Betta fish are one of the most popular types of pet fish in our culture today, second only perhaps to the goldfish. Between you and me though, I'd much rather have one of these guys than a goldfish. In this article I've given you some beginner tips on taking care of Betta fish and pointed you towards some helpful resources!

Basic Info: Betta fish originated in or around Siam, which is how they were titled the "Siamese fighting fish." Of course, if you look on a map today you'll find no mention of Siam, as it is present day Thailand. Betta fish now live naively in other countries in Eastern Asia as well. They generally occupy ponds, rice paddies, and slow moving streams.

Diet: In the wild, Betta feed on small insects that either stray too close to, or live on/in the water. What this means is that they are primarily carnivores. A well balanced diet should be fed to Bettas, there are many live foods along with nutrient enriched diets like flakes and pellets. I choose to feed my fish pellets and catch him a small ant to eat every once and a while! Bettas are food dependent and will develop a relationship with you around this, my betta eats food off of my finger and gets very excited when I walk in the room.

Housing and Climate: Bettas should be housed alone as more than one will often result in conflict. They should be kept in a decent size tank, mine absolutely loves his 10 gallon tank and I wouldn't recommend anything less than 5. Temperature should be kept constant at a temperature between 76 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Remember, bettas are use to the tropics, just try and re-create home!

Most deadly Betta mistakes occur without the owner even knowing what's going on. Avoid these mistakes and give your Betta fish the best life possible. I found my "salvation" so-to-speak in Betta Care Made Easy. In just a few minutes I learned a whole lot about little things I was doing that were harming my fish. Some of them ost noteworthy topics included were:

> How to maintain proper water conditions
> When and when not to use a filter
> How to correctly setup a Betta tank and the 5-part checklist
> What to do if your Betta won't eat
> Caring for Betta fish that are ill, how to diagnose and cure every Betta sickness
> Step by step instructions for breeding bettas
> Heaters and thermometers??? How to get your temperature right!
> Why the wrong type of lighting can kill your Betta

How to Make a Cheap Aquarium Filter

Betta Fish breeding.

When it comes to breeding betta fish, many betta enthusiasts will tell you that it is no easy task, and they are right! It isn't easy breeding betta fish, there is a lot that you need to know about these fish before you even get started, but if you do decide to try breeding betta fish then it can be very rewarding. Not only will you have the pleasure and luxury of seeing newly born betta fry, but you can also make a substantial living off of breeding betta fish. Yes, that's right, your favourite pets can make you some extra cash! All you have to do is a little bit of research before you begin.

Your first task is to actually locate a female betta fish. Female bettas are much harder to come by than males. This is because most pet stores do not sell them because they are not very popular. The reason for this is because females are a lot less colourful than the males and are hence not as popular with fish owners. However, you can locate female betta fish on the internet. Simply type in your search on a popular search engine and you will find dozens of links which will take you to a number of sites which can provide you with a female betta. However when purchasing live animals from the internet, always make sure that you are buying through a reputable website to ensure the healthiest and happiest fish.

Once you have received your female you need to keep it in a SEPARATE tank, do not put the fish together! The reason for this is that betta fish do not live well together in small environments and should always be kept apart. Once you have your male and female in separate tanks, then you should begin the mating process by making sure that they are both very well fed (although don't over feed them!) you will notice some changes in behaviour with both of the fish. The male should begin to make a bubble nest and the female will grow larger with eggs, sometimes you can even see the eggs through her body!

Once both fish are ready, you should set aside at least a couple of hours so that you can observe and keep an eye on your bettas during the mating process. Put the female in with the male and watch. If either fish shows any sign of aggression then you should remove the female straight away and try again another day. Remember, it doesn't always happen the first time and you should have patience in order to get your betta fish to breed.

Betta fish having a moment!