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NECESSITIES                                                                                    EXTRAS
BOWL                                                                                                GRAVEL
PLANT                                                                                               NET
DECHLORINATER                                                                           DECORATIONS
  FOOD                                                                                                 
     Bettas are a very interesting and colorful fish native to the mud puddles and rice paddies of Thailand. The male is more brightly colored and has longer fins than the female and are very territorial, so only one fish to a bowl or they will live up to the name  "fighting fish".  Because they are a labyrinth fish they have a set of gills and a set of lungs and can be kept in a small bowl.  Male Bettas blow bubble nests for the females eggs and  will do this even when alone. If you wish to see him spar an opponent for a few minutes you can put a mirror up to the bowl, but only for a few minutes or he may become overly stressed.   
1. Rinse the bowl with luke warm water. NEVER use soaps or cleansers on the bowl or any accessories. Rinse the gravel in the same manner as the bowl.
2. Fill the bowl with room temperature tap water. Room temperature water is usually  5 degrees lower than the air temperature of the room. If in doubt, let the water stand for an hour before putting it in the bowl.
3. Add dechlorinater to the water following the instructions on the package. Dechlorinater is a must. Not all chlorine evaporates by letting the water stand. We recommend using tap water rather than distilled or bottled (they tend to be either to hard or alkaline or  to soft and acid).
4. Add the fish and plant(s) gently.
5. Place the bowl away from sunlight in a warm room during winter time and a cool room during summer time. Please do not place the bowl by a vent or heat source as temperatures in these areas tend to vary greatly from one hour to the next.
6. Feed the fish 1 or 2 times a day. But feed only as much food as the fish can complete eating within 2 minutes The betta should be fed  blood worms, beef heart, or brine shrimp. These foods can be live, frozen  or freeze dried.
7. The bowl should be cleaned at least once a week.  If the bowl should become  cloudy in only a couple of days it generally means the fish is being overfed and the bowl should be cleaned and feedings the should be cut back.