How much light does the Cockerel Fish need?
During the day there may be clouds or inclement weather. This is why turning off the lights is not only possible, but also necessary. It is enough to turn on the lamp for a few hours so that the fish feel that it is now day, but at night it is better to turn it off.
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Taking care of food
Experienced breeders insist on a mixed type of diet, although the fish are omnivores and can eat both dry and frozen food. To live a full life, cockerels need protein, so a diet entirely made up of dry food is not suitable. A special source of protein can be replaced with ordinary earthworms.
Betta fish should have 2 meals per day.
Within 15 minutes, they should eat all the food offered, but if the food settles at the bottom, then the portion should be reduced.
Company
The betta fish is known for its aggressive nature, so some people keep it alone in a small aquarium. When a fish lives alone, this is not so bad from the point of view of rationalism:
- There is no need to organize air flow.
- You don't have to think about lighting.
Representatives of other fish species also suffer from attacks from aggressive bettas. It is strictly forbidden to stock fish of the following species together with cockerels: melanochromis, spotted catfish, macropod, minor, etc.
A little about the fish itself
Male betta fish have captivated aquarists with their incredibly bright colors: they are red, yellow, green, blue, pink. At the slightest change in the direction of light, they receive a new shade. Since these are truly fighting fish, they are always somewhat excited in male company, and this only enhances the brightness of the color.
Females are less beautiful than male bettas. But in recent years, breeders have bred female fish that are in no way inferior in brightness to males.
While it is quite difficult to determine the gender of other aquarium fish, no such problems arise with males. In females, on the abdomen, directly next to the anal fin, you can see a small “navel” resembling an egg. Therefore, gender can be determined even before the fins grow.
Neighborhood
Who can you add to these fish? Cockerels are not only quite aggressive towards their relatives, but can also start quarrels with other representatives of the fish kingdom.
It is strictly forbidden to stock the following species in an aquarium with betta fish:
- macropod;
- Akara;
- astronotus;
- all types of melanochromis;
- cupanus;
- neon iris;
- speckled catfish;
- minor;
- befortia and many others.
Of course, some cockerels may accept them as neighbors, but even here, torn fins are not excluded. This:
- guppy;
- lalius;
- labeo;
- barbs;
- neon;
- angelfish;
- cardinal and others.
What is needed in an aquarium for a betta?
So, for a comfortable life, one betta needs a rectangular or cubic aquarium with a volume of 8-15 liters, and the height of the aquarium should not exceed its width. A lid or cover glass is required. A filter and heater are also required. Females can be kept together.
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LAUNCHING AN AQUARIUM FOR COCKER FISH
Aquarium
- a complex closed ecosystem in which not only fish and plants live, but also a huge number of living microorganisms that constantly interact with each other. And this has nothing to do with the size of the aquarium and the number of fish living in it. Our task as aquarists is to establish and maintain biological balance in the aquarium.
So, let's start launching the aquarium.
Step 1. Selecting a location for the aquarium
Choosing a location for an aquarium is an important step, since its future well-being depends on it.
The aquarium should not be placed in direct sunlight, as this can cause algae in the water and overheating in the summer. It is not recommended to place the aquarium on a windowsill, next to heating devices, or with doors. Temperature changes and drafts are also not allowed.
Step 2. Choosing an aquarium
So, we have found a suitable place, now it’s time to move on to choosing an aquarium.
The choice of an aquarium depends on many factors:
- the place where it will be located,
- what decorations do you want to use for the aquarium?
- Will the cockerel live alone?
- Do you plan to install any equipment ( filtration, light, heating, etc.
).
Also, do not forget about personal preferences; you should like the aquarium, fit the interior of the room and be convenient during use.
Aquarium size
In different sources you can find different recommendations on the volume of an aquarium for a betta: 4, 5, 10 and even 20 liters. Also on the market you can see a huge selection of special “aquariums for bettas”, usually with a volume of 1.8 to 10 liters.
When choosing a home for a fish, aquarists are guided by the following rule :
the aquarium should be spacious enough and free to move so that the betta can calmly turn around without limiting his movements.
10–20 liters
is considered the most optimal .
But if only a betta will live in the aquarium and the space in the room where you plan to put it is limited, then you can consider small tanks of 3.5 - 5 liters
.
When choosing an aquarium, keep in mind that the smaller its size, the more difficult it will be to maintain the balance of the aquatic environment in it; it will become polluted and saturated with organic waste much faster. It is also difficult to place decorations and plants that the betta loves in a small container.
If you plan to introduce fish other than bettas into the aquarium, then it is better to choose a volume larger than 20 liters
.
And do not forget that not enough free space in the aquarium leads to various diseases and other negative consequences.
Diseases of betta fish, prevention and treatment methods
Aquarium shape
How to keep betta fish?
It is recommended to keep cockerels in families where 2-3 females live with one male. The aquarium is selected at the rate of at least 5 liters of water per fish. It is not recommended to keep several males in one territory - their fights will lead to the death or injury of the weakest one. They prefer water temperatures from 24 to 26C.
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Fights: how to deal with this problem?
The betta fish, the care of which we are considering, uses almost every opportunity to demonstrate its fighting qualities. And most of all, in such fights, the magnificent fins of the fish suffer. You obviously won’t get aesthetic pleasure from contemplating torn fins, so there are certain requirements for a “water apartment.”
If you plan to keep more than three male bettas at the same time, then it is worth taking some measures. Buying very young fish, no more than a month old, will help reduce the number of fights over territory.
The volume of the aquarium is also important. Three male cockerels should have at least 100 liters of liquid. But that's not all. It is necessary to plant the soil densely with plants so that each male can be quietly alone. This will also help reduce the mutual visibility of neighbors, which means there will be fewer reasons for “showdowns.” Experienced aquarists also advise changing water as little as possible, but everything is within reason.
With such a massive population of the aquarium, females should be kept separately. If the female half of the population is absent, then the males will not have much reason to start battles.
Aquarium dimensions
High-quality care for betta fish also requires a certain size of the aquarium. Although cockerels are very, very unpretentious and can feel great in a liter jar, like guppies, it is still worth taking care of the comfort of the fish.
An ordinary “married couple” of cockerels can feel great in a 15-liter “apartment”. In this case, water changes must be carried out in small portions, but very often. The fact is that replacing most of the water may well trigger the onset of spawning.
In general, if we talk specifically about the volume of the aquarium, then each betta should have at least 4 liters of water. Therefore, calculating the number of residents specifically for your aquarium will not be difficult.
Betta fish. Care: change water
As already mentioned, fish love soft water. Sometimes aquarium owners use distilled water, but it is completely unsuitable for keeping fish. After all, it contains not only harmful substances, but also all the substances necessary for cockerels.
If you plan to change the water, then regular tap water is perfect, which must first stand for at least three days. If desired, you can add water purifying and softening agents, which can be purchased at any pet store.
Before adding water, be sure to heat it to the required temperature. In general, changing the water in an aquarium where bettas live should become a frequent procedure. If you are the owner of a large aquarium, it is recommended to replace it twice a month. This is a complete update of the content, but it is also necessary to carry out a partial change. Thus, we got a kind of graph:
- full shift - once every two weeks;
- partial water change - once a week.
The water needs to be changed every three days if betta fish live in a small aquarium. Care (changing water is an integral part of it) must be carried out in accordance with all rules in order to prolong the life of your pets.
Mini aquarium with a cockerel: maintenance and care
Keeping betta fish in an aquarium does not require great skills and knowledge in aquarium management, so the fish is suitable for beginners. Bettas are labyrinth fish, which means that they breathe atmospheric air using an organ called the labyrinth, which allows them to be kept in aquariums without aeration, and of small size.Brief information about the fish The Cockerel fish (Siamese cockerel) or Betta fish is one of the most beautiful aquarium fish. Leads a sedentary lifestyle, so it can live in a container of 500 ml. The cockerel will feel comfortable in an aquarium with a volume of 5 liters or more. Males are much more beautiful and brighter colored than females. — Lifespan: 1-3 years (depending on conditions of detention) — Maximum size: up to 7 cm — Temperature of maintenance: 22-30°C, but tolerate a drop in temperature to 20°C, i.e. can be kept at room temperature.
Care The aquarium, like any home, requires regular cleaning. In mini-aquariums, the water changes completely. Cleaning is carried out at least once a week. The cockerel is caught with a net and, with part of the water from the aquarium, is transplanted into an intermediate container (jar). The aquarium, soil, and decorations are washed in warm running water with a sponge without using any detergents. Clean soil is laid, the decorations are installed back into the aquarium, and tap water is poured in at the same temperature in which the betta lives. A special conditioner (required) is added to the aquarium to prepare water with an anti-stress effect, and the water is mixed. The cleaning is completed, you can plant the betta in the aquarium by catching it with a net (do not touch the fish with your hands).
Feeding with special dry complete food in the form of small flakes once a day (on the tip of a knife or several granules). The food should be eaten within 5-10 minutes.
Compatibility The Cockerel feels great alone. The fish is territorial and therefore aggressive towards any neighborhood, especially towards relatives. Females and cockerels can be placed in aquariums with a volume of more than 40 liters (at the same time 2-3 individuals at a time), other fish - from 15 liters.
Features of keeping a mini-aquarium No equipment needed, incl. and air supply, since the betta is a labyrinth fish and breathes atmospheric air, taking it from the surface of the water. Light is also not needed. If foam appears on the surface of the water, do not be alarmed - the cockerel has settled down and decided to build a nest. What can you do - parental instinct. And it’s okay if there isn’t and won’t be a female for him, the rooster doesn’t have to breed at all.
Other recommendations - Avoid exposing the aquarium to sunlight, drafts and sudden changes in temperature when cleaning. — Do not (categorically!) use natural seashells, shells, or corals as decorations. — Exclude from the design items with sharp edges and protrusions. — It is advisable to cover the aquarium with a lid/cover glass or fill the aquarium with water not to the brim so that the betta does not jump out. — It is not recommended to use bottled water for maintenance.
Consultant's comment: These recommendations are the minimum conditions for keeping a cockerel.
Of course, the best thing that can be offered to this, or any fish, is a spacious “common” aquarium with equipment and live plants. The likelihood that in this case the cockerel will live happily ever after is maximum. Therefore, if you don’t see any difficulties when caring for a betta in a mini-aquarium, you should think about buying a full-fledged aquarium
Cockfighting, problem solving
The betta fish uses even the smallest opportunity to demonstrate its fighting qualities. The lush fins of fish are constantly injured in fish fights. No one will get pleasure from the sight of hanging fins, so there are requirements for fish housing.
Keeping more than three male cockerels at the same time is problematic and requires measures to prevent “war”. It is impossible to reduce the number of fights for territory by changing the temperature or lighting; you will have to buy a larger aquarium, or move some of them to a separate house.
For three male bettas, the volume of the aquarium should hold one hundred liters of water (more is possible). But that's not all. It is necessary to reduce eye contact, for this you can densely plant the soil with plants so that each male feels isolated. You can change the water a little less often, but then you risk crossing the line and reducing the quality of life of the fish
It is better to keep females separately from males, so there will be fewer reasons for battles.
Single content
Aquarium betta fish (care will not cause much trouble) feel great even without a pair. This is explained by their peculiar behavior. The fish is very aggressive in its proximity to its relatives.
And since bettas are extremely picky fish, they can live in miniature aquariums. The main thing is to follow the water renewal regime. It is also necessary to remember that the minimum water, as already noted, for this fish is 4 liters.
Solitary keeping in a small aquarium has its advantages:
- There is no need to organize aeration, since the fish can receive oxygen from the atmosphere.
- No need to worry about lighting either. Fish live well at any level.
If foam suddenly appears on the surface of the water, this means that the cockerel has begun to build a nest and has accepted the aquarium as its home.
