How to care for a baby betta fish: tank, water changes, food, heat?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Fish | Unknown - Fish | Male
I got a baby betta fish and was wondering how do I care for it : as in habitat , water changes , feeding and heating
4 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on January 30th, 2018
Mushu is very cute! Betta care is very easy. Ideally, a 5 gallon tank should be used to house your Betta. A smaller tank can be used, but the maintenance (water changes) will be much more frequent. A filter is always recommended otherwise water changes will be required every few days to maintain water quality. With a filter, 20% water changes can be done weekly or every two weeks. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Choices for conditioners include AmQuel Plus, NovAqua, StressCoat, Prime or StressZyme. A small submersible heater is necessary since Bettas are tropical fish. They do best in slow moving water between 78F and 80F. You can feed a pelleted diet such as Hikari Micro Pellets until he grows bigger. Baby brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms and blackworms can also be fed. Feed one or twice daily. He should only need 2-3 pellets at each feeding. The conditioners and food can be found in the aquarium section of the local Petco. Please request a consultation to discuss care in greater depth or post another question in the Forum if necessary.
9Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on April 8th, 2018
If everything is within normal limits, try soaking the pellets in some garlic juice to stimulate his appetite. If possible, turn down the flow of the filter to reduce any strong currents. Fast moving water can be stressful to Bettas who prefer slow moving water. A bit of plain aquarium salt (NOT table salt or Epsom salt) can act as a general tonic to reduce stress, improve gill function, treat minor infection and aid in any recovery. Dissolve up to 1 teaspoon of salt per gallon of water in a cup of tank water and gently pour it into the tank. Treat for 10-14 days then reassess his condition. Partial water changes can be done to decrease salinity afterwards. Be sure to use aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent further stress or shock.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on January 4th, 2018
Unless your betta is ill with something you know needs treating, putting medication in the water likely isn't going to do anything, and may actually stress out your betta more. Poor Pippa doesn't look like he has much room to explore, rest or be himself! Bettas are best kept in tanks with filters and heaters just like other fish, along with plants to hide and rest on, and things to check out, rather than a bowl, and moving him to one may help keep him from getting ill or becoming too stressed. If you're worried about the water quality, you can also bring in a sample to most local pet stores to have it tested and make adjustments as needed.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on October 30th, 2017
Ask family or friends if they would like him. Bettas are easy to care for and if he isn't seriously ill, basic tank maintenance and easy treatment may help him to recover. I am concerned that another fish may befall the same fate. What you can try is a simple water change daily. Use conditioned water (my favorite products are AmQuel, NovAqua and StressCoat) that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Many times, daily water changes can solve tank or health issues. Bettas do best between 78 F and 80 F. A small heater, light and filter in an appropriately sized tank is all you need. Good luck!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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