In this blog, we are going to discuss the different signs of a happy fighting or betta fish.
Overview
In this blog
- What are signs of a happy betta fish?
- What are the different signs of a happy betta fish?
- How to keep your betta fish happy?
- Summary
- Frequently asked questions
- Reference
What are the signs of a happy betta fish?
Living in an artificial environment can be difficult for any fish, as they may not be happy with the conditions and may show signs of distress. If you provide your fish with a healthy and stress-free environment, they will be more active and happy in the aquarium.
If you give proper attention and care, your fish will be happy and live a long life.Your betta fish will be happy when:
- You give them attention and care
- Feed them high-quality food.
- Give them a stress-free environment
To know about the different signs of a happy betta fish, keep reading the blog.
What are the different signs of a happy betta fish?
Here we will discuss different signs of a happy betta fish in detail:
- A happy betta fish will swim easily and freely.
- A happy betta fish will not hide frequently.
- A happy betta fish will not skip its meals.
- A happy betta fish will look more active and vibrant.
- A happy betta fish will build a bubble nest.
- A happy betta fish will not indulge in fights with their tank buddies.
- A happy betta fish will have a normal circadian rhythm.
- A happy betta fish will greet their owner.
A happy betta fish will swim easily and freely
If you are housing your betta fish in a horizontal and spacious tank, they will have more space to swim by flaunting their massive and gorgeous pectoral fins.
If your betta fish is swimming easily and freely in their tank, it is a visible sign your fish is happy and is free of infections and diseases.
A happy betta fish will not hide frequently
Betta fish tend to hide if they face minor inconveniences in their tanks. They may hide due to bad or aggressive tank mates, poor water conditions, powerhead filters, or when the temperature fluctuates.
They hide to feel safe and secure in their hideouts and don’t come out until the situation becomes normal again. A happy betta fish will not hide frequently and will swim more around the tank.
A happy betta fish will not skip its meals
Betta fish are hearty eaters and will wait for their meal times. They will not hide during meal times and will never skip their food. If they wait for their food and come up to grab their food, it is a sign of a happy betta fish.
A happy betta fish will look more active and vibrant
If your betta fish is happy they will look more colorful, vibrant and beautiful. Their scales will not shed and skin will remain intact. If you are feeding them nicely they will look happier and brighter.
A happy betta fish will build bubble nest
Male betta fish are famous for building a bubble nest during the mating time to attract female betta fish. They make it meticulously and wait for female betta fish to lay eggs on it.
If your male betta fish is making a bubble nest and blowing it then it is a sign of happy betta fish.
A happy betta fish will not indulge in fights with their tank buddies
If you house your betta fish with compatible tank mates, they will likely feel happy and will not engage in fights. Choosing compatible tank mates is essential to the happiness and long life of bettas.
Bettas are territorial and will become unhappy and lazy if their personal space is invaded by other tank mates.
A happy betta fish will have a normal circadian rhythm
Like any living creature, a happy betta fish will have a normal circadian rhythm. They will sleep when it gets dark and wake up when the sun rises. A happy betta fish can tell the difference between day and night and have a normal routine.
A happy betta fish will greet their owner
Your betta fish can recognise you and can even differentiate your voice from other humans. If your betta fish is happy they will come up to greet their owners. They will even wait for their owners to interact with them.
How to keep your betta fish happy?
There are some general rules that can help keep your betta fish happy, in this section we will discuss some of the things you can do to make your fish happy.
- House bettas in spacious tanks.
- Provide lots of covers or hideouts in the tank.
- Feed them fresh and high quality food.
- Perfect lighting system inside and outside the betta tank.
- Avoiding tank mates that can bully or harass your betta fish.
- Interact and play with your betta fish for their mental stimulation.
House bettas in spacious tanks
Housing your betta fish in the right tank size is essential to their health and long-term survival. Keeping your betta fish in the right size tank will make them feel happy. Betta fish are active fish and need plenty of space to swim. If they’re kept in a small tank, they may not be able to move around freely.
- Ideal tank size for betta fish – 5 gallons.
- Anything below five gallons can affect bettas health and longevity.
- Group of betta fish should be kept in a bigger and spacious tank.
- A stressful betta fish will have a shorter lifespan.
Provide lots of covers or hideouts in tank
Betta fish love a lot of hiding places in their tank, just like their natural habitat. They like to retreat and hide when they feel stressed or vulnerable. A happy fish will not hide often but for napping and resting, they like to hide in places where they can be safe.
Different covers for betta fish tanks:
- Live plants
- Fake or silk plants
- Cave works
- Rock works
- Driftwood
Feed them fresh and high quality food
Feed your betta fish food that is specifically designed for betta fish and try to mimic their natural diet to make them happy. You should feed your fish live food, freeze-dried food, and fresh vegetables, and also have some alternate food on hand just in case you run out of betta fish food.
- Live food
- Freeze-dried food
- Frozen food
- Fresh veggies
- Alternate food other than food designed for betta fish
- Betta-specific pellets
Perfect lighting system inside and outside the betta tank
To keep betta fish happy you should add a right righting system inside and outside the aquarium. Excessive brightness or darkness can stress them and even disrupt their biological clock.
- Standard aquarium lights are best for betta fish aquariums.
- Indirect sunlight for the growth of live plants.
- Make sure not to add too much bright light outside the betta tank too.
Avoiding tank mates that can bully or harass your betta fish
- Add the right tank mate in the betta fish tank to keep them happy.
- Keep male bettas alone or in a separate tank
- Female betta fish can get along with tank mates.
- Avoid finnippers, brightly coloured and aggressive fish.
Interact and play with your betta fish for their mental stimulation
It is important to have a close relationship with your pet, whether it’s a furry friend or an aquatic one. It will be hard to form a bond with aquatic pets, but it is not impossible.
If you keep your betta fish well-fed, they will recognize you as their owner and will be more likely to respond favorably to your care.
Play with your fish everyday or put balls in their tanks for their mental stimulation. You fish will feel happy with such mental exercise.
You can add various things in their tank for mental stimulation:
- Pom pom balls
- Hoops
- Varius toys are available for fish stimulation in pet shops.
Summary
To keep your betta fish happy do the above mentioned things religiously and see your fish swimming happily in the tank. It is a treat to watch a happy and active betta fish rather than a sad or gloomy fish.
Always give attention to your fish and eliminate stressors from their tank to keep them happy and healthy.
A happy betta fish will light up your aquarium with its beauty. Caring for betta fish is not difficult but caring for a sick betta fish is even more difficult. It is important to give the right care to your fish from the day you bring them home.
Frequently asked questions
Is it difficult to make your betta fish happy?
No, nothing is difficult for a responsible and dedicated betta fish owner.
Do excessive brightness irritate a happy betta fish?
Yes, excessive brightness inside and outside the betta fish aquarium can irritate not just a happy betta fish but any fish in general.
Do betta fish hide when they are happy?
A happy betta fish normally hide to rest. However, a sad or vulnerable betta fish may hide away to avoid potential danger or to avoid harassment from tankmates.
Do happy betta fish skip their meals?
No, a happy betta fish never skip their meals.
Do happy betta fish greet their owners?
Yes, a happy betta fish greet their owner if they have good bonding.
Do betta fish like to play with toys?
Yes, a happy betta fish will play with toys.
