So maybe you got snookered by a Walmart employee. Or you saw a vase with a plant and a betta in it at the craft store and were thrilled that you could get a fish that only needed as much care as a plant. But that was then. Now, somebody took you aside and quietly let you know there’s a problem. Or maybe you googled your new betta fish on a whim, and now you don’t know what to do, because you now know that your setup is a fishy torture chamber. Here’s my quick and dirty guide to a better life for your betta without breaking the bank. Note: prices and availability shift and change. Prices are accurate as of writing, but look around a bit. Basically, the minimum things your betta needs to have a decent life are: Well, the good news is that it doesn’t have to be. You can do all this without breaking the bank. Get a (5 gallon minimum) fish tank kit. Plastic or glass, doesn’t matter. The good news is that there are a lot of reasonably priced options here.

A good aquarium kit will come with a tank, a lid for the tank, a filter, and a hood light. Wow, that was easy! That knocks off most of the items you need: room to move, light, filtration — all in one fell swoop. So the bottom line: price. If you want to get the least expensive option, you can get a 5 gallon kit like this for $40 on Amazon right now. (You might get a slightly better deal at a big box pet store, so don’t be afraid to look around.) If you want to go for something a little higher quality (as I would personally recommend), add just another $20 to your budget — like this or this. Of course, you could also spend tons of money if you really want to! Try typing “5 gallon fish tank” into Amazon. Or again, visit a big box pet store. Note: If a five gallon tank sounds kind of big to you, it really doesn’t take up that much room, and five gallons is considered the tipping point where it becomes much, much easier to keep the water stable and clean in general.

If the footprint still seems too much to you, try a “tall” 5 gallon tank instead of a long, short one. Ok, now that we’ve seen it won’t break the bank to get a tank, that still leaves us with one major item: warmth. Because you have a 5 gallon tank instead of a tiny bowl or box, you can get a heater that actually does a good job. extremely cheap fish tanksHere’s a good option in my opinion (I have the 50 watt version of this for my little 8 gallon betta tank).ver la pelicula fish tank online Hydor Submersible Glass Aquarium Heater – 25 Wattorb fish tank cleaning This heater is rated for 2-7 gallons, based on the second product image that Amazon shows. betta fish tank heater petco

I would personally not put it (or a betta) in anything smaller than a 3 gallon tank, but if you want to risk it (and cramp your Mr. Betta more than he would like) you could probably put it in a 2.5 gallon aquarium if you had to. The way a heater like this works is you twist the knob to change the heat setting, and then give it a few hours and consult your tank thermometer to see how the results actually relate to reality. best 55 gallon fish tank filter systemDon’t believe the numbers printed on the heater. aquarium fish online shopThey are guesses, not accurate. So… you do need a thermometer. There are a few more things you may want, but aren’t truly necessary — like gravel, silk or live plants (don’t get plastic ones!), or other “betta-safe” decor. (Translation of betta-safe: if pantyhose would snag on it, so can your betta, and hurt his delicate fins).

You can do without these things, though your betta will be much, much happier with some things in his tank to interact with. (Plus, it’s funny to watch him.) But we’re trying to not break the bank, so you can always add these things later.Let’s add it up: $39.99 (5 gallon tank kit with light and filter) That comes to a grand total of $59.27 Not a bad price for taking a sad song and making it better, so to speak. I hope this article has shown you that doing right by your betta fish doesn’t have to be hard or intimidating, or even that expensive. You can do it on a budget, and you can do it in a way that means you’ll even get to enjoy watching your little guy more. A win all around. So take the plunge today — un-bowl your betta! One last note: if you don’t have it already (I assume you do, but you never know), you need a water conditioner to make your tap water safe to add to a fish tank. You also need betta food, of course, the kind with lots of good quality protein.

I’m hoping you already have these things, though. With its long stems and long, broad leaves, this particular plant is brightly green and is sure to make your betta fish tank pop with its vibrant color.They are ideally kept between temperatures of 75 to 82°F and serve as lovely background to the tank, for they grow long and tall.It grows especially well in deep substrate and requires low to mid-lighting in order to help it grow well. If the water is well-regulated inside of the tank, then fertilization is not required for the Amazon sword itself.​This also bright-green plant is gorgeous to look at, coming in a broad shape and with a mysterious atmosphere to it. It especially thrives in low lighting, hence giving it that mysterious look.It varies between tall and narrow and short and stout, so it is necessary to plan accordingly on where you should plant them depending on the size.What makes anubias even better is that it does not require a whole lot of fertilizer to grow, and it does perfectly well in temperatures between 71 and 81°F.​

With a long, narrow stem and cute, curly little leaves snaking along it, the anacharis has a distinctive look that can make your betta fish tank appear interesting and unique.It also is very useful in cleaning up ammonia in the tank, which can otherwise be harmful to the aquatic environment.It is best kept in low light and since it has the tendency to propagate quickly and leave leftover stems when it dies, you will need to plant them in an inconspicuous part of the tank, along with needing to clear them off from time to time.​Growing in temperatures that range from 56 to 85°F, duckweed might not be the most common betta fish plant to cultivate since it tends to be paired with other plants, if not at all, but all the same it makes for a special look to the tank itself.Since it tends to leach nutrients from the environment, it is necessary to fertilize to keep the nutrient balance in check. In addition, too much of duckweed can crowd the top of the tank, so you will need to go in once in a while to clean up some of it.​

Distinctively known for its sword-like leaves, the giant hygrophila is great for betta fish tank beginners to consider investing in since its propagating is sure to make your money’s worth in the end.It likes light, but it also does not mind being in low light when growing. Considering that the giant hygrophila tends to propagate frequently, it is necessary to trim it back from time to time in order to keep it under control, so that it does not take over the entire tank.​With a light, feathery appearance, the hornwort is the ultimate ammonia-sucking plant, able to clear out even some of the most severe cases of ammonia in your betta fish tank.What makes hornwort a very diverse plant is its temperature range of living, which can be from 40 to 95°F. Granted, it propagates like no other, as well as sheds its nettles frequently, so it is a good idea to keep it under control through constant trimming and cleaning of the tank.Considering that it can be quite the invasive species out there, be careful not to let the hornwort grow too out of hand in the betta fish tank.​

This specific plant has crinkly, rugged leaves and is not very difficult to take care of. In fact, it is very low-maintenance while all the same adding a natural, rustic charm to the inside of your betta fish tank.It thrives in low lighting with temperatures between 65 and 85°F (although it might start to break down at 83°F and higher) while also not requiring any fertilizer to make it grow. If you are a beginner to betta fish plants, then why not get started with the java fern?​On the other hand, java moss has a thin, algae-like appearance that, when paired with low light (to which it is acclimated), gives off a mysterious, atmospheric vibe to the entire tank.Even more so, java moss can be placed just about anywhere in the tank, as long as it can attach itself to another item in it (as long as it is not the betta fishes themselves!).Hard water will not work well for its growth, and it is better to have it grow in temperate water of 65 to 85°F, just like with the java fern.​The winter sprite has a light, ethereal feel to it, which serves as a lovely addition to your betta fish tank.

What makes this plant even more amazing is that it sucks up ammonia… and thoroughly so!It tends to prefer floating and it needs consistent temperatures and pH levels in order to keep it alive and healthy. It does need a lot of fertilization, and sometimes none at all.Finally, by keeping temperatures between 64 and 82°F, your winter sprite should be able to live happily well among the beautiful fishes.​Last but not least, wisteria (also known as “water wisteria”) is soft-looking and feathery, just like it winter sprite counterpart.While not as common as the java fern or the anubias, the wisteria plants nevertheless still serves as a beautiful look to the betta fish tank. While it can thrive in moderate light, having low light is preferable for this specific plant.You will need to fertilize it, since it can lose nutrients from itself. It also grows quickly and propagates well, so it is imperative that you prune the wisteria plant from time to time when you can, in order to keep the tank looking fresh and clean.