Aquarium 101: What To Know Before You Buy

Aquariums are so awesome to look at (especially when they're in the form of R2D2). You can buy almost any shape you can think of and fill it up with brilliant looking fish.

Then many people will notice their fish are sickly and a few have died. The water is cloudy and there's a build-up of some weird brownish-green stuff. So they give up and the once loved aquarium sits in the basement until it is finally sold in a garage sale or on craigslist.

I started out with a 5 gallon and 5 guppies back in 2005 and guess what? You guessed it, they all died. I wasn't about to give up. I studied for hours on what could have possibly gone wrong. I then got my water tested at PetSmart and there it was. Ammonia poisoning. All I did wrong was skip a water conditioning treatment. So 2 dollars could have prevented the death of 12 bucks worth of fish. What a simple and easily preventable problem.

Don't let this be you! Instead read some basic information on what you need to have a successful aquarium. Here is a great article that gives you the basic run down on having an aquarium: Aquariums for Beginners

Choose the Best Aquarium

Most betta owners have only dealt with a simple fish bowl. However, some of us would like to move on to a full functioning aquarium. Whether due to the desire of owning more fish or simply giving your betta a new home your new goal might leave you frustrated and confused in the process.

Initially when you head into a pet store looking for a fish tank you will be dumbfounded with how many options are available to you. Not only that but fish supplies can be quite costly. So what do you you do? You could purchase a cheap all-in-one starter kit only to have something break. Or you could go for the funky planet-shaped aquarium only to find out later that the maintainence is a total pain in the butt.

There are many factors to look at when making your decision. Once you've made up your mind and established you tank, you can't really change your mind without spending a lot more money. So funky or functionality?

For the 4 main aspects to consider when purchasing an aquarium, click here: Betta Fish Aquarium

Betta Fish Dropsy

Dropsy is a feared illness for all fish owners. That is because it is not in fact a disease itself. It is a side effect to many other diseases. This makes diagnosing quite a pain.

You will know if your betta is dealing with dropsy because his/her scales will stand up which gives your fish the appearance of a pinecone. This is why you will sometimes hear dropsy referred to as "pineconing".

So is there a way to save your fighting fish or does this mean the end? Click here to get the full information: Betta Dropsy

Betta Fish Cotton Wool Disease

Cotton wool disease, or Columnaris as the experts would say, is not the type of infection you would think it is. From first seeing it you might think it is a fungal infection due to the fact that it resembles mold. However, it is actually a bacterial infection that can affect both external and internal areas of the fish.

So what cause this disease and how can you fix it?? Click here for the full scoop on cotton wool disease: Betta Columnaris

Betta Fish Gold Dust Disease

Gold Dust sounds glamorous but the disease is definitely not! Also known as Velvet disease the technical term is Oodinium pilularis.

This illness which can affect all fish in your tank is actually a parasite. This type of parasite is related to algae and is very contagious. It can cause a deteriorating death. You will notice your betta getting skinnier as he/she will refuse to eat.

Treating this disease has very specific steps. So to get the full insider knowledge click here: Betta Fish Velvet

Betta Fish and Swim Bladder Disorder

The swim bladder is an organ that acts like a helium balloon. It inflates and deflates with gas to help fish float and sink in the water. This organ is especially crucial to betta fish because they need to be able to easily get to the surface for air. Without regular oxygen bettas will suffocate.

So what is Swim Bladder Disorder?

Swim Bladder Disorder is when there is a blockage or pressure on the swim bladder making it not function properly. This could cause your fish to swim crooked, float at the top of the water, or even stay sunken at the bottom of the tank.

Luckily this disorder can be treated. Find out how to treat a betta with swim bladder disorder here: Betta Fish Swim Bladder

Tuberculosis in Bettas?

Tuberculosis is an infection of the lungs. So it actually makes sense that betta fish can become infected. This is because they have an organ called the "labyrinth" that acts as a lung and allows them to breathe surface air. Treatment for this disease is very tough, but you need to take immediate action. Tuberculosis is communicable which means you could catch it from your betta.

Protect you and your betta with this knowledge: Betta Fish Tuberculosis

 

Betta Fish Disease: Red Streaks

I'm sure you've seen a betta fish for sale that has red streaks. It's as if you can simply see his/her veins. Well the problem is that you are not suppose to see these veins! Red streaks or visual veins is a sign of a bacterial infection in the blood stream. Septicemia, or Sepsis, will cause red streaking that can occur on the body or through out the fins.

Septicemia is a slow painful death and should not be taken lightly. It is very curable and it is very important that you know how to treat your betta. Preventional steps are quite simple and are very valuable to know. To learn how to treat this type of infection and for good prevention tips, click here: Betta Fish Septicemia

Betta Fish and Ick

Ich(pronounced "ick") is a disease dreaded by fishkeepers everywhere. Ich is a nasty parasite that resembles salt granules or tiny little cysts. It is also a contagious infection so it would be wise to isolate your beta or any other fish that is displaying the symptoms of ich. You'll still need to treat the rest of the tank just to be safe.

If you are at a pet store you may notice that some of the fish there could possibly already be carrying this disease. Be careful with what fish you purchase. I always make sure to watch my aquariums very closely after adding any new tank mates.

If left untreated this deadly disease will take the life of every fish in your tank so it is crucial to start treatment at the first sign of ick.

So how do you treat a betta fish with ick and how can this disease be prevented? Click here to get the full scoop: Betta Fish Ich

Betta Fish Constipation

It is quite interesting to learn that betta fish can become constipated just like us! This is caused by overfeeding and low nutritional diet. Constipation is very common in bettas because they will eat as much as they can if given the opportunity. Though this ailment is common it is important to make sure your betta recovers properly. Untreated constipation can lead to a serious condition called "swim bladder disorder". Swim bladder disorder will disrupt normal swimming behavior and could become fatal if your beta fish is not treated.

So how can all of this be prevented? Read the whole story here: Betta Constipation

How to Clean a Betta Tank

When you own a fish water changes are very important. Algae and waste builds up over time which increases the ammonia and bacterial levels. This creates an unsafe environment in your tank so you'll need to remove the waste and algae build-up.

So you have an aquarium which is definitely not as easy to clean as a bowl. First of all it's too heavy to lift and there's too much surface to clean. Plus only 25% of the water should be taken out so the gravel can't simply be rinsed. This can seem pretty overwhelming if you have not performed a water change before. There is an organized step-by-step routine that you can follow to make this process go smoothly. In time you'll get in the habit of performing water changes efficiently.

For the 5 step guide, click here: Aquarium Water Change

Betta in a Bowl

So you bought a beta fish. Now what? There are certain items you will need in order to give your new fighting fish an adequate home. A betta can successfully live in a fish bowl but you need to be organized to accomplish healthy and stable living conditions suitable for your new friend.
So what do you need besides a fish and a bowl? Click here to find out: Betta Bowl Supply List

Fin Problems & Betta Fish

What is the easiest way to spot a sick or stressed betta?

It's all in the fins! The fins can be the first true sign of stress and illness. This is why it is crucial to always note changes in your betta fish. Tears, deterioration, and color loss are amongst the highest occuring issues with betta fish. Which is not a surprise since they possess such long flowing fins.

So how do you keep your betta's fins looking healthy and beautiful?

To stay informed on treatment and great prevention tips, click here: Betta Fin Problems

Feeding Betta Fish

Many of us are feeding our bettas in a way that is actually causing stress and illness! I myself was always uninformed on how much and how often to feed my beta fish.

I was surprised to learn that bettas can be fed more options than just the the little pellets that are often recommended by pet shop clerks. There are foods including frozen worms, freeze-dried shrimp and even some LIVE foods!

I also learned some cool tips. Did you know that skipping a day of feeding once a week is actually really good for your betas digestion?

To learn the details and more cool tips, click here: Feeding Betta Fish

Bettas and Aquariums

So you want to give your betta a little more room? That's great! Starting an aquarium is definitely a smart move to keeping a happy and healthy betta. This also gives you the freedom of adding tank mates later on if you choose to do so.

However, owning a full running fish tank takes quite a bit of supplies. There is nothing worse than coming home only to realize you've forgotten something crucial. That is why I did some research of my own and was able to put together a full supply list based on the needs of my fish.

To read my full list with a description on why you need each item, click here: Betta Fish Aquarium Supplies

Betta Fish with Other Fish

So bettas are famous for coming in a cup. They live in bowls by their lonesome. But do they truly prefer solitude? Is it possible to keep a betta fish with other fish even though they cannot be kept with other bettas?

The answer is yes! In fact some bettas do better in an aquarium with other fish! Fighting fish, as they are so commonly referred to, are quite varied in personality. I have owned bettas that refue to get along with other fish but I have had bettas that LOVE being around others!

So what are your best options? For a guide on betta fish tank mates, click here: Betta Fish Compatibility

Betta Fish Fins

Betta fish display many beautiful colors and fin displays. There are a variety of tail and fin styles thanks to breeders all over the world. The one pictured above i one of the newer developed breeds of fighting fish named the "Dragon Scale Betta". The dragon scale betta has layered colors with the base being a dull color and the top being a bold metallic scaling. The tail fin is short much like bettas of the wild, but the anal fin is long and broad. This is an absolutely unique style.

To see all known varieties of betta fish, click here: Betta Fish Finnage

A Look at Betta Fish

Betta fish are those little guys sold in cups. Their colors are vibrant and their fins are very elaborate. How much do we really know about them though? I find myself curious as to why they are able to survive in little cups when other fish cannot. So I started to do research and have found they not only use gills but also breathe regular air!

This leads to another problem though. Living in a cup is not a very exciting life. Bettas get bored too and can acquire degenerative diseases from a lack of excercise. Who knew fighting fish could be so interesting?

 

To get all of the facts, click here: Betta Fish