Betta Fish
The little fish with big personalities
Betta fish are native to multiple countries in Southeast Asia, where
they are often found in shallow pools of water, such as rice paddies or
ditches. They enjoy shallow, warm (23-26 degrees Celsius), stagnant
bodies of water, and often live alone due to their aggressive nature.
While males will fight when they feel their territory is threatened,
females can sometimes live together, provide their enclosure is big
enough; male and female bettas should not be permanently homed together.
Despite the experiences many people in North America have viewing betta
fish in cups at the pet store, betta fish require much more room than a
cup or a fishbowl. A single betta fish requires at least 2.5
gallons of water to swim around in. This 2.5 gallon tank also requires a
heater, filter, and daily to weekly water changes depending on the
chemical stability of the tank. A fish bowl has neither the space, nor
the water capacity to properly house a betta fish. Cups and bowls are
meant to hold coffee and soup, not an animal.
To find out more about betta fish, where they come from, and what they
need to survive in captivity, check out the website below.