Saturday, February 28, 2009

Corycats as companions for your Siamese fighting fish

Welcome to the world of the Siamese Fighting Fish. Free tips about keeping Siamese fighting fish. Lots of Siamese fighting fish news and much much more on Siamese fighting fish, your Home and family pet’s home.

If you really want companions for your Siamese fighting fish, I think the Cory Catfish seem to be your best bet. There are numerous types of Corydoras. You can get the Peppered Corydoras which are hardy and can grow to 4 inches. The Leopard Catfish, which is also hardy, and good for beginners.

Two other Cory catfish to consider are the Pygmy Cory and the Panda Cory. Although the Panda Cory is more sensitive to water conditions, they are a peaceful schooling fish that should be kept in groups of six or more. They are small in size so can be intimidated by your Siamese fighting fish.

Click here for more companions for the bettafish

Friday, February 27, 2009

The Best Bettafish Companions

Welcome to the world of the Siamese Fighting Fish. Free tips about keeping Siamese fighting fish. Lots of Siamese fighting fish news and much much more on Siamese fighting fish, your Home and family pet’s home.

A few other tank mates for your Siamese fighting fish could be Platies or Moons, Rasbora’s, Otocinclus, or the White cloud Mountain Minnow which originates in Southern China. Most of these would need to be in groups of 3 or 4 or more. Others could be Loaches or Shrimp.

The African Dwarf Frog is one of the species that some people keep successfully with their Siamese fighting fish. In later posts I will go into more details on this one.

Visit our other Siamese Fighting Fish Companions...the Bronze Catfish is one of them.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Companions for your Siamese fighting fish

Welcome to the world of the Siamese Fighting Fish. Free tips about keeping Siamese fighting fish. Lots of Siamese fighting fish news and much much more on Siamese fighting fish, your Home and family pet’s home.

One of the things I have heard from a lot of people who have Siamese fighting fish also called Bettafish, is their desire to introduce a bettafish companion for their fish. I have researched this very topic and over the next few posts I will give you some of recommended types of fish that would be compatible with your Siamese fighting fish.

As you know, it’s difficult to just place any type of fish with a Siamese fighting fish. Remember, in the wild they are loners, and only come together with a female to mate and raise babies and then are on their own again.

OK, so the first one is the Cherry barb or Puntius Titteya and they originated in Sri Lanka. They can grow to 2 ins (4-5cm) and live on average 4 years. They prefer densely planted tanks with some clear swimming space. You will need a group of 6 or more.

The other barb is the Gold barb which was originally found in S.E. Asia. All of them now come from fish farms. They are very easy to keep. You do not need a heater, but they must have clean water. Usually the number to buy is 3 or more. A beautiful gold color, it is very hardy and active. They may tend to nip at your plants, so be careful if your tank is sparsely populated with plants. They may also nip at the fins of your Siamese fighting fish!!!

Read on about giving your bettafish a companion or more...

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Bettafish Aquarium book review

Welcome to the world of the BettaFish. Free tips about keeping Siamese fighting fish. Lots of Siamese fighting fish news and much much more on Siamese fighting fish, your Home and family pet’s home.

Hi everybody from us and ‘Samurai’ our Siamese fighting fish. In this post I review a funny named e-book. This e-book is for beginners and those who want to make their hobby a pleasurable pursuit. It is for people who want to create a living masterpiece, a window to an outlandish and wonderful world. It explains step by step how to set up your aquarium.

The wording is simple and easy to understand. There are no heavy scientific words. The main object of your setting up a fish tank is to have fun and to enjoy it. Your Siamese fighting fish will give you hours of enjoyment if you have the right aquarium set up.

The book is packed with great tips and fantastic information. You also get a free 10 minute Aquarium Care ‘VIDEO’ lesson.

Have a look at “more information”. I am sure you will find it very enjoyable.

Final Say on Siamese Plants

Welcome to the world of the Siamese Fighting Fish. Free tips about keeping Siamese fighting fish. Lots of Siamese fighting fish news and much much more on Siamese fighting fish, your Home and family pet’s home.

I hope I have not gone on too much about live plants in the last couple of posts? It has taken quite a lot of research to try and find out which of the live plants would suit beginners and others. The plants that I have suggested should be alright to use for your Siamese fighting fish tank. You do not have to use all of them, but you can choose one or more for your tank. Try the easiest first and then add one or two others.

Monday, February 23, 2009

More Favorite Plants for Siamese Fighters

Welcome to the world of the Siamese Fighting Fish. Free tips about keeping Siamese fighting fish. Lots of Siamese fighting fish news and much much more on Siamese fighting fish, your Home and family pet’s home.

Most of the favorite live plants that you would decorate your Siamese fighting fish tank with should be placed before you buy your fish. As I have said, plan and have everything ready. Have your tank, the water and plants settled a few days before you go out to buy your Siamese fighting fish.

Hygrophila Polysperma is another easy to grow favorite bettafish plant, but needs bright light. The dwarf hygrophila is really popular. It is fast growing with good light. Plant it at the back of your tank.

Hygrophila Difformis or water wisteria is another attractive plant. It can be used as a back, middle or foreground plant. It grows better in medium to higher lighting, but can be grown in somewhat low lighting also. It does attract algae, so may be not for a new tank.

Get some more Bettafish plants your pet will love.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Live Plants Bettafish love

Welcome to the world of the Siamese Fighting Fish. Free tips about keeping Siamese fighting fish. Lots of Siamese fighting fish news and much much more on Siamese fighting fish, your Home and family pet’s home.

So, I have done a lot of talking about live plants for your Siamese fighting fish tank. I feel that it is best to have live plants in your tank. The Bettafish will love you for it too! Some people may only put in plastic plants, which I do not recommend. I would rather have silk plants which will not damage your Siamese fighting fish. Live plants are much better for Bettafish. They will bring so much more life into your tank, as well as get rid of many unwanted material. All the better for your bettafish.

Other plants that you could consider would be Hornwort, Elodea, and Cryptocorynes. The latter includes the popular species from Sri Lanka= C.Wendtii, C. Walkeri and from Thailand the C. Cordata “Blassii”. Usually these bettafish plants prefer low light.

Bettafish love these Live Plants...

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Enhance Your Bettafish Tank with these plants

Welcome to the world of the Siamese Fighting Fish. Free tips about keeping Siamese fighting fish. Lots of Siamese fighting fish news and much much more on Siamese fighting fish, your Home and family pet’s home.

Water Sprite—Ceratopteris Cornuta has bright yellowish green leaves that can be quite decorative. It can grow as a floating plant on the water surface or rooted in gravel. If you grow it as a floating plant it will provide surface cover and make your Siamese fighting fish feel more secure and less “jumpy”. You may find that your Siamese fighting fish may also use the water sprite as a platform to bask himself in the warmth of your aquarium light if you have one, much the same as sunbathing for us. A wonderful plant when you start breeding your Siamese fighting fish, the babies will have protective cover and the adults a platform for a bubble nest!

More on enhancing your bettafish's tank with live plants...

Friday, February 20, 2009

Plants that Bettafish Love

Welcome to the world of the Siamese Fighting Fish. Free tips about keeping Siamese fighting fish. Lots of Siamese fighting fish news and much much more on Siamese fighting fish, your Home and family pet’s home.

More information on live plants for your Siamese fighting fish tank. I think one of the best live plants is the Java fern or microsorium pteropus. It is easy to grow and most need low to medium light. It is a beautiful plant and does well in poorly lit tanks.

You can plant them singly or in groups if your tank has enough room. Attach them to a rock or a piece of driftwood with a thin wire, rubber band or fishing line until new anchor roots have formed. Do not plant them directly into the substrate. You will find a number of varieties. You get the Red java fern, the lace java fern, also the Philippine java fern which is very easy to grow. All in all the Java fern is a wonderful plant to enhance your Siamese fighting fish tank.

Great for beginners and others. More on plants bettafish love...

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Bettafish Plants Pet Shops sell

Welcome to the world of the Siamese Fighting Fish. Free tips about keeping Siamese fighting fish. Lots of Siamese fighting fish news and much much more on Siamese fighting fish, your Home and family pet’s home.

I have heard that some pet stores sell what they call “ BettaFish Bulbs” for your Siamese fighting fish. They are actually Rhizomes or Aponogeton. They grow well in low light and are attractive. With these plants or bulbs, they do well in soft water, so you will have to check your water. Go to Google search and look for “Betta bulbs” for more information.

Get more plants bettafish like...

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

More on Bettafish breeding

Welcome to the world of the Siamese Fighting Fish. Free tips about keeping Siamese fighting fish. Lots of Siamese fighting fish news and much much more on Siamese fighting fish, your Home and family pet’s home.

Some suggested live plants to put in your tank to compliment your Siamese fighting fish, could be a piece of Java moss. This is an easy way to reduce nitrites and ammonia in the water. It does grow thick so you will have to trim it every now and again. Keep a careful watch.

You need no gravel or substrate to grow Java moss. It will attach itself to bits of gravel which keep it from drifting throughout your tank. It is native to South East Asia. Wonderful for breeding your Siamese fighting fish babies! You can leave it to float and it also grows in low light!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Acrylic fish tank information

Welcome to the world of the Siamese Fighting Fish. Free tips about keeping Siamese fighting fish. Lots of Siamese fighting fish news and much much more on Siamese fighting fish, your Home and family pet’s home.

I have found something different for your Siamese Fighting Fish! If you want to spend some extra money, or if you have extra money to spend, then this may be for you. It is an acrylic fish tank! They do cost more, but they have many benefits over glass tanks, you may want one for your Siamese Fighting Fish.

First of all, they way less than glass. They are also stronger and more durable. Their appearance is also better. They are reliable and have a life time warranty. Have a look at the following link to read all about these tanks, “fishtanksdirect.com”. Some very interesting information.

Monday, February 16, 2009

New family members/ the Stiles family blog

Welcome to the world of the Siamese Fighting Fish. Free tips about keeping Siamese fighting fish. Lots of Siamese fighting fish news and much much more on Siamese fighting fish, your Home and family pet’s home.

I thought you guys might enjoy this post.

New Family Members
We have two new members of the family! Those who know me, know that I am a great lover of animals. Recently, my beautiful betta fish, Rajion, passed away. Two moves in barely over one year's time was just too much for him; Although I mourn his loss, I was anxious to get a new betta, as they bring me so much simple joy. So off the the pet store I went! I had in mind a nice golden or yellow male betta, and I found two very nice specimens. Just as I was about to make my final decision, I happened to glance over at the section of female bettas. And that is when I saw her - perhaps the most beautiful little she-betta I have ever laid eyes on! Her scales literally sparkled!In keeping with the theme of dragon names (because Bettas are truly the dragons of the fish world), I named her Saphira, for her bright sapphire scales.




Not long after Saphira came into our lives, my SIL asked me if I wouldn't mind taking her Betta, Julio. She is expecting a new baby soon, and the tank upkeep was becoming a little too stressful for her. I was more than happy to take her little fish. Sadly, Julio has suffered from some sever fin and tail rot, and a loss of appetite. Fortunately, I have been treating him with medications, and he is doing much better. He may never again have the same splendid fins he once had, but my hope is that he is just happy and comfortable.We also gave him a new name, as we felt Julio was simply not a fitting name for any fish, LOL. Again, in keeping with the dragons, we named him Kokusho, or the Evening Star (those of you who play Magic: The Gathering may recognize this name). This seemed an appropriate name for an older fish past his prime.


And here is a pic of Kokusho when he was younger and healthier. Such a pretty fish!




Link:


http://stylingstiles.blogspot.com/2009/01/new-family-members.html

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Naming your Siamese fighting fish

Welcome to the world of the Siamese Fighting Fish. Free tips about keeping Siamese fighting fish. Lots of Siamese fighting fish news and much much more on Siamese fighting fish, your Home and family pet’s home.

How to name your Siamese Fighting Fish / Betta !
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When you acquire your first fish or even if it is your tenth, how do you name him or her?

What would be an appropriate name? Some people would just use a name that they chose before they bought their pet. Lots of others struggle to find a name that would suit their particular pet.

In this article I would like to recommend some names that you may want to use for your fish.

Seeing that the Siamese Fighting Fish has an origin in Thailand and other South East Asian Countries, I have taken some names from the countries which you may want to use for your pet fish. Our own ‘Samurai’ is a Japanese name, but seemed to us as appropriate for the type of fish that Siamese Fighting Fish are. I will give the names with an explanation of what it means and if you feel you would like to use it, it will be my pleasure.

MUAY THAI! (Thai Boxing) & SILAT! (A Malaysian form of martial art) supposedly originated in Sumatra, but has been changed and perfected on the Peninsula for hundreds of years, so, these are two other names that you could use.

KUNG FU FIGHTER! Although a Chinese Martial Art, could be another good one.

NINJA! A Japanese name would probably fit as well.

As you can see most of the names I have suggested are taken from ancient warriors or from various martial arts. All would fit in with your naming of your Siamese fighting fish. There are probably a lot of other people who would prefer giving their pet just an ordinary name such as MAX or LUKE. Nothing wrong with that, but have I some other suggestions also.

RAMBO! Also sounds good.

TERMINATOR! and GLADIATOR! Good movie names.

JAWS! Although not really appropriate seeing that your Siamese fighting fish is so small and has nothing like the jaws of the great white sharks. Nevertheless it could be quite a cool name.
Some girls names could be “ GUINEVERE” a fabled princess, the famous “ JOAN OF ARK” or “ SUPERGIRL”.
I think that if you can wait until you get your Siamese fighting fish and then watch him/her for a few days to see what sort of personality they have then give them a name that would match. This would give you some time to check them out, see what they do and how they respond to you. Give them a name that would suit them and also make you happy.

You will find that they are very beautiful fish and each one has their own personality. The different colors that you can get can also influence the name that you give them.

What I will do is ask anyone who has a Siamese fighting fish to send me some names of their pets and then I will make a list and put it up on the blog.

So, keep you eyes peeled for that list and don’t forget to send in the names you have chosen for your pet.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Breeding with your Siamese fighting fish

Welcome to the world of the Siamese Fighting Fish. Free tips about keeping Siamese fighting fish. Lots of Siamese fighting fish news and much much more on Siamese fighting fish, your Home and family pet’s home.

Breeding Siamese Fighting Fish / Betta!

Well they are difficult to breed and are not recommended for beginners. I would suggest that you first get your pet, learn how to take care of him and then when you feel that you are ready and want to take the chance of breeding, get as much help as possible. This is a very exciting time.

You will need two separate tanks, one for the male and one for the female. Another way is to have your male in his tank with a glass divider. This way you segregate the two. You can also put the female in a small jar and position it next to the breeding tank.

When he becomes aware of the female’s presence, he will swim up to the glass and flare his fins, and extend his gill covers. The female will become agitated eventually and she will try to find a way into the male’s tank. The courtship lasts anything from one to twenty four hours.

To condition your Siamese fighting fish for spawning, it is recommended that you feed a variety of foods i.e. live and frozen foods. You could also change their water every other day. Lots of clean water and better foods helps to get a pair into condition to spawn. Lots of live plants and a 50w submersible heater.

The male will begin the process by building a ‘bubble nest’. He does this by swimming to the top and takes a breath of air. While the air bubble is in his mouth he covers it with a mucous and then spits it back again. He will repeat this over and over again until he has a nest floating on the top of the tank about four to six inches across. He likes to have something to stick it to and this is where the favorite bettafish live plants come into it. Your female will let the male know she is ready to begin spawning by swimming beneath the nest. The male will follow and curve his body in a u-shape over her. They both turn upside down and she will begin releasing her eggs with the mail fertilizing them. Fascinating!

She could release anything between 350 - 400 eggs. When the eggs fall down towards the bottom of the tank, the male will swim down and pick them up in his mouth and return them to the bubble nest and gently place the eggs in the nest. In could take him a few hours before he has all the eggs placed in the nest. Try to keep the water in the breeding tank no deeper than 4 – 5 inches. This will make his job much easier. If the female does not help the male, remove her back to her tank.

Within 36 hours your Siamese Fighting Fish baby eggs should begin to hatch. Three or so days after they are swimming horizontally you can take the male out of the tank.

They are tiny - you now have to now take care of them.

You can obtain tablets that are mixed with water to produce ‘baby bettafish food’ from most pet shops. They need to eat lots of tiny food particles. You may find that they won’t usually eat for the first five of six days after hatching. But then you can feed live food and small flakes or pellets. Check with your pet store.

We have no experience with breeding Siamese Fighting Fish. The information that I have gathered is small bits and pieces to give you an idea of what it will involve. I think it will be a fascinating route to take once you decide to go ahead. Can you imagine breeding your own little baby fish! All your friends will be delighted when they come around and your children will have lots to talk about at school as well as to their friends. I’m sure you will derive a lot of pleasure if you go this route. I will be posting some articles on breeding Siamese Fighting Fish/Betta in the near future.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Tragedy Strikes!!

Welcome to the world of the Siamese Fighting Fish. Free tips about keeping Siamese fighting fish. Lots of Siamese fighting fish news and much much more on Siamese fighting fish, your Home and family pet’s home.

Tragedy Strikes !
6
What do you do if you find you pet has died?

You may find that somehow or other your fish has not made it! Most of the time you would notice that something is wrong and you can take action. Too much food or a dirty tank could contribute to his death. You may have time, if you notice something wrong early on! Rush down to your pet shop and ask for advice. Remember, Siamese Fighting Fish are a hardy breed. They will survive easier than other breeds!

We had a very unfortunate incident recently when we lost our ‘Samurai’. We went away for a week and the kids were around to look after our pets. The grandchild and his friend somehow managed to knock over ‘Samurai’s tank one day and naturally he landed on the floor. Feeling guilty and not wanting to say anything, as boys would, they then refilled the tank with water straight from the tap and put ‘Samurai’ back in. Then his friend also dropped in some sea shells that he had received from his Mom and Dad while on holiday. Not saying anything to anyone they then left. Needless to say, when we got back we found old ‘Samurai’ floating on top of his tank, lifeless. Well, much sadness, and a lot of moaning. We had to put him to rest. Now, the youngsters were very sheepish and apologetic and were very sad that they had contributed to him dying.

That is the sort of thing that can happen. You have no control over this type of incident. Other things can also happen to you pet. What do you do?

After much talking, we decided to give ‘Samurai’ a decent burial in the backyard with the boys and the rest of the family standing around. We said a few words and then placed ‘Samurai’ in the hole and covered it. We placed a little plastic plaque with his name on beside his grave. Everybody seemed to feel a bit better afterwards.

We then started making plans to replace our Siamese Fighting Fish with a new one. Do not despair if your fish suddenly dies. Sometimes these things do happen. As I have said, you should check on your pet frequently. If you notice something not quite right, seek advice. We decided to go down to the pet store a week later to choose a new ‘Samurai’. If we could get more or less the same color, we will keep the same name. The kids would certainly feel better and so would we, having a new ‘Samurai’. They have learnt a valuable lesson. Always tell someone if you do something wrong. It is better to admit that you have made a mistake and have it fixed up straight away, than not saying anything.

I would suggest that if your pet died, for whatever reasons, hold a small ceremony like we did and give them a good send off. It will make you feel much better and shows respect for your pet.

As luck would have it, we found another Siamese Fighting Fish just about the same color as our original ‘Samurai’. After bringing him home and placing him in his tank, we sat and watched him for hours. I’m sure he is going to be as wonderful as our previous guy.

I have found some articles on the Net that gives you some idea on how to euthanase your pet. Pretty weird stuff, but you may want to check them out. One of the best ways to euthanase him is to use clove oil. That is the one you can buy from pharmacies for toothache. A few drops in his water and he will go to sleep. Not nice to think about, but there may be a time when it would be best to do this. Click on: Article 6 Help you recover.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

How to buy your Siamese fighting fish.

Welcome to the world of the Siamese Fighting Fish. Free tips about keeping Siamese fighting fish. Lots of Siamese fighting fish news and much much more on Siamese fighting fish, your Home and family pet’s home.

How to buy your Siamese fighting fish!!
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Most people, who first go out to buy their new pet, are not sure what to look for. When you go down to your local pet shop you may find a number of fish tanks all holding a variety of different fish. All this can be very confusing to the first time buyer. Some irresponsible pet shops sell them in tiny bowls or vases. They may tell you that they will do well in such a tiny space because they can breathe air. Now, this may be true, but there is a big difference between just surviving and really doing well.

Some of the species can grow larger than 7cm (3 inches) and will need at least three gallons of water to do well! This is going to be your new pet and I’m sure you will want him to have the best life you can give him.

When you choose your Siamese fighting fish he should be an individual that is energetic and have open finnage. If you see he has clamped fins, he could be weak, ill, or suffering from stress. Look closely at the skin and fins of all the other fish in the tanks. If other fish show signs of illness do not buy him there. He may be infected but not show any signs yet.

Sometimes the Siamese fighting fish will just hover and remain still for a long time, but this is natural behavior for the species.

Our ‘Samurai’ is a beautiful color for us, but Siamese Fighting Fish have been extensively bred. Today you can find numerous variations. There are more than twelve different colorations and more than enough tail configurations. Your male fish can be easily recognized by his long flowing fins. The females are not as spectacular. They are also much smaller than the male. If you feel that you do not want only one fish as a pet, you could buy some females. Try to obtain more than two females. Three or more would be ideal. Of course you would then need a bigger tank. Remember that they will also have to have a few more plants so that when the dominant female bullies the others, they will be able to hide away safely.

If you are interested in breeding Siamese Fighting Fish you should consider buying them from a recognized breeder. It will probably be more expensive, but you will get a much higher quality and your fish will be more suitable for breeding.

Some of the colors which you may find are Blue, Red, Black, Purple, Orange, White, Magenta, Emerald Green, and the rare Yellow. The breeders have also developed different color patters such as butterfly and marble and then also metallic colors such as gold, opaque and copper. Some breeders have also bred in females the same range of colors found previously only in males. But, you will find females will never develop fins as lovely and showy as males. They are mostly more subdued in their coloration.

You could add marbles or glass beads instead of gravel to your tank, which may make it easier to clean. Remember to wash your hands before doing any of this. Rinse with hot water. No soap left on hands. Firstly put your gravel or marbles, glass beads and some plants in the tank, and then pour the water down the side or with a spoon or something to make it pour smoothly. This will minimize your hands in the tank and omit shuffling in the water.

Red is a common color as well as royal blue. Steel blue and turquoise are other colors that are more common in pet shops. The most common tail type is the veil tail and this type is what is usually found in pet stores. The tail is long and thin and usually tapers to a point.

So now you have a good lot of information to help you select your Siamese Fighting Fish.

Have fun choosing!
See link for more help.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Helpful steps to success in keeping a Siamese fighting fish

5 SIMPLE STEPS TO CATAPULT YOUR SUCCESS IN KEEPING A SIAMESE FIGHTING FISH!

1 What size tank do I need?

As I’ve said, you do not need a very big tank. Make sure though that it’s large enough for him to swim around in. Check that he does not bump his fins or scales as he is swimming around. Try to put some live plants and some pebbles in, so that your tank looks pleasing. You will be watching him often, so having a nice looking tank will please you as well as make your fish happy. This is your new pet remember!

Plants should be preferably rounded and not sharp, as your fish would like to rest on or in a bunch of plants sometimes. I have found that an ideal sized tank for one male Siamese fighting fish is 10 liters or three gallons. This is, because if you keep him in a smaller sized tank, you would have to change his water more often, sometimes on a daily basis. Keep his tank in a warm room. Recommended steady water temperature is between 24c-30c (75f-85f). Do have a lid on top with air holes! Your fish breathes air, so do not fill his tank to the top! He also jumps, so you do not want your new pet to jump out of his tank as you may lose him if you do not discover him on the floor soon enough.

2 Do you know the best way to transfer your new pet to his new tank?

He has very delicate fins so you have to be very careful. Do not use a net because this could damage his fins. When you bring him home he would probably be in a plastic bag or small bowl. Your new tank at home would have water that you have kept at room temperature for 24 hours. Also, you would have checked the temperature in the tank to make sure it is within the parameters—24c-30c (75f- 85f), added anti chorine as well as recommended gravel and plants, and the PH of between 6.8 &7.4. Now you can slowly release him into his new home. WOW!! Welcome home to your new pet!

3. Now what about his food?

How often do I feed him? Well, he should be fed once a day. He can be fed freeze dried brine shrimp or freeze dried blood worms. He will also eat live brine shrimp which they love the best. You can get special Siamese fighting fish/Betta fish pellets, which are a combination of mashed shrimp meal, fish meal, brine shrimp, bloodworms and various vitamins. Check with your pet store. There are different kinds available. Remember, do not overfeed your fish!!

4. You want to know, “How do I go about cleaning his tank?”

The children don’t know how to do this properly. Well, this is where you come in! It will be fun and educational for them as well as yourself. The kids will love to learn how to do it. It also teaches them responsibility and creates a sense of interest and achievement in being able to care for their new pet. Remember to clean your fish tank regularly!! Scoop out excess debris such as uneaten food etc. Have a bowl of water put aside a day prior to cleaning, remembering to condition the water. Remove him with some of his existing water and place him in the temporary container while you clean out his tank. Do not use soap or any detergents, just wipe down the sides with warm water and shake the gravel up to get any bacteria or residue out. Then you can slide him back into his nice clean tank.

5. Can I put other fish in his tank with him?

Big problem!! They are not called Siamese fighting fish for nothing! They will fight with another male often causing the death of one of them. Females can be put together, but you have to put three or more otherwise one of them will bully the other one all of the time. Breeding time will be the only time when males and females can be put together. More about this later. Algae eaters or Corydoras catfish are a good mix. They will also help to keep his tank clean.
Click on the link for more help.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Tips to improve your success in keeping your Siamese fighting fish

More tips to improve your success in keeping your
Siamese fighting fish!

You ask, ‘’how many fish should I keep in the tank”? Well, if you put more than one male into the tank, they will fight, possibly to the death of one of them. Also, you want to be careful that there are no other fish in the tank that look like a Siamese fighting fish. If your fish mistakes, say for instance a guppy with it’s long flowing fins as a rival, then you will have a fight on your hands.

Remember that for years they have been used as “sporting fish”, with money wagered on the out come of these battles. You could put some Algae eaters or Corydoras catfish or even a non aggressive frog to keep him company. These will also aid in keeping the tank clean.

You could just have females in your tank, usually three or four. They may fight slightly, until they form a hierarchy, that is until one female becomes dominant over the others, and then they settle down to a peaceful existence.

The big difference is that the females do not look as spectacular as the males.

Our “Samurai” is a very beautiful specimen and we have wonderful times just watching him swim around and interacting with him.

Now, once you bring your Siamese fighting fish home you should familiarize yourself with his movements and behavior patterns. When you look at your fish after you’ve had him for a while, you’ll know if something is wrong. You will know if he is not feeling well. Just be observant. As I have said, they are pretty easy to care for, with low maintenance, but you do have to remember that your fish is a living breathing responsibility!

You have to feed, clean and care for him just like you would for any other pet.

How do I go about cleaning his tank? Very important to remember! Change out one third of his water every three or four days. Here you should use aged tap water, which is water that has been put out for 24 hours. Make sure that the tap water is the same temperature as the water in the tank and “very important” use a product that removes chlorine as well. The PH of your tank water should be 7.0. You can get a PH testing kit at your pet store, as well as solutions to minimize or increase the PH of your water.

It’s so exciting preparing and setting up your tank for your new pet. Have everything ready even before you bring your Siamese fighting fish home. Know where you going to place his tank, and I’ve said, in a warm spot, but out of direct sunlight and no drafts. Put some gravel, plants and fresh, clean, room temperature water in his tank and you will have a healthy, happy fish that will give you hours of pleasure. Fresh and clean water keeps your fish friend from getting bacterial or fungal infections.

More successful steps to keeping Betta fish also known as Siamese fighting fish.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Why keep a Siamese fighting fish?

Why you should consider keeping a Siamese fighting fish!!

The reasons why you should consider keeping a Siamese fighting fish are numerous. They are inexpensive to keep and straightforward to care for! They also come in a variety of spectacular colors. But, you say “I don’t know anything about them”! “Where do they come from?” Well, they originated in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and certain areas of China. You say “but I live in the United Kingdom, surely it’s too cold in winter to keep them here”! Well, people now keep them everywhere around the world. Also known as a Bettafish in the States!!

Siamese fighting fish are relatively easy to keep no matter where you are! The temperature of the water should be between 75-80 degrees or 24-30c and as long as the tank is in a warm spot they should be ok. They are tropical freshwater fish and are usually found in shallow waters, such as rice paddies and shallow ponds. They do not need heaters unless it’s very cold, nor do they need expensive filtration plants. They also prefer little or no water movement. Remember they are used to living in small bodies of water.

Some interesting facts= The SIAMESE FIGHTING FISH has been raised in households in Thailand since the Sukhothai Period, more than 700 years ago. Records from the reign of King Lithai of Sukhothai allude to fighting fish being reared for sport. Aquarists in Asia first kept them approximately 150 years ago. The wild versions are nothing like the ones we get today in pet shops. They are a dull brown in color and unattractive. Thai breeders are constantly developing new species.

I know that a lot of people will think that keeping a fish is going to take a lot of their time and effort. Well, you have to have some informed care. Like any other pet you have to prepare beforehand. Siamese fighting fish generally live between two and three years. Some have been known to live for four or five years. Make sure your tank or bowl that you keep him in is big enough so that he can swim around and not bump or tear his fins or scales.

Do not fill your tank or bowl, because your fish actually breathes air! He does that through the use of his labyrinth organ, which is located just behind his gills. He also gets oxygen from the water using his gills, but they are poorly developed and cannot supply him with all the oxygen he needs. Fascinating Hey!! You will also see him swim to the top of the tank every few minutes to take a breath of air. Watch out now, because your fish can also jump out of the tank, so put on a lid with holes for air and he will be fine. I told you, your new pet has some wonderful and amazing facts that will keep you or your children seeking more information a lot of the time.

“How big is this fish” you say? Well, the Siamese fighting fish grows to only 5-6 cm. So, you do not need a big tank as I said before. Many or most pet shops that sell fish have special hexagonal tanks created just with these fish in mind. Most pet shops will sell you a suitable tank with rocks, a plant and some starter food and water cleaner. They are freshwater fish so no salty sea shells or other sea plants must be put in your tank. You can get a friendly plant such as a Chinese evergreen or small lucky bamboo plants.

Best Live Plants for Siamese Fighters also known as a Bettafish
Best Companions for Siamese Fighters

Siamese Fighting Fish. Amazing pets!!

Do you want a pet that will amaze and fascinate you and
your children for a long time?
ARTICLE 1

The Siamese fighting fish could be your answer! They’re colorful, bright and swim around a lot of the time. A beautiful Siamese fighting fish can be like a permanent flower in your home. But, you say, “How much will it cost to set up a large complicated fish tank?” No, that’s one of the great things about the Siamese fighting fish. They are fairly hardy fish that don’t need a large space or water flow! A smaller tank with a bit of airflow will be fine for them. The common name is “Betta” of the species “Betta Splendons”. You may find most people will know the fish as the Betta fish. I much prefer the name Siamese fighting fish. If you see the name Betta fish, please remember that they are one and the same.

Fish make great pets! They are quite easy to take care of. They do not make unnecessary sounds like a dog or cat. They do not mess all over and if you have to go away on holiday for a few days, you can get an aquarium with an automatic feeder or slow release feeding blocks to take care of them.

Today, many people live in Condos or townhouse complexes and it is difficult to keep a dog or a cat or any other type of pet. That’s where the Siamese fighting fish comes to the fore. It’s one of the most popular types of fish to be found in homes across the world.

Our little guy is a dark deep purple color and we have named him “Samurai”, after the famous Japanese Samurai warriors. We live in a complex that does not allow other types of pets, so he is very suited to our situation. The grandchildren certainly enjoy coming to see him. He is amazingly friendly and recognizes you and “dances” around when he sees us. He is happy to follow our finger around and play games with us.

When you look at the small cost of the Siamese fighting fish, it’s food and the setup along with the beautiful bright colors, the ease of care and the great interaction, they make the perfect first pet for children as well as adults. A child will love the pretty vibrant colors and can learn responsibility while caring for them.

Owning a pet has been proven to relieve boredom and stress. It also helps to decrease blood pressure and improves your mood and provides a purpose in life. Siamese fighting fish are relatively easy to care for and their low maintenance is particularly appealing to people who would like to have a fish as a pet, but don’t have a lot of time on there hands. Our “Samurai“ is such a pleasure to come home to. The minute you walk in the door and he sees you, it’s like he wants to come up and say “hello you guys, I’ve missed you today”. He has definitely improved our quality of life!

If you are thinking about getting a pet for your home, but cannot have a conventional pet like a dog or cat in your living area then you should definitely think about getting a Siamese fighting fish. In the following articles I will tell you more about the benefits and give you tips and tricks that could help you.
For more information on Siamese fighting fish click on the link.