The Beautiful Betta Fish

A Fascinating, Interactive and Affordable Pet

By Anne Culbreath Watkins

Sooner or later every child wants a pet. But what if your grandchild has an allergy that prevents him from having a furred or feathered friend? Or what if she lives in a strictly enforced no-pets zone or can't have one that has to be exercised or groomed? Not to worry! There's a hypo-allergenic pet that never needs to be walked, is quiet, doesn't bite, doesn't require a costly set up and is easy to care for. What is this perfect pet? It's the beautiful betta fish.

Bettas are easy to find in most any pet store. Look for a fish that is actively swimming and has no splits or tears in its fins or tail. Injuries such as these can sometimes turn into fungal infections.

Female bettas aren't as showy as the males and they can be harder to find. The more attractive male bettas have long flowing fins and tails and make very interesting pets. If properly cared for, bettas can live to be 2 or 3 years old. And since most are already adults when purchased, your betta's life span could depend on how old the fish was when you bought it.

Bettas come in a rainbow of lovely colors – blue, green, red, purple, aqua and even white – so your grandchild may be able to find a fish in his favorite color.

You should never put two male bettas (also called Siamese fighting fish) in the same container. They will fight to the death. To see a betta display aggressive posture, hold a mirror up to the bowl. The fish will flare its fins and gills at the reflection. This behavior makes it look bigger and more threatening to an intruder.

Want to see more?

• Pets as Presents: Planning Makes All the Difference
• Planting The Seed: Growing Memories With Grandkids
• Pets and Preschoolers: Choosing the Right Pet for Your Family
• Talk about it!