Fishstick sandwich

When I was a little lad I would only eat one thing for breakfast. Yummy fish sticks straight from the toaster oven with heaps of delicious pure maple syrup. I never even considered the idea of wrapping that culinary concoction in two scrumdiddlyumptious loaves of soft white bread,

The Betta Fish (also known as Siamese fighting fish) is an incredibly popular freshwater fish who’s beautiful and vividly colored tails can be found elegantly swimming in aquariums all around the world.

Their wild, eye-catching coloring has made them one of the most popular fish in the aquarium hobby and a lot of misinformation is available online. It’s easy to be mislead if you are a beginner.

To take care of a Betta fish, you need to have a clear understanding of its particular requirements. The most important things to remember when caring for a Betta fish are:


 * Betta fish are tropical fish. They require tropical climate water between 78 – 82 degrees. Water pH should be neutral (around 7) and ammonia and nitrates should be as low as possible (ideally zero)
 * Betta fish are carnivores and eat a protein-rich diet. Don’t feed them flakes.
 * The lifespan of a Betta fish can reach up to 7 years, despite the average being 3-5. If you look after your fish, they will be around for a long time.

The most important part of looking after a Betta fish is to set up their tank correctly.

In their natural habitat, Betta fish are typically found in small, shallow streams and rice paddies in Thailand. These are usually vast, and with the tropical climate, the waters are generally quite warm.

Don’t be fooled into thinking Betta Fish can live happily in a fishbowl. The minimum tank size for a betta fish is at least 5 gallons, but that’s a bare minimum. More is always better.

Bettas are labyrinth fish, meaning they have the ability to breathe oxygen from the surface of the water. Because of this, you should aim to leave some space at the top of the tank for your Betta fish to breathe.

The Labyrinth bladder that allows them to breathe at the surface requires frequent use in order for the fish to be healthy, so it’s an important factor to consider.

Betta fish are also great jumpers! I would recommend keeping a lid on your aquarium or at the very least, leaving plenty of space between the water and the top of the tank.

The best filter for a Betta fish is one that can filter the entire tank multiple times per hour without creating too much flow. Sponge filters or internal filters are generally the best choice.

Changing too much water at once can disrupt the balance of your aquarium and cause stress to your Betta fish. It’s recommended to change 25% of the water, once per week, allowing the filter to do the rest of the work. It’s crucial that you keep an eye on your aquarium water by periodically using a test kit to monitor the water parameters. Your goal is to keep everything consistent, with ammonia and nitrites being as close to zero as possible. You can find the best betta fish water parameters at the beginning of this article.

A good set of artificial aquarium lights will provide your betta fish with the lights they need during the day, without fluctuations. Artificial light is consistent and controllable.

The key to a healthy Betta fish diet is that it’s rich in protein and varied.

You can use a Betta specific floating pellet as their daily food source. You need a pellet that floats, allowing your betta fish to feed on the surface. For an occasional treat, you can try your Betta with a few of these:


 * Brine shrimp (live, frozen or dried)
 * Krill
 * Shrimp
 * Bloodworms