If you’re planning to get aquarium fish for your house, there are of course many different options to consider. One of the most popular options out there at this time is known as the betta fish, otherwise known as the Siamese fighting fish.
As far as freshwater fish go, these are some of the most colorful and active fish out there, and they have really big personalities too. This makes them a fan favorite among many people, both among beginners and experts fish keepers.
With that being said, before you buy any kind of pet, whether a betta fish or otherwise, there are some important facts that you need to know. One question that many people have is how long are betta fish supposed to live? Today, we are going to answer this question, as well as how to keep your betta fish alive for as long as humanly possible.
How Long Are Betta Fish Supposed to Live?
Your average betta fish is going to live for anywhere between two to four years, with some being able to live up to five years if they are well taken care of.
Some betta fish have even been known to make it up to six or seven years of age, if they live in great tanking conditions and also have optimal nutrition.
However, on average, you can expect a betta fish to live for around three to four years. That said, if you provide them with proper nutrition and you watched the tank conditions closely, you can get a few extra years out of your betta fish. How long a betta fish will it live for will really depend on exactly how you take care of them.
How to Care for Betta Fish
Seeing as how long your betta fish lives for is directly related to the quality of the care that they receive, let’s go over some essential tips on keeping your betta fish alive and healthy.
Tank Size
Although it does sound a bit weird, the size of the fish tank or aquarium that you have can have a big influence on how long your betta fish lives for. Fish are known for living much longer if they have more space to swim around in. Although we aren’t going to get into the science or the technicalities of it, a larger tank does usually lead to a longer lifespan.
The bigger the tank, the better off your betta fish will be. This means that each betta fish should have a minimum of two cubic feet of space in the tank. In other words, you should aim to provide your betta fish with around two to three gallons of water for every inch of length that the fish in question has. Just make sure that your betta fish has the right size of tank to be happy and healthy.
Tank Conditions
One of the most important things that you need to do to keep a betta fish healthy is to ensure that the water quality is top-notch. This means that you want to have a filter that engages in all three methods of water filtration. This includes mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration.
Mechanical filtration will remove solid debris such as fish waste and uneaten food from the water. Biological filtration involves the use of beneficial bacteria to break down ammonia and nitrates into materials or substances that are less harmful to the fish. Finally, chemical filtration will remove a variety of compounds, such as pesticides and heavy metals from the water.
You absolutely need to have a filter such as this. Moreover, any fish tank filter that you get should be able to handle at least three to four times the amount of water in the fish tank per hour. This will allow the water to be perfectly clean and ideal for your betta fish to live in.
If we are talking about the water temperature, this should be around 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Moreover, the water also needs to have the proper acidity or pH level, which is between 6.5 and 8, or ideally around 7, which is neutral.
Betta Fish Nutrition
The other thing to consider here is that betta fish also require high-quality nutrition. Unlike other fish that are perfectly happy eating fish flakes and pellets, betta fish will not be. Betta fish require very high-quality nutrition, and this includes having a lot of meat-based protein.
In the wild, betta fish hunt insects as their main source of nutrition. Therefore, you do need to have the right kind of fish pellets that provide betta fish with their required nutritional intake. You can also use other foods such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, mosquito larvae and Tubifex worms.
Final Thoughts
If you follow the tips that we have listed above, you should be able to get your betta fish to make it to at least four years of age.
Ben Morales
Aquarist & Writer 15+ Years