some direction.

[@RoosterChan]

What about a planted 20 gallon long with a overflow filter? How often would I have to clean that and can my betta have any tankmates? (I currently have him in a 5-gallon but I'm planning on upgrading)

[@musicalgroovesaucet.v.1789]

My question is if its ok to put 2 snails with the beta to help clean up the tank. I heard the amonia could spike. Not sure if its true.

[@Samantha-ou8xn]

I have a crowntail betta, his name is Eragon. I have a fast tank filter, but I found that if I aim the waterflow up (It's a little tube with holes) it actually stopped him struggling with the current. There's still a little bit of him coming out and freaking out and hiding in his tree, but thats usually when the filters been freshly cleaned out, after a day of it picking up anything I stirred up it slows down. He's got 6 tank mates. Three shrimp that he just pays no mind to, a bottom feeder white and black spotty corydora. They don't interact, seeing as the corydora blends in with the gravel. Then there's the two neon green rasboras. He ignores them both. Every time I come to the glass he's there. Eragon for sure has a personality. Only time I saw him really upset was when the tank light was just plain as it was. He hated how bright it was. I ended up arts and crafting a colour filter. Still allows a pleasant amount of light in, but not so much he's uncomfortable anymore, he's out more since. But the tree is his territory, he'll chase the rasbora's out if they dare enter. Probably because it's a nice space for him to relax (And the tank heater is there...)

[@foreverNwonder]

5:27 do you watch Chris from FishForThought? I feel like I’ve seen him and also another YT’r talk about the beneficial bacteria that’s in the sponge filter… they say not to clean the sponge filter very much I thought? To make sure your tank doesn’t have a big change and your fish don’t get stressed… I could be wrong but I feel like I’ve heard that multiple times?

[@strawberryangel7091]

When you first got your betta or when you changed the water, what did you do? Did you have to preset conditioner water or did you just fill up the tank with regular tap water?

[@moshesabovich9362]

I use silicon air tubing (the narrow ones) to clean up the gravel, I find it better because it syphons slowly, n I get more poop out than water, after that I water change! I attached a hard plastic rod to the end of the tubing for better grip!

[@kasieleow9608]

My group home keeps our a/c on during the summer and my tanks stay between 70 to 74 degrees. My 3.5 gallon tank is at 74 degrees which is a brand new tank. And I absolutely love it. The thing I wish I knew before keeping Betta fish or any fish. Was learning the proper care in beginning. And proper food.

[@anthonycastillo3700]

Do you need to change the full water in the tank? Or just clean it and top it off?

[@Marissab28]

Depending on tank size normally just remove about 20% of water then refill and add water conditioner

[@abigbigmac]

6:55 I dont know if you are gonna read this comment but those white worms on the glass what are they cause I have the same ones and its freaking me out cause I have a feeling its planaria

[@lindawolcott456]

I just recently got a new betta, and he is the nicest betta I've ever had. Almost abnormally so! Is it normal for bettas to "cuddle" and hang with their tankmates? (He and my kuhli loach like to sleep in the same hide and just hang out together, maybe because they were stuck in a 1/2 gallon together for a few days?? [don't worry, it was out of neccesity and I got them out as soon as I could])

[@bumblebee6594]

Thanks for video. I wanted a large round bowl for my fish so if I put in a small pump will that help to keep the water crystal clear.....as I hate cleaning fish tanks. Also can beta fish go into a bowl like this?

[@danielleg1504]

We got our first betta yesterday. He seems very inactive… In the starter bowl, he swam around and explored the small plant that we added. By this morning, he was basically vegetative. 😂 We got worried about him (water too cold?) so we moved him into a small aquarium with a heater - about three times the size of the large fishbowl he was occupying - and he’s still been doing nothing. Any other tips?