eBook Review - Caring for a Betta Fish - An Insider's Guide for Betta Lovers by Marcus Song

sick betta fish,

Marcus Song's Caring for a Betta Fish: An Insider's Guide for Betta Lovers is filled with exclusive and little known insider information on caring for these exquisite and one of it a kind little fish. Even for someone like me, who has owned Betta fish nearly all of my life for their beauty and longevity, I learned something new at the turn of each and every page. This is a wonderful read for those who are curious to learn about these under water beauties and possibly obtain one (or three or four!) for themselves.

First, Song took me through the history of the fish, from the olden days in rice paddies to their name sake, the ancient Asian warrior Bettah clan, to their international dispense via a gift from the King of Siam. He also explained the fascinating and exciting world of fish fighting when the people of Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam would put their homes and even their children on the line "on the outcome of just one fight."

We all know that Bettas are fantastically colored. But do you know why? They were not always so highly decorated. Song delves into color variations and just how Bettas got the immense variety of terrific tints and patterns that we see today.

While explaining the facts of how Bettas are no longer bred to fight but rather for their vivid hues, Song talks about how the species has calmed down their fighting spirit and become more tranquil, slowly but surely, generation after generation. Song took me through an incredible journey of how he himself has bonded with fish beyond anything in my wildest imagination. If cared for properly, Song claims a Betta will literally wag his tail when he sees his owner approaching and will possibly come to the surface for some extra TLC in the form of a pat on the head or a little leftover piece of chicken. In a later chapter, towards the end of the book, Song also informed me that after a bond has been formed you can actually train your Betta to do tricks such as jumping out of the water for food or swimming through hoops! I found these sections truly incredible, proving that the Betta is not just "some fish" but rather gentle companionship for those looking for an alternative type of pet.

Next, after getting some necessary background knowledge, I took a journey to the pet store in my mind with Song while he explained the do's and don'ts of scoping out a respectable pet store, choosing the right Betta, avoiding death and illness while transporting the little guy and introducing fishy to his new home. Although the tank set up procedure is simple, if it is not done correctly, it could be a life or death situation that you do not want to put your newest family member in. Song eagerly explained many Betta lover tips such as aging water to filtration instructions and beyond.

I began to wonder what else there was and if I, as a fellow Betta owner, was feeding my fish properly. Low and behold, the next chapter answered my questions precisely. Little did I know that Betta fish were carnivores and that my little guys craved treats like a small piece of chicken left over from dinner or even a tiny but juicy piece of steak! Song also eased my vacation stress of what do with our three Bettas when we went on our annual vacation. Our little men are easier to please and care for than I had thought a mere 30 minutes before diving into Song's book.

Song then prepared me for any health issues that my fish might have, some that might have gone unnoticed had I not taken a moment to read his book. There are many illnesses that can fall over your Betta but 99% of them can be cured if the owners observe their fish with attentive and loving eyes. Song gives me all of the information I could ever need on sicknesses, what to look for with each illness and Betta lover tips on treatment and even better yet, on prevention. It is so easy to stop these problems before they start. I learned many, many helpful tips to help my Betta fish become happier, healthier and stress free.

Lastly, Song took me into a place we have all been before: the loss and mourning period at the death of a pet. Most books do not speak of this topic but it is one that we have all experience with a beloved pet, big or small. Song made me feel comforted, that I wasn't alone, when experiencing feelings of loss and sadness after a Betta fish's death and where to go for help to cope with this loss if need be.

Song's guide, Caring for a Betta Fish: An Insider's Guide for Betta Lovers is truly a first in the Betta world. It is comprehensive and detailed yet easy to read and maneuver through. I found his tips thoughtful, informative and very simple to follow. Whether a member of a Betta group, a Betta breeder or just a fellow Betta lover my advice to you is to read this guide! Not only will it make you a better Betta owner, you will increase the quality of life for your Betta as well as yourself by giving yourself the gift of a truly unique and one of a kind pet for years to come.

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Why Guppies Are a Great First Fish to Keep

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There are so many different fish species to consider when getting your first tropical freshwater aquarium. Some of the more common species include bettas, mollies, cichlids, guppies, catfish, and angels. Many domesticated types of fish are easy to care for, but some require special knowledge that is only gained through experience. Because of this, it is important to avoid just going out and picking up the most interesting fish you see at the pet store on your first visit. Guppies are a great species to consider as a first choice for several reasons.

Guppies are easy to care for
Guppies do not have many specific requirements. They are tolerant of a decent range of water temperatures and conditions. Being able to live in freshwater and salty water, they can easily adapt to slow changes in their habitat. Some fish can quickly die if aquarium maintenance is forgotten or unable to be done by the novice aquarist. This is not true for guppies. If you forget a water change while you are getting used to your new aquatic pets, you will be forgiven -- guppies should survive through this.

Will eat a variety of flake foods
There are no strict diet requirements for your new guppies. Almost any generic tropical flake food will be sufficient for your fish. If you can afford name brand foods, you will see the benefit of the added nutrients in the brighter colors and more active fish. If this is not the case, your fish will still be healthy pets.

Highly Prolific
This type of fish is highly prolific. If there is even a small chance of being interested in witnessing the joy of a live bearer giving birth, then guppies are a sure shot fish to choose. To breed these fish, a beginner just has to keep males and females together in clean water and feed them regularly. Each female will give birth to a new spawn every 30 days without fail!

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Taking Care of Betta Fish

sick betta fish

Everyone from college students living in the dorms to children learning how take care of their first pet. Aquarists from the beginner to experienced enjoy these dynamic and beautiful fish. Although they can survive in a wide range of conditions, if you want your Betta to live a long, health and happy life you will need to educate yourself. Here are some things to keep in mind when caring for your Betta fish.

Bettas, also known as Siamese fighting fish, are a favorite fish pet because they are hardy and their housing can be relatively inexpensive. Everyone from college students living in the dorms to children learning how take care of their first pet. Aquarists from the beginner to experienced enjoy these dynamic and beautiful fish. Although they can survive in a wide range of conditions, if you want your Betta to live a long, health and happy life you will need to educate yourself. Here are some things to keep in mind when caring for your Betta fish.

The most common misunderstanding is the size of tank needed for a Betta; one fish will need a minimum of 3 gallons. They will survive for some time in smaller tanks but will most likely succumb to a disease, like fin or body rot, prematurely if not given more space to move. While Bettas are capable of living in stagnant pools, meaning unlike goldfish they don't need aeration in their tank because they can breathe from the surface, biological filtration is essential to successful housing. This can be achieved by an external filter with filter cartridges or by ensuring the water and substrate (i.e. gravel) have sufficient bacterial content to handle the biological load of the fish in the tank. To accomplish biological filtration the tank must not be cleaned completely, but instead leave most of the gravel untouched so that the beneficial bacteria have a habitat in which to live and proliferate. Also, be sure to save some of the 'dirty' water, which will contain the beneficial bacteria, to replace in the cleaned tank with the fresh water.

Males must not be housed with other males, but can in some cases live peacefully with females or other types of fishes. Always monitor your fish after introduction to the tank for unanticipated aggression or other incompatibility. When choosing tank partners the fish should be of similar size keeping in mind that most fish will eat any other fish that fits in their mouth. If you plan to keep smaller schooling fish, like neon tetras, with your Betta it can be a good idea to let them establish themselves in the tank before adding the Betta to ensure they know their way around and can keep out of the larger fish's way. Some tetras have been known to pick on a Betta's fins, so watch out for this behavior.

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Selecting and Setting Up a Betta Fish Tank

sick betta fish

How do I select and set up my Betta aquarium?

To answer this question, I will use Marineland Eclipse 5 as an example, because it's such a popular fish tank. But you can substitute any other brand or type, if you wish.

1. Size

Would an Marineland Eclipse 5 gallon Aquariums be right for your Betta fish? How can you be sure? Exactly how big should your Betta's home be? Let's get really scientific. There is a simple guideline to follow: you will need one gallon of water per one inch of adult Betta fish.

Since adult Bettas are generally about 2-3 inches long, a minimum Betta fish tank will be two to three gallons. Most "good Betta parents" add a gallon for good measure and that's how we arrive at a 3-4 gallon tank. That's an adequate Betta fish tank size.

If you really love your little finned friend, you get more generous with his living space and decide for more than a "minimum" - a size which will allow him plenty of room to exercise his fins, find places to hide and discover and never get bored. Remember, his tank will be his whole life. He doesn't get to take walks in the park. So, the ideal Betta fish tank size is 5-gallons. Marineland Eclipse 5 gallon aquariums are therefore an ideal starting tank for a single Betta.

There are some things you will need to do in preparation for your Betta's arrival. That's why it's best to get all your supplies about a week before you actually get your fish.

Besides size, there will be other choices for you to make.

2. Glass vs Acrylic

For example, should you get a glass or an acrylic tank? There are the pros and cons to both. Glass tanks are heavier and they can break when struck with a heavy object (not recommended!). Glass is also the most hygienic of materials. It is non-porous and that's one of the reasons it's been traditionally used by many aquarists for so many years. It is also cheaper than acrylic. It's scratch-resistant which makes for a beautiful, clear view of the interior of the aquarium for many years to come.

Acrylic does have its advantages, however. Besides being lightweight (it weighs half of what glass does), it also insulates about 20% better than glass and can thus save on your electric bill. That's why popular models such as Marineland Eclipse 5 use acrylic.

3. Ideal Site

• Presumably you won't be moving your Betta fish tank around much once you set it up. Water is heavy. One gallon weighs about 8 pounds... So decide where you will put it with some forethought.
• Put it where it will have enough space to comfortably fit on. You don't want it where it can be easily pushed off or ran into.
• Don't place it in direct sunlight, heating or air conditioning unit. Also avoid areas that are drafty. Remember, consistency of your Betta's water temperature is one of the most important factors in Betta care.
• Place it where there will be enough light during the day and dark and quiet during the night. Your Betta will need its rest and yes, Bettas do sleep...
• Avoid also any sources of constant vibrations, such as washing machines or stereos.

4. Gravel and Sand

If you are thinking of using live plants, you may need a layer of sand at the bottom of your aquarium for the plants to grow their roots in. Also, check out whether your Betta's future tank mates like to burrow in the aquarium floor. In that case you will also need sand for them. A good mixture of gravel and sand will usually be best.

You must get your sand and gravel from a pet store (online or near you). If you don't get the stuff that is "approved for aquarium use", it most likely will poison your Betta. Most products contain additives and chemicals your Betta would not be able to handle.

5. Tank decorations

Don't use any metallic objects in your Betta fish tanks. Most metals leech chemicals into the water which will poison your Betta. Also, do not use fabric plants in your Betta tank. All decorations need to be smooth as not to pose danger to your Betta's fins.

Make sure you place some decorations in the tank for your Betta to hide behind. Bettas love privacy!

Watch for any small holes in the tank decorations that Bettas might get stuck in. They need to be encouraged to explore, but without any such risks!

6. Tank set up before acquiring fish

This is the most important thing of all - get your tank, set it up and age and condition your water at least a week in advance of bringing home your fish, if not longer. Trying to do it all at once is the most common mistake new aquarists make.

More on the Betta fish tanks in later articles.

Happy Betta keeping!

- Mischa Hill

Mischa Hill is a Betta fish enthusiast. His website compares prices on a large selection of betta fish aquariums. Visit his site also for betta fish care tips, price comparisons on betta fish aquariums, supplies, remedies, books and more. Also, sign up for a Mini-Course on Betta fish care. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mischa_Hill

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Betta Fish Bowls

sick betta fish

One of the primary concerns when buying a betta fish is where you will keep it. Your options basically boil down to an aquarium or bowl. There are plenty of reasons why you should consider betta fish bowls, but also a few reasons you shouldn't. This article will discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages

One of the first benefits of going with a bowl is that it's the much cheaper option. The least expensive aquarium will generally cost much more than the largest bowl you can buy. Most beginners go with this option for this very reason.

Beginners will also enjoy the next advantage of betta fish bowls. They are very simple. You just put your fish in the water and you're all setup. This is far from the case with an aquarium. At the very least, you have to put in gravel and a filtration system.

A bowl's size can also be considered an advantage. Since they're generally smaller, you should have no problem finding room for your new buddy. With an aquarium, you'll need to find a space large enough to fit it.

Smaller size also means less weight. Even filled completely, a bowl shouldn't weigh that much more than an empty aquarium. You shouldn't even bother trying to lift an aquarium when it's filled up with water. Therefore, you'll need to bring a water source for changes. You can take a bowl wherever you want to change the water.

Disadvantages

Now that you know some of the advantages of betta fish bowls, how about we discuss some of the disadvantages. As mentioned earlier, size can be considered a benefit. However, since they're so small, they're only suitable for younger fish. As your fish grows, he'll run out of space and you'll need to buy something bigger.

Remember how easy bowls are to setup? Well, since you won't be installing a filtration system, you'll need to do water changes manually. The water can become toxic in such a small environment pretty quickly, so this should be done very frequently.

However, you can get a filtration system for a bowl. But it can be tricky. You'll need to find a design that's efficient enough, but not powerful enough to generate a strong current. Your fish wouldn't appreciate that at all.

These are some of the advantages and disadvantages of using betta fish bowls. While you're considering housing options, why not go ahead and start learning all about caring for bettas. There are many things you need to learn such as the most common betta fish diseases. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jake_D

Basic Information about Betta Fish

sick betta fish

One of the really cool things about betta fish, is that they have extremely well-developed eyesight. Because of this, the betta fish will learn to swim to the surface when it sees your hand over the bowl to feed it.

Betta Fish are also called Siamese Fighting Fish. The name Betta is pronounced as the Greek letter beta, and because of this, the name is often misspelled in American English, with one t instead of two. The name is however unrelated to the Greek letter, and is derived from the Thai 'ikan bettah'. In Thailand, betta fish is known as pla-kad. Bettas live in freshwater. Betta fish are one of the most popular aquarium fish, mainly because of its appearance, since betta fish certainly are not one of the easiest fish to keep in an aquarium. Betta Fish originates from the Mekong basin in Southeast Asia.

Betta fish grows to about 6 cm, and its life-span is on average four years, but well-kept aquarium specimens can live longer than six years.

Sometimes, when betta fish are aggravated, they "puff-out". When they are "puffing-out", the fish puffs out the gill covers and fins to appear more impressive. They do it to either intimidate rival males, or as an act of courtship (to impress the female :-)

In Asian countries, the betta fish are often used in fights similar to cockfighting. These fighting fishes usually have much shorter fins than the betta fish we are accustomed to see in the west. Betta fish in the wild usually have very short fins, but breeders have developed brilliantly-colored and longer-finned varieties.

Betta fish creates bubble nests, which are floating masses of bubbles. They are blown with saliva bubbles. These bubble nests are meant as a place for fertilized eggs to be deposited. The bubble nest is guarded by the male until the small betta fishes hatch. The bubble nests built by the male bettas are made from air bubbles coated with saliva to increase the strength. When the male betta makes the nest, it makes a louder noise then it does when breathing normally.

After the betta fish have spawned, the eggs floats into the bubble nest from below, or the male betta carries them there while holding the eggs in his mouth, as if he were to eat them. The male betta will then guard the bubble nest for the next 24-48 hours until the eggs hatch. He also keeps a close watch, and retrieves any eggs or fry that fall from the nest. He will also repair the nest by adding bubbles where needed. After the fry hatch in 24-48 hours, the father will tend the fish for the next couple of weeks.

Yanik White have spent years researching, collecting and breeding Betta Fish, aka. Siamese Fighting Fish. He breeds Betta Fish for a living, and sells them through his pet store. He writes about his experiences and shares his tips at his blog: Betta Fish Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Yanik_White

Betta Fish

sick betta fish

This fish is quite unique and beautiful to look at. You will realize what satisfaction it gives you when you catch yourself gazing at these fish for the first time, pondering how magnificent and colorful it is.

Bettas are the exotic fish of fresh water fish, they have long vibrantly color tails and fins that extend beyond their body. Betta swim slowly but naturally aggressive in behavior.

Betta comes in many different colors, some even possess multiple color making it all an enjoyable fish to watch. You know this if you ever see salt water fish with astonishing color and stunning body line gliding across the water. That doesn't necessarily mean you have to spend a lot of money to acquired a salt water fish to received the same satisfaction. Although, that is one way to go. Betta fish has exceed among fish enthusiasts as a gorgeous exotic fish that is truly affordable.

If you decide a betta fish is the way to go, you need to understand their characteristics. When bettas feel threaten by other fish or other betta, they will naturally flash brighter in color, open their long tail in a fan like display and cock their gills to make themselves look bigger and more vicious. This behavior often happens, first to warn other betta this is a threat and second this territory is occupied.

If you entice a male betta with a mirror or with another betta, he'll dance around fully cock to provoke fear, his action will display the environment is hostile indicating conflict. In some case an opposing Betta does not challenge and the superior would dance around to chase away the defeated one. Sign of a defeat or scare betta is lighter in color and his fins and tail will be compressed tightly against the body. A battle between two male betta can last for as long until the death of one fish.

Bettas are also know as Siamese fighting fish. Therefore, you should never put two male betta in one tank, each fish should occupied his own territory meaning separate betta tank.

Unlike the forceful male betta, their counter partner are not as aggressive. Female bettas can live together given that there are enough room to swim around.

You can easily tell apart a male from a female betta. Colors and shape of the body are different. Female betta have less color pigments and appear dull or faded, they have short tail and fin, but bigger stomach in contrast to their body. Female bettas are not as popular among fish enthusiasts choice of showcasing.

Investing in a betta can truly bring great satisfaction to you in ways that other expensive salt water fish may have. This might be the best investment you can make to share the experience and beauty of an exotic fish.

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