Last Updated on January 10, 2022
When it comes to caring for your betta fish, you always have to be prepared whenever your bettas get sick. Treating your betta at times they need you is an essential thing to do in ensuring their safety and well-being.
The betta first aid kit is a very handy and useful tool to have especially when you want to quickly tend to your betta. The faster you can treat their illness, the better.
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What are the necessary betta first aid kit?
Do you need a guide to know what your pet will need in case of emergency? Here are some of the essential things you need to have at your home that can save your fish’s life when the time comes.
Water Conditioner
One of the basic things to have as a betta owner is a water conditioner. This is used to make sure that your betta fish is living in the best and clean environment.
If you decide to use tap water for your tank, this might cause your betta to get sick since untreated water contains chlorine and other chemicals that might be harmful to your betta. Having a water conditioner on hand will instantly make tap waters safe by removing harmful chemicals and detoxifying ammonia!
Water Test Kit
If you want to really make sure that your tank’s water is safe for your betta then you may want to consider getting an aquarium water test kit. This first aid kit accurately and quickly measures the quality of your aquarium, including the pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels.
Make it a habit to check and monitor your aquarium’s condition a few minutes weekly to let your betta have a better living condition. Also, knowing the water parameters of your tank is very important to ensure that you are providing your betta with the best treatment and home possible.
It’s crucial to know if you’re providing the best water condition to your pet as betta stress stripes may appear as bad water condition is one of their main stressors.
Epsom Salt
You may be wondering “Why should I give my betta an Epsom when it is made for humans?”Just to let you know, people are not the only ones who can benefit from Epsom salts because your beloved betta could too!
Given the correct doses, epsom salts could be really useful if your betta is experiencing constipation, dropsy, swim bladder or bloating. Owners started using epsom salt to help reduce any swelling or bloating of their bettas and to help their pet’s muscles to relax if they are experiencing illnesses. Just remember to not put this in your aquarium all the time since too much salt can be harmful to your betta fish.
Medications
Below are the medications for your pet and why you should add them to your betta fish first aid kit.
Antibacterial
The next first aid you should keep at home is an antibacterial medication such as Melafix, Bettafix, Maracyn 1, Maracyn 2, or Furan 2. To treat your betta with any bacterial infections, you should consider getting a quarantine tank.
Having another aquarium for quarantine is a must to be able to treat your fish with antibacterial medication since it needs a nitrogen cycle to work. Just a quick reminder before getting this first aid, consider first if the bacteria you are combating are gram-negative or gram-positive.
These are good remedies to treat infections such as columnaris, popeye, gill disease, fin rot, eye cloud, and mouth fungus just to name a few.
Antifungal
If you would like to treat your betta fish with fungal infections and fin rot, then you might want to stock up with an antifungal medication. This betta first aid can be bought if you visit your local shops or online where two of the most popular antifungals are Pimafix and Jungle Fungal Clear.
Don’t worry, fungal infections are likely easy to spot and treat if your betta does get infected. Act quickly though if ever you notice an infection from your betta!
Antiparasitic
Another betta fish first aid kit you should have is antiparasitic medicines. These types of meds should only be used safely and in extreme cases only since this can harm other creatures inside the aquarium.
While this medication may work for your betta, antiparasitic components are more harmful and may even cause death if used in an aquarium with invertebrates and live plants.
You should consider using antiparasitic medications when your betta fish has:
- Anchor Worms
- Ich
- Velvet
- Other external parasites
Some betta fish care items to have
Now that you already know the essential first aid and how to care for betta fish you may want to check some of these objects you can buy for your little friend. Even though you don’t need these things immediately, you can still keep these at home as they may be useful as well when your betta is not feeling well.
Aquarium Salt
You can get and use aquarium salt to help speed up recovery if your fish is experiencing mild cases of illness. Although this is not useful for serious infection, putting this in tanks is a good way to help improve the slime coat of your fish.
Indian Almond Leaves
This next betta first aid kit you can also use is the Indian almond leaves. Usually used by breeders, this aid is believed to help keep your fish strong and healthy.
Aside from this, they are also known to help heal with cuts or rots that your pet may experience. If you are into natural ways to strengthen your fish, then you may want to try and see if the Indian almond leaves are the right aid for them.
Stress Coat
Stress coats are sometimes interchangeable with water conditioners and it is up to you which product you will get.
Stress coat, same with the conditions, makes tap water safer for fish while also containing an Aloe Vera which helps reduce fish stress and heal any damaged tissues or wounds.
Aside from this, a stress coat with Aloe Vera can also strengthen your pet’s immune system which makes them more protected against infection and harmful bacteria.
Before you go
Betta fish first aid kit may seem a handful and expensive at the start. However, keep in mind that investing in these things will not only save you money in the long run but will also give your betta the best possible treatment and home in your care.
Never take your betta’s health for granted and please start getting the things needed for your betta’s safety and health!
