![]() Diseases from this can harm your betta and often lead to death from poor water quality. Smaller tanks will also require more frequent cleanings because of their size, it’s simple math! A 1 gallon would require daily water changes while maintaining a constant temperature which is extremely hard to do and leads to constant stress.Īmmonia builds up as your betta excretes waste into the water and as uneaten food and live plants break down. You can also use trusted quality spring water or a filtration unit like a Brita for tank fill ups and water cycling. Use tap water and make sure to use a (dechlorinator) water conditioner to make the water safe for a betta. Do not use distilled water because it has been stripped of the essential nutrients and minerals that betta fish need to be healthy. Make sure your tank has a top on it too because betta fish are jumpers and often leap right out of a bowl leading to their death.Īnother leading cause to reduced lifespans is poor water quality. They also need lots of spaces to hide and rest, while feeling safe. The recommended habitat size for a betta fish is 5 gallons, with a minimum recommended tank size of 2.5 gallons. Avoid overfeeding them, because it can lead to complications too. In captivity, you need to replicate their environment as much as possible, and that means nutrition too. In the wild, betta fish have abundant access to prey and are active carnivores (insectivores to be exact). While betta pellets are a great start, you should also be incorporating freeze-dried, frozen, or live bloodworms and brine shrimp to really get all of the nutrients they need. Most betta fish won’t even touch regular tropical fish flakes because this food is inadequate to their needs. Provide rich and abundant food that’s high in protein and fiber. Allow easy access to the water’s surface for air.Heater to maintain 76-81 degrees Fahrenheit water temperature.Filtration to oxygenate and remove ammonia and bad bacteria.Consistent water changes, cycling, and cleanings.Tap water with water conditioner to remove harmful chlorine.Tank cover to prevent leaping out to their death.Habitat size of 5 gallons (2.5 gallons minimum).High-quality food, that’s high in protein and fiber.Getting back to the most important elements in a betta’s life expectancy, there are certain things you can do to help your betta fish live longer. 1 gallon) this is not the correct habitat for them. Also, just because pet stores sell small tanks and bowls (e.g. This is a temporary habitat since cohabitation is tricky with females and other fish, and not possible with males. Pet stores display betta fish in plastic cups because of their aggression and territorial nature. Stick to eating cereal out of bowls, not housing any fish in them! This is especially true if they are under 2 gallons in size. Betta Fish Life Span in BowlsĪ betta fish’s lifespan will almost always be significantly reduced if you house them in unfiltered and unheated bowls. This often leads to betta keeping before doing the proper research on how to care for them. Bettas tend to be a first-time fish keepers choice (or gift) because of their resilience and beauty. Several owners have even reported lifespans of 9 and 10 years, but that’s not realistic for every betta.īecause there are so many myths about the proper care for this species in captivity, their life spans are drastically reduced and almost always cut in half. With the right genetics, environment, and care from the onset of a betta’s life, they can live up to 6 or 7 years or more. Betta fish live in captivity, on average, 3 years.Betta fish live in the wild, on average, 2 years. ![]() How Long Do Betta Fish Live: Wild vs Captivity Healthy betta fish will have bright coloring (males), no scale or fin damage, and be active and feisty upon your presence. Buying a young betta is important if you want to have them throughout most or all of their life too. Getting a healthy betta from the start is a key factor in how long they will live. This means they may have been subjected to cramped environments, diseases, and parasites which can shorten their lifespan. It’s always unclear how they have been cared for when coming from suppliers, and unknown breeders. These stores will sell male bettas when they are approximately one year old, and female bettas when they are roughly six months old. If possible, purchase a betta from a local or online breeder like Aquabid instead of a pet or big box store. The two most important elements are how old a betta is when you get him or her, and how they are cared for in captivity. How long a betta fish will live depends on a variety of factors though. The average betta fish lifespan for male and females is 2-4 years in captivity.
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