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freshwater species and are famous for their flowing fins and vivid colors which have occured through selective breeding. Because they are easy to care for, require little space, hardy, and beautiful, they are one of the most popular fish to keep by beginners and experts alike. They come in several variaties based on tail shape, the most popular being veiltail bettas.

The fish must live alone in a bowl or tank because they act very aggressively towards each other, especially between two males, who, when put in the same space, will fight to the death. Even females can become territorial and fight. The fighting of these fish, much like cockfighting and dog fighting, is illegal in several countries due to its inhumanity. This characteristic is often looked at as a positive one in that bettas don't seem to get lonely since they do prefer to live alone.

Betta keeping requires little time, experience, or money and is an incredible joy to have in your home or office. This site will supply you with all the information you need to begin betta-keeping and maintain a happy environment for your fish. If you are a first-time betta keeper, I strongly recommend reading the entire site so that you have a general idea of betta-keeping before you actually buy a fish.

How To Use This Site

Thinking about getting a betta? Here's how to read the pages throughout carolinesfish as you begin exploring betta-keeping.

First, go to Buying Your Betta, where you'll ask questions to see if betta-keeping is right for you, then find out how to buy a betta.

Then, learn how to build your betta's environment in Your Betta's Home, then how to introduce the fish to your home in Establishing Your Betta. Understand the basics of betta nutrition in the Food section. Visit the Cleaning section to learn how to clean your betta's bowl. These will cover the basics of betta care.

As you gain experience with your betta, you might find it helpful to look at the Frequently Asked Questions section, or maybe learn about betta breeding in Boys and Girls. Broaden your knowledge of the betta world in Anatomy and Types of Bettas, where you'll take a deeper look into your betta's body and see color and patterns of all different bettas. Want your betta to lead a nice, long life? Learn about diseases and illness prevention throughout the different Diseases and First Aid pages.

If you're a research type or just want to learn more about these fish and other betta keepers, take a look at some of The Best Betta Sites and the Photo Gallery. And if you really want to, sneak a peek at my BettaBlog, with ramblings big and small.

Throughout this site you will find pages on all aspects of betta keeping. As you go through them, feel free to post comments with suggestions. If you want to ask a question, post it below and I'll get back to you quickly. If you can't find what you're looking for, try the FAQ page, which has many questions that I answer in Yahoo! Answers. This FAQ page is constantly growing and is a great resource to see other people's questions. The First Aid page is also updated frequently as I learn more about betta disease, so check there if you think something may be wrong with your fish. On some pages I make product recommendations; these are based on my experience with products that are tried and tested by me. Some of them are available at local pet stores, but some of them you may have to find online or from a catalog like Doctors Foster and Smith, which has tons of great products.

I hope you find what you need, and good luck with betta keeping!

Last updated June 13, 2011. More information coming soon!

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