Betta fish are some of the most colorful and vibrant freshwater aquarium fish around. Keep reading to learn about common betta diseases and how to handle them.
Also known as Siamese fighting fish, betta fish are a great choice for beginning aquarium hobbyists. Not only are these fish hardy and relatively easy to care for, but they are some of the most vibrantly colored freshwater fish out there. Like any species of aquarium fish, however, bettas require a certain degree of care and they are prone to certain diseases. Keep reading to learn what they are, how to treat them, and how to keep your betta from getting sick.
The Basics About Betta Fish Care
The Betta splendens is the most common species of betta kept in the home aquarium. These fish are known for their vibrant colors and, in males of the species, their beautiful fins. Bettas are selectively bred for many colors and patterns as well as different tail types. Though their fins can be very large, most betta only grow to about 2 ½ inches long in the body. With proper care, these fish can live about 3 years in captivity. Bettas are native to Asia so they require warm water in the 72°F to 82°F temperature range. They are also found in rice paddies and other areas of still water so they don’t require a lot of water movement, but they still need high water quality like any fish.
Although bettas are often sold in small bowls, they need adequate swimming space as much as any other species. Bettas should be kept in a tank no smaller...
Dealing with aquarium fish disease is a fact of life in the aquarium hobby. Take the time to learn about the shimmies, or livebearer disease, to protect your fish.
If you plan to cultivate a freshwater tank it is inevitable that you will be faced with freshwater aquarium disease at some point. You have probably already heard about some of the most common diseases like cotton mouth and Ich but there are many other conditions which could affect your fish if you are not careful. Livebearing species of fish like mollies and guppies are particularly susceptible to a condition called shimmies can or livebearer disease. This condition often contributes to the development of secondary infections which can be very serious for the health of your fish. In order to address this problem properly you must first learn the basics about this condition.
Understanding the Shimmies
The first thing you need to know is that the shimmies is not actually a disease but a condition in fish brought on by poor water conditions. This condition typically manifests in the form of affected fish exhibiting behavioral changes such as rocking from side to side. Fish suffering from shimmies may also have clamped fins and labored breathing in addition to twitching or vibrating their bodies. Because fish do not typically exhibit these behaviors for extended periods of time, identifying and diagnosing the shimmies is generally fairly easy. Once you know that your fish are suffering from this condition it is up to you to determine the cause and to remedy it.
Because the shimmies is not actually a disease but a symptom of stress, it is necessary to take a look at...
The best part of keeping a freshwater aquarium is watching your tank inhabitants thrive and grow. Read more to learn how to enhance and maintain healthy coloration in your fish.
One of the most enjoyable parts of owning an aquarium is watching your fish thrive and grow. If you care for your fish properly and maintain a healthy tank environment, you should have relatively few problems. In some cases, however, aquarium hobbyists find that their fish either fade in color over time or simply fail to achieve their maximum potential coloration. If you are experiencing this problem, take the time to learn what causes fish to fade in color and what you can do to prevent or repair it. You may also want to look into certain species of fish that are naturally colorful.
What Causes Color to Fade?
There are a variety of factors which may contribute to fading color in freshwater aquarium fish. Unfortunately, fading color is often a consequence of multiple factors so it can be tricky not only to identify the problem but to fix it as well. One of the most common causes of fading color in aquarium fish, however, is inadequate diet. Inexperienced aquarium hobbyists often assume that commercial flake foods or pellets will meet all of the nutritional needs of their aquarium fish. While these foods are formulated to provide fish with most of the nutrients they need, aquarium fish are not likely to reach their full potential for health, size and coloration when fed a diet of commercial foods alone. In order to improve fading color in aquarium fish it is important to offer a varied diet of live, frozen and freeze-dried...
If you want to select a high-quality commercial food for your aquarium fish you should understand how to interpret a fish food label.
FRESHWATER FISH DISEASES
Understanding freshwater fish diseases is the key to treating and preventing them. The articles in this category will help you deal with freshwater fish diseases and they will also teach you how to prevent them.
Cultivating a freshwater aquarium can be an enjoyable experience but there are also a number of safety concerns to be aware of when keeping a fish tank.
Cultivating a freshwater planted tank is hard work and the last thing you want is to have all of that hard work destroyed by adding the wrong fish to your tank.
Most of the gobies kept in the home aquarium are saltwater fish but there are still a few freshwater gobies that make excellent additions to the home tank.
Popular as prizes at carnivals and state fairs, goldfish are known for their orange-gold coloration, but they actually come in many colors and patterns.
You may be aware that there are over 30 species of betta fish in existence but did you know that these species can be divided by their breeding habits?
