Betta Fish 101

Name: Betta Fish (aka Siamese Fighting Fish)

Personality: As their alias suggests, Bettas don't always do well with other fish; there are certain fish with whom they cannot get along, according to Aquarium Hobbyist. Male bettas, in particular, can be quite territorial towards other male bettas and other fish, specifically fish with lots of blue and red, fish with long flowing fins, or fish with similar shapes.

Care: Aside from feeding your betta fish daily (or close to it, as they can go a day or two without food) and keeping their tank clean, there's not much involved in caring for them. While some people keep bettas in small vases, the best environment for this fish is a 10 gallon tank where the water stays between 78 and 80 degrees (never dropping below 74 degrees), suggests Betta Care Basics. Because they are a prey animal, it's important to provide plenty of hiding spots in their tank (ideally, real or artificial plants) to make them feel safe.

Common Health Issues: The biggest threats to a betta's health are things you can control: Tank size, water temperature, access to oxygen (surface area), improper heating and poor diet. They can live up to about five years, but the average is closer to three, in large part due to the reasons listed above, according to Associated Content.

Training Tips: Most people are happy to just watch their betta fish, but with consistent training, it's possible to teach them to do tricks, such as pulling a string to ring a bell at feeding time, according to a betta breeder who wrote in to This and That.

Best For: Because they're both beautiful and low maintenance, betta fish can make great pets for just about any family. They're a good option for those who are busy and away from home too often to care for a more dependent pet.

What Betta Fish Owners Say: Missy, a New Yorker, loves her betta fish and tells Paw Nation, "A betta makes a wonderful first pet for a child. They are extremely low-maintenance in terms of feeding (one pellet a day) and cleaning (the tank needs to be cleaned once a week). There are no real challenges in owning a betta. The only thing to keep mind of is to not overfeed the betta. This can kill them."

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