Where does the Betta Fish species come from?
Betta fishes originates and comes from parts of Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia in the river basins of the Mekong and Chao Phraya rivers. Betta fish habitats in the wild is generally rice paddies and drainage ditches, river basins, and small streams. Raining varies, with little rain happening in the dry season to daily torrential rain in the monsoon season. When being the perfect pet, the betta fish will be best in an exceeding heat area or a tank with a tiny low heater to control the temperature, keeping the water about 73 to 80 degrees. They do not thrive in very cold water.
Tank Size
‘Shallow stream’ does not mean ‘bettas can live in a jar’. A shallow stream in the wild, which poses as a betta fish habitat, still allows the fish plenty of space to swim in! Give your betta as much as possible personal space. A 2-gallon tank is a good size for one male betta (but, the bigger the better). Never keep your fish in a small vase or a bowl. See our article about how to set up a planted betta sorority tank.
Water Temperature for Betta Fishes
For a Betta Fish’s natural habitat, they live in the tropical waters of Thailand (formally Siam). This particular region doesn’t get horribly cold, with the lowest temperature being about 50 degrees Fahrenheit in winter. However, most of the times in the year, it is quite warm, with temperatures reaching as high as 104 degrees. As a recommendation, it’s suitable to keep them in the high 70s deg F (74 – 80F). Never keep your betta fish in cold water. Do not use a heater on a tank <1 gallon. Heaters on small tanks will heat too quickly which may harm your fish.
Water Level for Betta Fishes
Betta is a labyrinth fish – they use a special organ to breathe air from the water’s surface. Try to leave some space at the top of your tank for the fish to come to the surface for air. They need this time to time. If you fill the water to the top, make sure there is a lid since Betta fish can be good jumpers!
Filter
In a betta fish’s natural habitat, wild betta fish are from still waters. Use a gentle filter. Check filter types here. This will keep the water conditions longer and the tank cleaner, resulting in fewer and smaller water changes. We still encourage frequent water changes.
If you keep your betta in a tank without a filter, you have to make frequent and large water changes. Dirty water is the cause of stress, which results in many diseases.
