So how long do betta fish live? Lets go though how to keep your betta fish healthy to live longer
Generally, the life expectancy of your domesticated betta fish is going to be around 3 years. On the other hand, as much as 6 years can be quite possible. 15 years has actually been achieved! The key to achieving the longest possible life for your Betta fish is to provide the most beneficial natural environment as possible.
The aim of this article is to help make that longest life accomplishment feasible for you and your betta fish.
Firstly, and arguably most importantly, Bettas bought from pet stores tend to be mature adults. Make sure you ask what age your betta is in order to be sure you have your betta fish for the longest period of time. Try and get yourself a fairly youthful betta at a betta breeder rather than the pet store.
Keeping Your Betta Fish Healthy and Happy
You will usually find these particularly vibrant fish inside little bowels, in solitary confinement, in the pet shop. They are typically sold like this simply because they can’t be put with each other in a single betta aquarium since the males could attack one another. Those little aquariums aren't acceptable living spaces designed for betta fish. If possible they thrive in approximately 5 gallons of individual living space inside their aquarium. Check out this article everything about the best betta fish tanks.
When you choose to “save” just one of those little betta fish from his or her small tank, you'll have to purchase your own betta aquarium. In addition, you will need Betta fish food. Read up on betta fish food and how much you need to feed him or her as this is very important. You may also consider betta fish plants along with other accessories for your new friend.
When discussed earlier, the preference for the betta fish tank would be not less than 5 gal, 1.5 - 2 gallon aquariums. These sized aquariums have actually done the job for many people however we think 5 gal is ultimately the smallest size to make the happiest as well as the most healthy betta.
Betta specialized fish food is, in fact, excellent since it has taken into account all-natural diet for your betta. It has been developed which will match (or close enough) to your bettas natural needs.
Some live fish tank plant life offers a fantastic sanctuary for a betta fish. Additionally, it can give some shade in order to prevent algae thriving so rapidly and will often also assist to naturally filter away a few impurities. It also helps reduce nitrogen which can build-up inside the aquarium.
Lifespan of the Betta Fish
So, how long do Betta fish live?
In many instances, your domesticated Betta is likely to live roughly for around 3 years. This is due to the diet plus living environments tend to be far from ideal. That said, when grown within ideal conditions, your betta fish could live up to 6 years.
Another benefit of choosing a betta for a pet would be that they are usually placed within a reasonably small aquarium. The downside of this would be that the natural waste from your betta contaminates the water inside the betta tank quicker. You'll want to clean the aquarium out frequently. Weekly you need to be changing 10 - 15% of the water and then replacing this together with fresh conditioned water.
Your female betta in most cases live a little bit longer. This is not by too much, only a few months, over a male betta. Nevertheless, many people choose the males since they're a lot more vibrant in color as well as have longer and much fancier fins.
Help Your Betta Live Longer
When you would like your betta to live on for as long as possible make sure that you feed them using betta fish food. Be sure to read up on what to feed your betta fish in our guide. Food such as bloodworms, brine, along with especially marketed food intended for bettas.
Fighting bettas tend to often be fussy regarding their food. In many cases, common tropical fish food simply will not work and so they might not feed on it. Don't forget, overfeeding your fish can certainly be even worse as underfeeding. Just a few pellets once daily (or perhaps half the quantity then allow once during the morning and then once during the night) shall be alright - once weekly it is possible to leave a day out, this reduces the chance of constipation. You can read up more on that here.
An additional suggestion, betta are tropical fishes so will need a stable water temperature within the range of 76-81 degrees Fahrenheit. Invest in a little 25-watt heating unit, which includes an integrated thermostat, intended for aquariums 2.5 gallons and above. This will provide you with the capability to maintain your aquariums temperature resulting in a reliable and constant temperature.
Eliminate sudden temperature variations in order to avoid colder temps no matter what. Prolonged amount of time in temperatures colder than preferred (lower than 76 degrees Fahrenheit) could certainly harm your bettas natural immune system and thus result in being less active, refusal to eat food, and vulnerable to diseases which can lead to death.
While we tend to firmly disapprove of it… if you choose to have the betta fish inside a small aquarium then it's certainly better not to have a heater whatsoever. An aquarium heater inside a smaller aquarium (less than 2.5 gallons) will lead to your water temp increasing quickly, that is not ok for your betta fish. It may possibly be just like cooking them. Should you choose to keep the betta inside a small aquarium, aim to have it in the warm location inside your house.
In general, look after your betta so you can have the pleasure of their company for many years to come.
Habitat
Typically the advised habitat volume for any betta fish is generally 5 gallons, along with a minimum advised aquarium size of 2.5 gallons. Moreover, they require loads of places to hide as well as relax, whilst feeling safe. Ensure that your aquarium includes a lid with it as well considering that betta fish tend to be jumpers and quite often jump straight out of a tank resulting in their own demise.
Water
A further major cause which can lower lifespans is bad water quality. Don't use distilled water considering that it will have been stripped of it's important nutrients along with minerals of which bettas need to remain healthy.
Utilize plain tap water making sure to use a dechlorinator water conditioner which will make the water safe for your betta fish. Additionally, you can choose trusted high-quality spring water or perhaps filtering unit such as a Brita just for aquarium top-ups along with water cycling.
Maintenance
Small sized aquariums definitely also want more regular water changes due to their size, it’s easy to understand why The 1 gallon will need day-to-day water changes whilst keeping a consistent temperature that can be particularly tricky to achieve plus contributes to endless stress.
Ammonia accumulates while your betta fish produces waste throughout the water so when uneaten foods as well as live plants break down. Diseases because of this may harm your bettas plus frequently result in death through inadequate water quality. Maintain the betta fishes aquarium clean plus consider a filtration unit which will decrease ammonia, nitrites, as well as nitrites.
how do you know if your betta fish is dying
keep an eye out for his/her coloring starting to fade. When the betta fish gets sick, his / her coloring could seem faded away. He / she might also lose his / her colouring entirely
Monitor your bettas fins. With a healthy betta fish, their fins are going to be complete. A poor betta fish might produce holes or even tears in their fins.
A further unhealthy signal is that the bettas fins seem held onto their body; which means, they're not fanned out properly.
Does your betta fish seem lethargy. When the betta is sick, their level of activity lowers. They will not be his / her normal, energetic self. Their motion can decrease
A further symptom of disease will be the fish hiding down on the base of the aquarium more frequently than normal.
Lethargy may very well be due to low or even too high temps also, therefore , ensure that the temperature of the aquarium is in the proper range.
keep an eye on your bettas feeding habits. As with some sicknesses, your betta fish could quit eating entirely. When your betta fish seems uninterested in eating, he / she may very well be sick
Look for spots. Look for little, white-colored spots, in particular across the head and mouth area. These symptoma is usually a signal of a particular kind of parasite, known as Ich
another thing to check for is breathing issues. This might seem strange to check the fish for difficulty in breathing. Having said that, if perhaps your betta fish is continually going towards the top of your aquarium looking to get more air, this is usually a symptom of a problem.
Betta's of course go up to the top of the aquarium to take a breather now and then, however doing this regularly isn't good.
look out for the betta fish to scratch or rub. When your betta is attempting to rub up against the side of the aquarium, that may well be a symptom of a problem. Also, when the betta is seen to be trying to scratch on plants and also items within the aquarium, he or she could also be sick.
keep an eye on other physical signs. Bulging eyes might be a symptom of sickness. Look for your betta's eyes that seem to be protruding from its head.
Raised scales is yet another characteristic of disease.
Watch his / her gills. In case they are unable to shut their gills, which might be inflamed, a further symptom of disease
what is the oldest betta fish
15 years is the longest know betta fish that I've read about he had the perfect conditions of a lovely large planted aquarium which he had to himself, and the owner pursued him all-around using a stick each day just for exercise. It makes you think just how significantly lack of exercise plays a role in the life expectancy of these bettas.
Last Updated on January 2, 2023 by aquarium tom