betta fish

The betta fish is a very interesting fish species, named for its aggressive nature. It has a body length of 6-7 centimeters, is reddish-brown with blue-green stripes, like wearing a bright 'T-shirt'; its 'facial features' are also 'exquisite', with a small mouth, short chin, and large eyes; the tail is like an unfurled flag. betta fish mainly refers to a small fish belonging to the Perciformes, Percioidei, Nannoperca subfamily. Its body is rectangular and slightly flattened on the sides. The mouth is small and slanted upwards. The dorsal and anal fins are both long and positioned relatively up and down. The outermost first fin ray of the pelvic fins is elongated into a filamentous shape. betta fish is a small fish with a body length of 50-100 millimeters. It usually lives in slow-flowing or stagnant water environments such as small streams, ponds, farmland, and ditches. It is omnivorous, mainly feeding on zooplankton, insect larvae, and filamentous algae. betta fish has auxiliary breathing organs, which can directly use air for internal exchange and can survive in aquariums with low dissolved oxygen. Once out of the water, it can live for a period of time without dying. betta fish has a rough temperament. When male fish encounter each other, they often fight, especially during breeding season, the fights are more intense.

In the 18th century, residents of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and other countries discovered the traces of 斗鱼 in water areas such as ponds and marshes scattered with fallen leaves. The wild 斗鱼 species does not have a vibrant and colorful appearance, but their inherent fierce and combative nature has aroused great interest among local residents. After diligent fishing and hunting labor, two male 斗鱼 are placed in the same container, watching them stretch their fins, flip their gill covers, shake their bodies, launch attacks, and seize the opportunity to bite each other. The intense fighting scenes often grip people's hearts. Watching 斗鱼 fights has not only become a way of leisure and entertainment for locals, but has gradually evolved from leisure games into a form of gambling. This highly interesting activity has also bestowed great wealth upon those residents who rely on fishing and hunting for a living, and large bets have become one of the economic sources of competition among local residents. Gradually, with the spread and development of 斗鱼 competitions, this activity began to become popular in all levels of society, from ordinary people to ruling classes. 斗鱼 became a beloved pet for people of all ages in Southeast Asian countries, and its development reached its first peak at this time. Until the mid-late 18th century, this activity spread to the West, and then gained widespread popularity among European enthusiasts. For Europeans who value aesthetic taste, they focused more on studying the varied fin shapes and stunning body colors of cultivated 斗鱼. From then on, 斗鱼 began to change the fate of deadly duels and entered a new stage of development focused on breeding methods oriented towards strong physique and combat power. Through unremitting efforts, show-type 斗鱼 emerged. They changed the gloomy color tones of the past and had bright and eye-catching body colors. Their diverse forms of fins made them a highly valued fish species for appreciation, and also made them a favored new warrior in the eyes of fish enthusiasts.

The betta fish is suitable for fish enthusiasts to raise. betta fish requires a relatively small space and has a very small food intake, so the amount of excrement is also relatively small and does not easily pollute the water quality. Therefore, it does not require the use of a filter, and only regular water changes are needed. 斗鱼 can recognize its owner, and when you have raised it for a sufficiently long time, you can interact with 斗鱼.

1. Skin Decay

Symptoms: White and yellow spots appear on the limbs, head, and tail, usually accompanied by a foul odor; severe swelling and bleeding of the limbs, nail loss, and even exposed flesh in severe cases.

Treatment: Mild skin decay can be treated with iodine tincture or bacitracin ointment, and it can heal naturally with sunlight; severe skin decay should be treated by applying iodine tincture twice a day and then applying bacitracin ointment, followed by half an hour of dry healing with a moist towel or tissue placed underneath to avoid dehydration. The turtle should be soaked in water three times a day for 30 minutes each time. Soak the turtle in diluted potassium permanganate solution for 15 minutes (the solution should be light purple in color).

Cause: The use of untreated water; large temperature fluctuations; excessive water changes; improper handling of food residues and feces, leading to water pollution; bacterial infection caused by injuries.

Prevention: Reduce the frequency of water changes; promptly remove food residues and feces; use water that has been exposed to sunlight for a day; isolate and raise injured turtles.

Difference between skin decay and molting: Molting is a normal growth phenomenon that does not affect the turtle's overall health. Molting appears as transparent flocculent material and has no odor, while skin decay covers the turtle's skin and has a foul smell.

2. Shell Decay

Symptoms: The outer or inner shell of the turtle is ulcerated, accompanied by a foul odor.

Treatment: Mild cases can be disinfected with iodine tincture and healed naturally with sunlight exposure; severe cases require the removal of rotten flesh, iodine tincture disinfection, and the application of bacitracin ointment for dry healing.

Cause: The use of untreated water; large temperature fluctuations; excessive water changes; improper handling of food residues and feces, leading to water pollution; bacterial infection caused by turtles biting each other.

Prevention: Reduce the frequency of water changes; promptly remove food residues and feces; use water that has been exposed to sunlight for a day; isolate and raise injured turtles.

3. White and Red Eye Disease

Symptoms: Sleeping all day, rubbing the eyes with claws; swollen eyes with a white film covering the cornea; severe cases unable to open eyes, similar to goldfish eyes; loss of appetite and avoidance of water.

Treatment: In the early stage, use hydrochloric acid eye drops that the turtle can open its eyes with twice a day, followed by half an hour of dry healing; in the middle and late stages, drop the eye drops into the eye socket and then apply bacitracin eye ointment for half an hour of dry healing.

Cause: The use of untreated water; large temperature fluctuations; excessive water changes; improper handling of food residues and feces, leading to water pollution; feeding raw pork.

Prevention: Reduce the frequency of water changes; promptly remove food residues and feces; use water that has been exposed to sunlight for a day; do not feed pork (Brazilian turtles are especially prone to white and red eye disease).

4. Mange

Symptoms: Small raised white or yellow spots on the head and limbs, resembling acne when touched.

Treatment: Mild cases can heal naturally with sunlight exposure; severe cases should be punctured to squeeze out the pus, and then treated with iodine tincture and bacitracin ointment for dry healing.

Cause: The use of untreated water; large temperature fluctuations; excessive water changes; improper handling of food residues and feces, leading to water pollution.

Prevention: Reduce the frequency of water changes; promptly remove food residues and feces; use water that has been exposed to sunlight for a day.

5. Cold

Symptoms: Sleeping all day without energy; bubbles and blackening of the tip of the nose; nasal cavity rot; slight mouth breathing.

Treatment: Mild cases can heal naturally with sunlight exposure; severe cases should be treated with cold medicine (such as 999 Ganmaoling) by soaking the turtle in water at 30 degrees Celsius.

Cause: Exposure to air-conditioned rooms; exposure to the balcony without a cover; large temperature differences during water changes.

Prevention: Pay attention to temperature differences during water changes; reduce the amount of water changed each time; do not expose the turtle to air-conditioned rooms.

6. Pneumonia

Symptoms: Floating on one side; opening mouth and making noises while breathing; refusing water and food; bubbles at the corners of the mouth.

Treatment: For turtles that can still eat, mix powdered amoxicillin capsules with food for feeding; for turtles that refuse to eat, soak amoxicillin in water for 30 minutes and feed once a day.

Cause: Pneumonia is caused by worsening of cold symptoms.

7. Gastroenteritis

Symptoms: Red, white, and green feces; loose and bloody feces; floating in water; refusing water and food.

Treatment: Mild cases should be warmed up and fasting for one week; severe cases should use Mama-Ai/Huanglian tablets for a 30-minute medicated bath once a day.

Cause: Feeding at low temperatures; feeding during cooling periods; excessive feeding.

Prevention: Reduce feeding during large temperature differences; feed regularly; reduce feeding on rainy days.

8. Tail Loss

Symptoms: Tail abrasion, bleeding, and decay.

Treatment: Disinfect with iodine tincture and isolate for raising.

Cause: Overcrowding (especially during the hatchling stage); biting and fighting between turtles; vitamin deficiency leading to atrophy and shedding.

Prevention: Hatchlings should be provided with hiding places; use green water for feeding; do not mix turtles with significant size differences; ensure a balanced diet for turtles.

9. Otitis Media

Symptoms: Swollen area in the inner ear that feels like a large lump.

Treatment: Prepare iodine tincture, a small knife, and Yunnan Baiyao. Disinfect the knife, apply iodine tincture to the affected area, make a cross-shaped incision, squeeze out the pus, apply iodine tincture to the wound, and sprinkle Yunnan Baiyao for dry healing.

Cause: Infection in the inner ear; feeding of thorny foods, etc.

Prevention: Pay attention to water quality; do not feed foods with thorns.

10. Fungus

Symptoms: White fluffy growth attached to the turtle's shell, cannot be easily cleaned, covering the entire turtle's back.

Treatment: Apply tannic acid ointment and bacitracin ointment to the turtle's shell, dry it for 1 hour, then rinse it off and put it back in the water. Repeat once a day and pay attention to temperature differences.

Cause: Bacteria in the water.

Prevention: Maintain clean water quality.

Water alkali is fundamentally different from fungus. Water alkali is caused by an excessive amount of alkaline substances in the water that attaches to the turtle's shell when it lives in water for a long time. It does not affect the turtle's health, only its appearance. Water alkali can be brushed off with vinegar. If it cannot be brushed off, it may be fungus or water mold.

1. Temperature Difference: betta fish do not have strict requirements for water temperature, but they are sensitive to temperature differences. During normal breeding process, try to avoid temperature differences exceeding 2℃.

2. Water Quality: betta fish do not have high requirements for water quality. As long as the water is clean and fresh, they can survive. Breeders need to change water regularly to maintain good water quality. If there is no filter pump, water can be changed every 2 days. If there is a filter pump, water can be changed every 7 days. The amount of water changed each time does not need to be too much, about one-fourth of the total water volume.