Real Care for Fighting Fish (Bettas)
Plain, practical information for keeping a fighting fish (betta) healthy. This section has no jokes in it.
The essentials
- Space: a tank of at least about 20 litres with a secure lid. Small bowls and vases are not suitable homes. Bettas can jump, so keep the lid on.
- Heat: bettas are tropical. Use an adjustable aquarium heater and a thermometer, and keep the water stable at about 24–28°C.
- Filter: use a gentle filter, such as a sponge filter, because bettas have long fins and dislike strong currents.
- Water: treat all tap water with a water conditioner (dechlorinator) before it goes in the tank. Match the temperature when you add new water.
- Cycling: a new tank needs time to grow helpful bacteria that break down waste (the "nitrogen cycle"). This usually takes several weeks. Test the water with a liquid test kit for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate while it cycles.
- Water changes: once the tank is cycled, change about 20–30% of the water each week, and vacuum the gravel. Change water more often while the tank is cycling if tests show ammonia or nitrite.
- Food: feed small amounts of a quality betta pellet once or twice a day, only what your fish eats in a minute or two. Remove leftovers.
- Company: never keep two male bettas together. Avoid fin-nipping tank mates. Mirrors should only ever be brief.
- Comfort: add soft or live plants, a hiding place and a resting spot near the surface. Avoid sharp decorations that can tear fins.
See a real aquatic vet
If your fish stops eating, seems lethargic, or its fins, colour or body change, please see a vet with fish experience. This site does not diagnose illness or give medication advice. Australian options include For Fish and The Fish Vet.
The First 30 Days: betta care guide
A$19 one-off. No subscription. Instant download: a 6-page PDF with a 30-day checklist.
- A 30-day checklist, from a cup or bowl to a heated, filtered tank that is cycling or cycled.
- When to test, what the results mean in plain words, and when to change water.
- A printable shopping list, with links to Australian pet stores.
- Clear signs that mean it's time to see an aquatic vet.
It contains standard, widely accepted care information only. It does not diagnose illness or include medication doses.
You pay A$19, the price shown here, through Stripe's secure checkout. You can cancel on the Stripe page and nothing will be charged. Questions about real fish health should go to an aquatic vet. Refunds and download problems: fakefightingfish@gmail.com.
Last updated: 19 October 2026.