Raising and caring for a Betta fish can be a fun and satisfying experience. Part of the attention you need to pay him is to keep the water at the correct temperature. This is a sensitive fish to the environment around it and if the water is too cold or too hot it can manifest health problems. Stabilize the internal temperature of the aquarium at the right level to keep the fish healthy.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Keep the Aquarium Temperature Constant
Step 1. Install a heater in the aquarium
To keep Betta fish healthy, you need to make sure the water is adequately warm; accordingly, you need an aquarium heater. The model required varies according to the size of the tank; you can find the two main types at pet stores.
- A 10 liter aquarium usually requires a heater to be installed below the water level.
- For models that contain from 10 to 20 liters, you need to put a device with a power of 25 watts; if the aquarium is 20 liters, buy a 50 watt heater.
- If the tank is smaller than 10 liters, you can use an underwater model with a power of 7.5 watts. This type of heater does not regulate the temperature, so you need to make sure you monitor it often.
- Heating lamps are not the best choice in this case, because Betta fish do not like too bright light.
Step 2. Insert a thermometer
The simplest way to keep the aquarium temperature under control is to install such a device. You need a specific model that can stay below the water level; once placed, it will be very easy to control the temperature and make sure your friend lives in an ideal environment.
- You have to make sure to keep the temperature constant around 24-26 ° C.
- Place the thermometer where you can easily read the data.
- Patterns that adhere to the aquarium walls are often not accurate enough.
Step 3. Place the aquarium in an ideal location
Evaluate the best place in the house to keep the fish; prefer environments that have the most stable temperature, so that it helps to keep the aquarium constant.
- Do not place the tub near drafty windows or in cold areas of the house.
- Do not place it even near heat sources.
Method 2 of 2: Provide Additional Care
Step 1. Ensure good water quality
In addition to monitoring the temperature, you also need to check other water parameters; make sure it has the following characteristics, to ensure a healthy life for the fish:
- The pH level can be checked with litmus strips, which you can buy at pet stores that sell fish and aquarium supplies. Keep the pH neutral, equal to 7.
- The water must be clean and free of chlorine; at pet stores you can get products to dechlorinate it.
- If possible, let the water settle for 24 hours before pouring it into the aquarium. this allows potentially harmful gases to evaporate completely.
Step 2. Clean the aquarium regularly
This is an essential aspect of fish care; the frequency of cleaning depends on the size of the tank.
- 4-liter aquariums should be cleaned every three days, 10-liter aquariums every 5 days, and 20-liter aquariums every week.
- Write down the temperature values; you have to make sure that the new water respects the same parameters.
- Remove the fish from the tank and place it in a safe container with some of the water it previously swam in.
- Discard all the old water in the aquarium.
- Wash the tub and all decorations with hot water; scrub the inside walls with a cloth or paper towels.
- Put all the decorations back in place and fill the tub with clean, dechlorinated water.
- Make sure to raise the aquarium temperature to the previous water values.
- Allow the fish to acclimate to the new aquarium conditions. Insert the container in which the animal is inside the aquarium for five minutes, then add the new aquarium water to the container of the fish.
- Once the adaptation period is over, you can release the animal into the tank.
Step 3. Check your little friend's health
In addition to monitoring the water temperature, you also need to pay attention to signs of illness; the symptoms may make you realize that the aquarium needs maintenance. Look for some of the following typical signs of Betta fish disease:
- Corrosion of the fins causes damage to the fins, which appear frayed and damaged. It is triggered by unclean water, so you need to take action to clean and replace the water to try to solve the problem.
- Swim bladder disorder prevents Betta fish from swimming properly and forces them to float to the surface, go to the bottom or stay on their side. It is typically caused by constipation, but it could also be triggered by an infection, parasitosis, or trauma.
- Mycoses appear as white and "hairy" growths on the animal's body; you should be able to solve the problem with antibiotics, a water temperature of around 23 ° C and an addition of salt to the aquarium.
- Exophthalmos (protruding eye) can be cured by cleaning the aquarium, raising the temperature to 28 ° C and adding half a gram of Epsom salts for every 20 liters of aquarium water.
Advice
- Keep the temperature between 24 and 26 ° C.
- Never completely change the aquarium water. If you did, the fish would be subjected to excessive stress and you would also eliminate the bacteria useful to keep the nitrate level low. Always keep at least 40% of the water.
Warnings
- Do not place the aquarium in sunlight to heat the water; you only risk encouraging the growth of algae, moreover Betta fish do not like bright light and it would be too complicated to keep the water temperature constant.
- Do not put more than one male in the aquarium, otherwise they will fight each other to the death.
- Betta fish breathe near the surface of the water, so make sure there is enough space between the water and the aquarium lid.
