I Wanted a Dog But Got a Fish Instead

Hey there! Glad you could make it! Today, we will be diving into the world of the betta fish. I am no Ichthyologist, but I will try my best to explain behavior, personality, anatomy and other FUN stuff about bettas.  Here's what I'll be covering: ORIGIN So where do bettas come from? Betta fish are native to Thailand. Did you know there are over 60 different species of bettas? Specifically, the betta fish that we typically see in pet stores are classified as Betta Splendens. Colloquially, these fish are nicknamed, "Siamese Fighting Fish" because of their aggressive behaviors.  Within the fishkeeping hobby, Betta Hendra are becoming quite popular. Betta Hendra are within the betta family but have a more slender body and bold, iridescent coloring. Below is a photo from Instagram user fishiefishieaz showcasing their male Betta Hendra. fishiefishieaz has been successfully breeding his Hendra pair.  Isn't the Betta Hendra gorgeous? ANATOMY To be a successful fish keepe

So, you’re thinking about getting a fish? Wonderful!  This post will address some important things to consider when diving into the aquatic world  for the very first time.  We will address the following: COST Your biggest expenditure will be purchasing the materials to get started. If you don’t have a tank, you’ll obviously start with one. You will also need substrate, or gravel, a filter, an overhead light, air stone, gravel cleaner/siphon/vacuum and a heater/chiller depending on your location. Lastly, décor and plants (real or fake) come last, next to your fish of choice. Here is a breakdown of what my materials roughly cost for my 10-gallon tank: Nicrew Full Spectrum Aquarium light: $30 TetraWhisper Power Filter : $30 TetraWhisper Replacement Filters : $15 Substrate: $5 - $10 for 5 lbs. Substrate Vacuum/Siphon : $20 Air Stone : $18 Décor/Plants: $10 - $30 Fish: $3 ( I bought Twerp as a “baby betta” from PetSmart) Heater/Chiller: $15 - $20 Optional, but highly recommended: POWER ST

 Hey there! T(h)anks for swimming by!  This blog serves to help other freshwater fish keepers or fish enthusiasts by sharing tips, tricks and other advice about how to best care for your betta fish! Please note these tips and tricks are from my own experiences; it is through trial and error that I have figured out what works best for me, which is something I have discovered while having fish.  I hope to inspire you so that you may take the very best care of your aquatic friends! But why? Simply put, there is not a lot of fish keeping advice on the internet. It was astounding to me that more information has not been shared (or if it has, it's been kept hidden!) publicly. So, I set out to do just that: saturate the internet with all things freshwater fish! Let's make this journey together! - Raquel & Twerp the female Betta And the 4 Neon Tetras And the 30+ neocaridina shrimp And the 12+ shrimplets And the planaria that I am currently trying to evict (blog post soon about this