[karpediem]

I need some advice on what to do to keep my betta around FOREVER
What should i buy tank/plant wise?
What is the best kind of food?
and other random things i should know.
THANK YOU!:-D

Hi ginaann, i am new to this betta forum as well. The best way to keep a betta healthy and last you forever, forever i dont think they will but until they get old and then die, it is possible.
Don't buy tank too big for them, they will get bore quickly. Don't put them in a community tank, other fish will rip his pretty fins and he wont last.
Don't use small tank, he will die very quick or will grow very slowly.
Doesn't matter the type betta you have, the good size from my view will be 5g tank. Plastic or live plants works. For plants, i use mostly green cabomba, they are easy to maintain and grow fast. All my 5g tanks have that plant.
Best betta food is live blood worms, adult brine shrimp or mosquito larves (if available). If you dont have live food then use Atison's betta food. You can buy Atison products at IBC website.
Water change, do as much as you can. Some say, do only half but i empty the tank and put new water. Even half, your tank still dirty and have bacteria that you cant see with your eyes.
Gravel, dont use the ones that have coloration like blue, red, green or other colors. Use the natural ones, none coloration.
Exercising your betta once a day for few minutes. Either put a little piece of glace in front of his tank or if you have females betta, put a female in a transparent plastic cup and put in his tank.
If possible, dont use filter or bubble, betta dont like their water moving too much, they get nervous or a lot of stress. If you want to use it then get sponge filter and something to control the air pump.
Try not to catch your betta with a net when you do water change, betta hate nets. If you have betta scoop use that if not then use your hands. I use my hand to catch them.
If your betta fish get sick, use indian almond leaves. You wont find those leaves in your local pet store, only online, look for aquabid or IBC.

Those advices are from me. Other members may use differents way to keep their betta healthy and grow old. You'll decide which way will feet you better. Good luck

 

[karpediem]

Sorry, Karpediem (love the name, by the way), I have to respectfully disagree with some of what you have said.



Don't forget a heater to keep the water between 78 and 82 for optimum health. An adjustable one, 4-5 watts per gallon, is what you need.

Bombalurina, this is the way you do. Like i said each one is different. There is more than 1000 members in this forum, so there is 1000 different way or more to do it.
I breed and raise betta, for my pleasure and also for business. I usually put all the half moon males in the 5g, the short tail are in 2.5g when they are between 3 and 6 months. When the short tails are full adult then i put them in 4g.
Females betta are in community tank. If i have to go into details then i dont know when it will be done, but thanks for sharing.