Q&A for How to Clean a Betta Fish Tank

I would recommend doing partial water changes about once every week. If you have an unfiltered tank, you should change 30-50% of the water. Or, if you have a filtered tank, you can change 20-25% of the water.

Yes. The dirty tank will make germs that you don't want in your tank, so you might end up with a sick fish.

Yes, if you are using tap water, then conditioning the water is necessary. The chemicals in tap water will kill your betta fish if you don't use a conditioner.

Yes. Use hot water, move the gravel around, and scrub with a clean scrubber if necessary. But don't use soap. Hot water only.

The tank should not smell bad if it is well-maintained. If you have any tankmates in with the betta, check to see if any are dead. If not, perform partial water changes more than usual and scrub the decorations.

Actually, the larger the tank the better. Betas like to exercise, and a more spacious tank allows them to do that. Plus, the water in a small tank tends to become contaminated more quickly, which is dangerous for the health of the fish.

They usually live two to four years if properly cared for.

Do partial water changes on the tank every few days, and be sure to clean at least once per week.

One, and ONLY ONE.

Change the water ten percent at a time until it is completely changed. This will clean the tank without disturbing the fish eggs.

Yes, Bettas will tear each other apart. If you want to breed them, keep the male and female Betta in separate containers near each other. When the female Betta lays eggs, you can switch the globes so the male will fertilize them.

Clean the entire tank. First take out half of the water and put it in a bowl so that your fish isn't in completely new water, as new water can cause it to go into shock. Then put your fish in a cup or bowl, dump out the other half of the water, and clean the tank and everything inside it. Then put the old water that you saved back in, fill the rest with new water, and put the fish back in slowly.

I would suggest choosing a certain day of the week to clean your betta tank; for example, my day is Tuesday.

Yes, it can. In fact, many pet and aquarium stores sell water especially designed for fish tanks, and they might even have one specially designed for betta fish. Just make sure that the water is the correct temperature (65 to 80 degrees fahreheit).

If you have a tank that is smaller than 5 gallons, you should clean it every week, or maybe two weeks. If it's bigger than that, you should clean it every three to four weeks. Remember that size of the tank can change how many times you need to clean it, since in smaller tanks old food, poop, and other things can build up quicker.

It is far better to use a thermometer, as it is more accurate. Your hand is only an estimate, which could be potentially dangerous to your animal. I would definitely recommend investing in a thermometer; they are very easy to find, aquatic stores and most local pet stores will have them, or you can find them online on Amazon or eBay.

Absolutely. Well water contains many impurities that can harm or kill your betta so you must use conditioner with well water.

Scoop out as much as you can, as you may risk overeating and rotting food (ammonia and nitrite spike!) from the excess food. Take as much as you can out with a fine net; try not to disturb the fish too much. There will not be negative side effects as long as you take out most of the food, and have a cycled tank/filter to take care of any bits you may have missed. Later, tell your daughter how to feed the fish appropriately to avoid this in the future!

You need to take them out of the tank and clean them, but only after you have removed the fish from the tank. It is best is to do this during a full tank cleaning process only.

It depends. Observe your fish's personality. Is it aggressive, or does if swim away and hide? A docile betta is best for a tropical community. Make sure you are keeping it with compatible tankmates. The fish you are keeping the betta with should not be aggressive, should not have a habit of nipping long flowing fins, and should require the same temperature and water parameters.

Yes. Also, most bettas do well in tanks of five gallons or more.

It is best to do a 25% water change weekly. Try using a turkey baster to suck up the noticeable uneaten food and waste. Still though, a full tank cleaning should be done every few months.

You should avoid having your fish in direct sunlight due to temperature fluctuations in the tank. You can add more water to replace that lost due to evaporation, but be sure do do a 25% water change every week, as the evaporating water leaves behind minerals and toxins, which will quickly build up.

You shouldn't, as their fins are very delicate and touching your fish removes their protective slime.

No, sometimes betta tanks are okay if they are sitting underneath a window that receives a lot of sunlight. However, take care as direct sunlight will evaporate the tank water more quickly.

No. A filter is one of the most necessary things you will need to keep the Betta healthy. A small tank can make the Betta depressed and unhealthy.

No. Those bubbles are just his bubble nest. It's okay to clean his tank.

Change the filter about once a month, though you should clean the tank at least every 2 weeks.

You must always condition any new water you add to the tank. Or, you can let water sit out in an open container for at least 24 hours to get rid of harmful materials in the water. Both methods work just as well.

No, because they like to exercise. They will die in tight spaces and the decorative items will not fit in the small tank.