Betta Fish
Betta splendens
Family: Osphronemidae
Bettas are the gateway drug to fishkeeping—gorgeous, full of personality, and they actually recognize you. Every Betta I've owned would flare and follow my finger. They're not "easy" fish though—the myth that they can live in a bowl has killed millions.
Water Parameters
Temperature
pH Level
Hardness (dGH)
Care Tips
NEVER put two males together. NEVER. Also skip the tiny bowls—5 gallons minimum with a heater and gentle filter. My Bettas live in heavily planted Walstad tanks where they lounge on leaves near the surface.
Feeding
Carnivores that need protein. Betta pellets daily, bloodworms 2-3x weekly as treats. They're prone to constipation—skip feeding one day per week. Mine loves to spit out pellets and re-catch them like a game.
Breeding
Males build bubble nests and do all the parenting. Beautiful to watch but be ready for 200+ fry. I bred once and spent months rehoming babies. Not recommended unless you have a plan.
📚 Sources: Care parameters based on SeriouslyFish, FishBase, and Aquarium Co-Op. Personal observations from the author's 5+ years of fishkeeping experience.