Betta Fish Care Checklist

Free tool · Check items as you go · Print for your tank

Keep this checklist next to your tank and tick each item as you do it. Print a copy for the day you set up a new betta, then reuse it for your weekly routine.

Before you add your betta (tank setup)

Tank is at least 5 gallons (about 19 liters) Tank is in a spot away from direct sun, drafts and air vents Gravel or substrate rinsed and added Filter installed and running Heater set to 78–80°F (25–27°C), with a thermometer to confirm Water dechlorinated (water conditioner added) Tank fully cycled (ammonia and nitrite at 0) before adding fish At least one hiding spot or live plant for cover

Feeding (daily)

Feed a small pinch 1–2 times a day Feed only what your betta eats in about 2 minutes Remove any uneaten food after feeding Rotate a couple of food types (pellets + occasional frozen/soaked food)

Weekly maintenance

Change 25–30% of the water once a week Add dechlorinator to the new water Gently clean the glass with a soft sponge or scraper Siphon debris from the bottom (gravel vacuum) Check the thermometer is still in range Watch your betta for normal appetite and behavior

Filter & equipment

Check the filter is running with gentle flow Rinse filter media in old tank water (never tap water) when it gets clogged Keep the water level high enough for the heater to stay submerged Never replace all the filter media at once

Health checks (every few days)

Betta is swimming normally and coming to the surface Fins look intact — no sudden tears, ragged edges or white cottony spots No white spots, fuzz or unusual patches on the body Eating well, no clamped fins or sitting at the bottom Water looks clear, not cloudy or tinted

Health red flags: if your betta stops eating, gasps at the surface, shows clamped fins, or develops spots, don't wait — see our common betta diseases guide and act early.

New here? Walk through the step-by-step tank setup, check your tank volume, and start with the complete care guide.

Betta Fish Care Checklist

Before you add your betta (tank setup)

Feeding (daily)

Weekly maintenance

Filter & equipment

Health checks (every few days)

Get the weekly betta care tip