Your
betta fish's habitat will need to be maintained in order to ensure your
fish's continued health. While different people have seen success with
different maintenance regimens, the suggestions below are regarded by
many as good husbandry.
Water Changes
As
discussed previously, harmful substances accumulate in your water as
your betta fish expels them, and you will need to perform water changes
so that they do not become too concentrated. The amount and frequency of
the water changes you will need to perform will vary depending on the
size of your tank and whether it is cycled. (See link)
For 1 - 2 gallon tanks: A 25% - 50% water change is recommended every other day, with a 100% water change once a week.
For
2.5 gallon and larger tanks: If your aquarium is cycled, you should
change 10% of the water twice a week or 25% of the water once a week.
Water Conditioner during Water Changes
The
water that comes out of most faucets contains chlorine and other
substances in concentrations that are safe for humans but can be toxic
to fish. Water conditioner conditions tap water to make it safe for your
fish. You should always use water conditioner according to its
instructions when performing water changes to ensure that the water you
add to your aquarium is safe for your fish.
Testing Water Parameters
You
can see for yourself just how good or bad your betta fish's water
quality is by testing the water using one of many available aquarium
test kits. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit comes highly recommended.
A cycled aquarium will ideally have the following parameters:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: Under 20 ppm
pH: 7.0 (Betta fish can tolerate a range of 6 - 7.5)
If
after testing your aquarium water you find that your ammonia, nitrite,
or nitrate is too high, you'll want to perform a partial water change to
help lower its concentration. If your pH is too low or too high, you
can use any one of a number of available pH related aquarium supplements
to adjust it. Your test kit will likely make specific recommendations.
Cleaning Ornaments
From time to time, you may want to clean the ornaments in your aquarium. Many people think of soap when they think of cleaning. You should never use
soap to clean anything that is meant to go in your aquarium. Soap is
toxic to fish, and even trace amounts of it that are likely to be
present even after rinsing soap off can be extremely harmful.To
clean your ornaments safely, take them out of your aquarium and rinse
them under hot water. Just make sure not to burn yourself!
If hot
water alone won't do the trick, you can soak the ornaments in white
vinegar to help soften any mineral deposits. If you use vinegar, be sure
to rinse the ornament thoroughly to wash away any vinegar on it afterward.
