Keeping your betta fish active and fit is extremely important. Not only is it beneficial for their general health, but also can help to alleviate boredom and stress, which can lead to illness in the long run. Keeping your betta fish active and fit also helps to keep them from getting fat. Keeping a betta fish active and fit doesn’t have to be difficult. There is a lot of betta fish care you can do as an aquarist that will directly benefit your betta fish. They may not seem like much but even small changes here and there go a long way in keeping your fish happy, healthy, and most importantly, fit.
Add More Sticks and Plants in the Tank
Betta fish need a lot of plants and wood piles to make nests but you might be thinking “but aren’t plants bad for bettas”? This myth is just a myth, and it’s the opposite. Betta fish love plants and they’re very good for them. Betta fish have an instinct to build nests to have their young in there. Placing plants in your betta tank allows them to do this. The plants also act as a natural filter which will improve the quality of the water. It’s a win-win situation that goes hand in hand with keeping your betta fish fit.
Don’t Overfeed Your Betta Fish
This might seem like a strange tip to keep your betta fish fit, but it’s one of the most important. Overfeeding your betta fish will lead to them gaining excess weight. This can cause a whole host of problems for your betta fish. Betta fish are prone to developing swim bladder disease due to being overweight. Swim bladder disease is a condition where the fish’s swim bladder is enlarged.
This will make your betta fish very sluggish and is usually fatal if not treated immediately. By not overfeeding your betta fish you are making sure they do not get sick, and also aren’t too stuffed to do anything. An overweight betta fish will not be able to keep up with the other fish in the tank, and they definitely won’t be able to breed.
Have a Dedicated Breeding Tank
If you are planning to breed your betta fish, you need to have a dedicated breeding tank. Trying to breed in the same tank as your active and fit betta fish can cause a lot of stress. Betta fish are very territorial and breeding will only cause more aggression between the pair. Breeding in a separate tank will not only protect the other fish in the tank but also the breeding betta fish.
This is particularly important if you are breeding in an aquarium that is smaller than 5 gallons. A lot of people think that breeding betta fish is a great way to make a profit. Trust us, it’s not. Breeding betta fish is extremely difficult and you will likely not see any profit from it. If you want to breed your betta fish, dedicate a tank to it and make sure you know what you are doing.
Provide a Few hiding spots for your Betta Fish
Betta fish are extremely shy creatures. They love to hole up in the plants or even behind an air stone if given the chance. Providing your betta fish with a few hiding spots will go a long way in keeping them fit and active. Betta fish are also social creatures, so having a few hiding spots available can give them a buddy while they’re hiding. Betta fish love to be in the thick of things. They love to swim with other fish and have a good time. They are not fish that like to hide in the corner. However, providing them with a few places to hide if they want to will allow them to do so if they want to. It’s a win-win situation.
Change Up the Water Often
This might seem like a silly way to keep your betta fish fit. However, it’s very important. Betta fish are very sensitive fish. They can be affected by chemicals in the water and it can lead to a host of diseases and disorders. Betta fish are particularly sensitive to the pH balance in their water. A pH imbalance in the tank can lead to gill disorders which can be fatal to your fish. To prevent this, you should change up the water often. Changing the water once a week will help keep the water from becoming too toxic and harmful. It’s one of the easiest ways to keep your betta fish fit.
