Lifespan of Betta Fish

Betta fish, also known as the Siamese fighting fish, is one of the most attractive and vibrant fish species of all freshwater aquarium fish. Its name ikan bettah, has been derived from a local dialect of Thailand. The Betta descends from its wild ancestors called pla-ka, native to Thailand and Cambodia. There are over 50 types of Betta fish, of which Betta splendens has found special favor among aquarium hobbyists in the United States, because of its unusual color schemes, and the low care and maintenance they require to thrive. Lifespan of a Betta fish is usually around three to five years, although if one takes into consideration all the care it needs, and provides the fish with it, the Betta fish life expectancy may go up to eight years!

Betta Fish Care

Betta fish grows to an overall length of about six to eight centimeters. So, keeping this in mind, decide upon the number of fish you would want and what kind of an aquarium you will provide for them; a small fish bowl or a large aquarium. Don't crowd them, as they like their open spaces.

Tank
Once you have decided how many of these fish you want, head straight to an aquarium supply store, for not only will you get all the materials you need from here to make your fish feel at home, but also relevant information about its food and basic care. Choose your Betta fish from a number of varieties; regular Betta, crown tail Betta, twin tail Betta, etc. The basic thing one requires for setting up an aquarium for the Betta fish includes a fish tank or bowl, made up of either glass or plastic, live or plastic plants, a pH balance test kit, aquarium thermometer, filters, heaters, clean sanitized gravel, lots of fresh water and food. You can get more decorative if you want to, but ensure that you don't crowd the aquarium, as not only will it curb the space for the fish, but also damage its delicate fins. The water in your aquarium should be at room temperature between 72 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit, and between 6.5 and 7.5 pH level.

Food
There are two Betta fish feeding considerations one needs to look into; nutrition and the right quantity. By nature they are carnivorous, and have quite a taste for water insects, mosquito larvae and zooplankton. It may not always be easy to give your fish this kind of food, but the fish stores have a wide range of alternatives that will keep your fish well fed and will increase the lifespan of your Betta fish. They include water fleas, blood worms, shrimp, etc. One can get fresh or frozen forms of these fish foods. Another common food one can feed the fish with is Betta specific food pellets, which are basically vitamin added to a mix of shrimp and blood worms. Feed the fish two or three times a day, the quantity depending upon what you are feeding them with. During pre-spawning time, the fish can be fed more often. Nutritious food will boost the immune system and enhance the Betta's vibrant colors and longevity.

Few Interesting Facts

Here are a few Betta fish facts that will tell you why you should have them swimming in your aquarium.

• Their other common name is 'Siamese fighting fish', which mostly refers to the male Betta fish, as they are more aggressive of than the females
• Betta fish come in a variety of colors; white, orange, yellow, shades of blue, red, green, black, etc.
• These tropical fish were first found to be living in rice paddies of Thailand and Cambodia.
• To intimidate other fish in its vicinity, the male Betta fish will flare its fins and gills.
• Two male Betta fish in the same bowl will kill each other, so always ensure not to keep two male Betta together!
• Male Betta fish builds bubble nests only for two reasons; one when they are happy and two, to protect the fish eggs.

Although, lifespan of this species is short, as compared to other aquarium fish, their beautiful texture and vibrant colors make up for the little time they live with you.