Cycling, water changes, testing and acclimation in plain steps.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. What does dropsy look like in betta fish? The sources opened for this guide describe dropsy as fluid building up in the abdomen, so the most visible sign is a swollen or bloated belly. Other signs in the same sources include raised scales, lethargy and loss…
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Why is my betta laying on his side? A betta resting on its side or floating at an odd angle needs prompt attention, and the sources we opened do not name a single cause for it. They do list “Floating, drifting, or swimming erratically in unusual…
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Why is my betta hiding so much? A betta that stays out of sight is often reacting to something in its tank, but the sources we opened do not describe hiding as a sign of illness by itself. They do say that a change in fish…
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Why are betta fish called betta fish? Because “Betta” is the name of their genus, the group of closely related fish that includes the commercial betta, Betta splendens. The scientific name has a Malay or Javanese origin according to FishBase, and the common name “Siamese fighting…
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Are betta fish hardy? A University of Florida publication describes the betta as “one of the most popular aquarium species because of its hardiness,” so the answer is yes in a limited sense. The same source also says that “Bettas, like all other fish, are susceptible…
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Can you pet betta fish? The sources we opened do not describe petting a betta as something that helps the fish, and the University of Florida stress publication treats handling as a stressor. Touching a betta with a hand or a net can remove protective mucus…
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. If you want to know how to speed up fish tank cycle, the honest answer from the sources we opened is that there is no reliable shortcut. Cycling is the process in which bacteria build up in the filter and convert fish waste into less harmful…
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. What is a cycled tank? A cycled tank is one in which the bacteria that live in the filter and on surfaces have grown enough to convert fish waste into less harmful compounds. The University of Florida ammonia publication describes this as the nitrogen cycle, in…
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Is hard water bad for betta fish? The sources we opened do not say that hard water harms bettas, and they do not give a hardness limit for a betta tank. What they do cover is the water chemistry that hardness is usually tied to: minerals,…
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Can I use bottled water for betta fish? The sources we opened do not address bottled water by name, so there is no sourced yes or no for every brand. What they do explain is what makes a water source suitable: whether it contains chlorine or…
