A true betta enthusiast will never tolerate their betta fish being unhappy or unhealthy. A betta enthusiast’s happiness lies in the happiness of their fish. But the question is: how do you keep a betta fish happy? When there is health, happiness follows automatically. You might be searching for ways to keep a betta fish healthy and curious about how to extend its lifespan. All of these concerns are interconnected. If you can keep your betta healthy, it will surely be happy, and in turn, it will live longer.

Challenges in Keeping Bettas Healthy

Sourcing a betta fish is one of the most common factors in ensuring its health, yet many betta owners are unaware of this. If a betta comes from chain stores where it is inbred and has pre-existing health issues, you will not be successful in keeping it healthy, no matter how much extensive care you provide. Poor breeding practices have made bettas more susceptible to congenital conditions and diseases.

Ensure you check the age of the betta fish before purchasing it from pet stores, as they are sometimes already old, which can be mistaken for a shorter lifespan. Many novices fail to recognize the symptoms of diseases in their early stages, which become prevalent only when the disease has reached its final stage.

We have noticed that many pet owners are concerned about their betta’s health and condition. They are genuinely worried about their well-being. To help them overcome these concerns, we will cover the main aspects of betta care, focusing on keeping them healthy, happy, and alive.

1.      Choose the Right Tank Size

Tank size plays a crucial role in keeping betta fish happy and healthy. We have noticed that many novices make the mistake of keeping their fish in small bowls or jars. While bettas can survive in small spaces, they can’t thrive there. Free swimming and exploring are natural activities of an active betta fish, which can only be ensured in larger spaces.  A larger tank provides ample room for plants, decorations, betta toys, and more hiding spots.

We have discussed tank size in detail in our previous articles, which we strongly recommend reading. However, for your convenience, we are summarizing the key aspects below:

Ideal Tank Size: The ideal tank size for a single betta is a 5-gallon (or larger). Never keep bettas in smaller tanks (2.5-3.5 gallons), as such tanks require more frequent maintenance and make it harder to stabilize water conditions.

Shape of the Tank: A long tank is better than a tall one, as it gives your betta more swimming space.

2.      Maintain Water Quality

For aquarium creatures, water is like their atmosphere. If the water is unclear, dirty, and does not meet quality standards, it can significantly impact a betta’s health and happiness. Poor water quality can cause stress, illness, and fin rot.

To maintain water quality, you must do regular water changes. The larger the tank, the less frequent the water changes need to be. Our approach is to change 20% of the water weekly, while in smaller tanks, we change the same percentage every 3–4 days. This helps prevent ammonia buildup. If water changes are delayed, ammonia levels can rise, causing chemical burns or even death.

Use a gravel vacuum to remove waste and leftover food. Bettas love calm waters, so opt for gentle filtration to prevent harsh currents. Always use a water conditioner to remove chlorine and harmful chemicals.

3.      Tank Cycling and the Nitrogen Cycle

Tank cycling is important when adding fish to a new tank. It establishes beneficial bacteria that help convert harmful ammonia into less toxic nitrates. Cycling should be done 1-2 months before adding fish, as bacteria take time to establish and convert ammonia and nitrites into less harmful nitrates.

Monitor the levels of ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates on a regular basis while cycling the tank. For that, use an API Freshwater Liquid Test Kit. If the tank is new, perform fish-in cycling by testing water parameters daily and making partial water changes when needed.

4.      Maintain Warm Temperatures

Temperature plays a crucial role in betta’s health and longevity. Bettas are tropical fish; in the wild, they thrive at temperatures between 78-80°F (25-27°C). Maintain the same temperature in their aquariums. Bettas can tolerate temperatures up to 82-83°F; however, prolonged exposure to higher temperatures speeds up their metabolism and shortens their lifespan.

Use a heater to keep the temperature within the ideal range, and ensure you have a thermometer to monitor conditions and prevent sudden temperature changes.

5.      Recognize Signs of Stress and Illness

To keep your betta fish happy, you must take proactive measures to prevent diseases. For that, you should closely observe your fish’s behavior and actions for any signs of illness. Bettas showing such signs will not remain happy, healthy, or survive for long.

• A betta with clamped fins indicates illness or poor water conditions.
• If the edges of the fins appear ragged, it could be a sign of fin rot.
• A lethargic betta remains inactive and refuses to eat.
• If your betta swims frantically, it may be stressed or adjusting to a new environment.
• External disturbances can make bettas irritated and affect their health. Avoid loud noises and sudden movements around the tank.

6.      Provide Proper Nutrition

A healthy and happy betta fish starts with a balanced and nutritious diet. A well-balanced diet ensures proper betta growth, boosts immunity, prevents digestive issues, enhances activity levels, and encourages natural behavior. The options for a good diet that bettas prefer are:

• Being carnivores, provide high-quality betta pellets enriched with protein. Look for protein-rich food with fish or shrimp as the first ingredient.
• Freeze-dried or frozen foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia can be given as treats 2-3 times a week.
• Avoid fillers like wheat and soy.
• Feed your betta 4-5 pellets once or twice a day to avoid overfeeding. Skipping one feeding day per week can help prevent bloating and obesity.

A healthy and happy betta will have a strong appetite and eat eagerly when food is offered.

7.      Enrich Their Environment

Enriching the environment is one effective way to keep betta fish happy, reduce stress, and encourage natural behavior. There are many ways to enrich the environment for betta fish.

• Since bettas in the wild survive in dense vegetation, which creates a dark environment, they can get overstimulated when exposed to long-term lighting. Hence, use dim or natural lighting to make them feel comfortable.
• In natural habitats, bettas rest over the leaves of plants. To mimic this behavior, keep floating logs in their tanks so that they can rest near the surface.
• Also, enrich the tank with live plants like Anubias and Java Ferns. If using artificial plants, opt for silk plants rather than plastic ones to avoid fin damage.
• Ensure hiding spots such as caves and other decorations to keep bettas engaged.
• Rearrange the tank items occasionally to prevent boredom.
• Adding tannins (such as from Indian almond leaves) can make bettas feel more comfortable and help prevent diseases.
• Natural decorations such as Mopani wood or smooth rocks can make the tank more engaging.

8.      Choose the Right Tank Mates

While bettas can live alone in the tank, they still need tank mates. But remember, a male betta doesn’t accept another male or similar-looking fish. Bettas are territorial, and keeping the two male bettas together can lead to a fight between them. However, if your fish is a victim of boredom and is not active enough, it’s not a bad idea to add another peaceful species to their tank.

Bettas peacefully coexist with neon tetras, amano shrimps, and mystery snails. Avoid fish having long, flowing fins like bettas because they may be mistaken as rivals.

9.      Interact with Your Betta

The way you interact with a tiny baby, even though it can’t speak or respond to you in your language, is similar to how you should interact with a betta. Bettas recognize their owners, so maintain regular interaction with them. It’s one of the best ways to keep them happy and entertained.

When a betta is alone in the tank, it does not have a way to exhibit its natural behavior of flaring. To encourage this, hold a mirror in front of them for 15 minutes a day. Another way to interact with your betta is by making it follow your finger or a colored chopstick. It will chase the finger or stick or even perform small jumps.

10 Signs of Happy Betta Fish

1. Active behavior
2. Recognizing feeding time
3. Vibrant colors and flaring fins
4. Occasional bubble nest building
5. Playful and curious nature
6. Quick and energetic movements
7. Healthy appetite
8. No signs of any disease
9. Clear eyes
10. Active swimming

Common Unhealthy Behaviors to Watch For

1. Clamped fins or laying on the tank bottom
2. Lethargy and lack of interest in food
3. Frequent flaring without reason
4. Erratic swimming or drifting backward
5. Fin damage or stress stripes

Common Causes of Betta Deaths

If you fail to ensure the measures mentioned above to keep betta fish happy and healthy, they will be at risk of death. Some causes of betta deaths are preventable, while others are genetic and cannot be treated. Below are the primary causes of betta deaths:

Genetic Issues: Bettas purchased from pet stores are often born as a result of inbreeding and poor breeding practices, which can lead to organ failure, tumors, or other health problems.

Water Quality: Poor water quality is one of the primary causes of betta death. Ammonia spikes, uncycled tanks, or improper water changes can cause stress, fin rot, or chemical burns.

Heater Malfunctions: A faulty heater personally affected my cousin’s betta fish. It overheated the water and leached harmful substances like copper, ultimately leading to the betta’s death.

Dietary Problems: Another common factor is inadequate diet, such as overfeeding, low-quality food, or undigested starches. These can cause bloating or blockages.

Stress: Strong water flow, sharp decorations, or inadequate hiding spots can stress bettas, leading to illness.