There are plenty of ways to de-stress, one of the best ways to relax and add some joy back into your life is with a family pet. Pets, especially dogs, can be great companions that love you and are happy to see you no matter what type of mood you come home in.
However, while I love dogs,I understand that they can be a lot of work and responsibility themselves. If you’re already burning the candle at both ends, a pet dog may not be the best option for you at this time in your life. Not to mention they can be a substantial financial obligation as well. They need food every day, which depending on the size of the dog, can add up. Then you have vet trips, shots, medications, and unlike other members of your family your insurance will not cover these expenses.
So if you don’t have the time or money for a dog right now, what is a good alternative?
How about a betta?
Few years ago, I was running a small business out of a larger store that rented out space to other small businesses like mine. The owner of that place also had his own little space. We all had one common sitting area. He had furnished it beautifully. Red high backed sofa flanked one side of the wall, while a book case lined the other. One Amaryllis plant injected a bright shot of red in one corner, flanked by a couple of large chinese green ferns in decorative pots. However,the focal point of that lovely little area was a large fish tank that he took care of with a deep love and dedication. He had a number of big and small fish in that aquarium.
Out of the many beautiful fish species that he had in his tank, one stood out for me. It was known as a betta fish. What was so special about this little beauty? Well, to start with, this betta was possibly the most beautiful fish in that tank. Blue bodied with bright red fins fanning its lower extremities, the fish moved with a grace and style that almost seemed regal.
That was just a part of its lure. The real beauty lied in that fact that whenever the owner would walk up to the aquarium, the betta would start swimming around in excitement, swinging its fins like a tennis racket playing ping-pong. The owner would seak softly, and while the rest of the fish swam around peacefully, the betta would swim around in circles near the glass, wagging its fins wildly, as if if it understood every word that was being spoken. I had never seen something like this before.
Over a period of time, I learned a whole lot about keeping an aquarium in general, and betta fish in particular.
And then recently, I again came across another betta in another aquarium, and thought…hmnnn…that can actually become a sweet companion for a sweet little kid somewhere, who wants a pet, but the household just not yet be ready for a four legged friend.
A little aquarium with a little fish, better still, a betta would be perfect no?
If you’re not familiar with bettas it may seem a bit strange to suggest a fish in place of a dog as a family pet, but for some, it can be the best choice.
Bettas, when compared to other types of aquarium fish, are very personable. They love attention and can’t wait for someone to walk in the room and talk to them. When they’re well taken care of (which we’ll get to in a bit) they’ll start swimming all around and kicking their fins back and forth – kind of like a dog wagging its tail – whenever you walk over to see them. Of course this could be because they want food, which is pretty characteristic of dogs as well.
Compared to almost any other pet, the total upkeep and care for a betta fish is extremely easy and inexpensive. All you have to do is give them 3 to 5 little granulates of food each day and clean their bowl every other week and they are good.
How Much Do Betta Fish Cost?
The costs for a betta breaks down somewhat like this;
- Typical Betta Fish = $5-7
- Standard Betta Aquarium = $10-$20
- Betta Fish Food = $3
- Water Conditioner = $3-5
- Purified Water = $1-2 a gallon
(There are starter kits on Amazon for around $10)
And that’s really it.
Over time the biggest expense is going to be the water you use when you refill their bowl. You do not want to use tap water. Do not even use fridge filtered water as fridge filters do not remove hardly any total dissolved solids from the water. For your betta to be as happy and healthy as possible you want to give them water that is really purified. After all, they live and breathe water 24/7, right?
My friend whose son lovingly cares for his little betta in a globe aquarium has installed a reverse osmosis drinking water unit ($199) under their kitchen sink which purifies their tap water to about 10ppm (parts per million) total dissolved solids and their betta fish (Zac) loves it. For a while they were using purified water bought by the gallon and he was happy, but he’s definitely healthier and happier now that they are purifying our own water. It’s easy to tell he’s feeling really good, judging by how bright his colors are, how eager he is to interact with people, and from all the bubbles along the top of his water. I am seriously thinking of installing something similar for my pond fish, but that’s for another time.
How to Care for Your Betta Fish
As aforementioned, caring for your betta fish is very easy. Other than feeding them once a day you’ll just need to periodically clean their bowl.
To do this follow these 5 simple steps:
- Fill a small container with existing water from fishes bowl, plastic Tupperware bowls with alid work well – bettas can jump out of the water if not covered
- Gently capture betta in a net and place into the plastic container and put the lid on
- Pour the old water down the drain and thoroughly wash the inside of the bowl and alldecorations, rocks, etc in warm water. Make sure you use your fingers to feel for algae andwash until there is no “sliminess”
- Refill the bowl with purified water and add 2 drops of conditioner
- Once the bowl water is room temperature return betta to the bowl
And that’s it. This process usually takes about 15 minutes and we clean our betta’s bowl every other week on average.
So, if you’re looking for a family pet that will love you, is really quiet, doesn’t require much of a commitment, and will bring tons of happiness into your life, head on down to your local pet store and pick up a beautiful betta fish today.
2 comments for “The Happiest Betta On The Bloc”