Betta Fishes are Siamese fighting fish. They are freshwater fishes native to Southeast Asia, especially Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
These sets of fishes are low-maintenance fishes. They are easy to care for, which makes them great for beginners who want to raise fish and pets as well.
They want to be cared for properly if you want to extend the lifespan of the Betta fish.
So here we share details about the Betta Fishes, their feeding, and how to make them comfortable.
Table of Content
How Long Does a Betta Fish Live as a Pet?
The Betta fish life span ranges between 2-4 years old all things being equal. How long your betta fish pet will live will depend on the environment you groom it and then diet.
Can Betta Fishes Live Up to 10 Years?
The lifespan of a Betta fish can be more than its average estimated lifespan of 2-4 years, especially captive bettas. Some captive Bettas can live up to 6 to 10 years provided the conditions are optimal.
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What Kills Betta Fishes?
Betta Fishes will die easily and faster if placed in stressful or poor environmental conditions such as
- Unclean water.
- An ill-kept tank
- Living in a small tank
- Living with incompatible fishes.
Do Betta Fish Get Lonely?
Although the lifespan of a Betta fish can be incredibly long, most of them do not get lonely while living longer, especially as pets. But a small tank will bore them out.
How Do I Know My Betta Fish Is Dying?
When the body of a Betta fish starts to discolor, it’s a sign that the fish is dying. You will notice white or brown spots.
Other times, strange swimming movements, and shortening / eating away of the fins can point to severe illnesses which is a sign that the Betta fish is dying.
What Do I Feed My Betta Fish?
Betta Fishes eat
- Pellets
- Live food
- Fish flakes
- Bloodworms
- Frozen brine shrimp
- Freeze-dried or fresh food.
How Often Do You Feed A Betta Fish?
Ideally, you should feed a Betta fish 2 – 4 pellets once or twice a day. When the pellets are dropped into the water, they expand and that’s enough for the Betta Fishes to munch the whole day.
You can also give them freeze-dried or fresh food 1 to 2 days per week in case pellets are not available.
Do Betta Fishes Sleep?
Of course, Betta Fishes Sleep who doesn’t? But unlike other water brings, Bettas fishes sleep in a state of low metabolism where all their brain function shuts down, but they can still respond to reactions from their environment.
Can a Betta Fish Live in a 1 Gallon Tank?
If you want to elongate the lifespan of your Betta fish, a 1-gallon tank is not the beta place to put it. Betta Fishes need larger aquariums and a 1-gallon tank is not that.
How Long Can a Betta Fish go Without Food?
Betta Fishes can go 10 days or more without food and still be active but it’s not ideal you do that. Though active, metabolism is at a very minimal level which can cause them to die easily.
Do Betta Fishes Bite?
Just like other fishes when a Betta fish feels your hand as a potential threat and it may react with a bite. This is more like a defensive mechanism.
To avoid that, do not stick your hand into the aquarium too often; they do not take it as a good gesture. It’s stress and disturbance and the fish can react with a bite.
Another reason why a Betta fish may bite you is if you have food on your hands. That will probably be an accident.
Do Betta Fishes Prefer Light Or Dark Environment?
Both atmospheres work well for Betta Fishes. They need both light and darkness to stay physically and mentally active. At night while testing, they rest and conserve their energy, and they prefer a dark environment at that point.
Do Betta Fish Like To Be Touched?
Betta Fishes do not like to be touched. Touching the Betta fish results in it biting you. They feel spooked by touch and therefore they become afraid of you and a bite results.
Besides that touching, a fish can also affect the natural slime coating by removing it and if this happens, the fish is vulnerable to disease.
Why is My Betta Fish Just Laying At The Bottom?
Laying at the bottom of the water signifies stress and chances are that the aquarium is too small for the fish.
Secondly, the water conditions may be poor which makes the fish uncomfortable.
How Can I Play With My Betta Fish?
As we have stated earlier, Betta Fishes do not love playing. Touches feel like attacks and they react violently.
However, with patience and a little persistence, you can teach them to follow your lead and all.
Going further, they can eat from your hand, swim through a hoop, play soccer, and even jump out of the water to come to be petted.
Conclusion
How long or the lifespan of a Betta fish lies in how comfortable, and how big the aquarium is. Dieting is also important for them to thrive and live well for as long as 10 years.
References
- https://www.thesprucepets.com/ How Long Do Betta Fish Live?
- https://pets.webmd.com/ How Long Do Betta Fish Live As Pets?
