Betta fish are gorgeous creatures with glowing fins and vivid colors. It’s no wonder these wonderful specimens are a favorite among fish keepers. Learning how to transfer Betta fish from a cup to a tank will allow you to enjoy this deeply colored splendor for up to 5 years.
Their lifespan depends more on a successful first transfer than the routine aftercare you will carry out while keeping a Betta. They are easy-maintenance aquarium fish, provided you meet their basic tank requirements.
Find out how to put a betta in a new tank in this article.
How To Put a Betta in a New Tank
Tank Requirements for Betta Fish
- Temperature: 75–85-degree Fahrenheit
- Water pH: 6.8-7.5
- Substrate: Sand and gravel
- Additives: Detoxifier
Quick Facts About Betta Fish (Betta splendens)
| Family | Osphronemidae |
| Alternative name | Siamese Fighting Fish |
| Appearance | Vibrant colors with long flowing fins |
| Lifespan | Up to 5 years |
| Size | 2 ½ inches (tail length varies) |
| Diet | Carnivorous |
| Care level | Easy |
| Temperament | Aggressive (mostly female) |
Read: Are plastic plants bad for Betta fish?
How to Successfully Transfer Your Bettas from a Cup to a New Tank
Betta fish become easily stressed by changes in water quality and temperatures. Therefore, transferring your Betta from a cup to a tank is not a task you can rush.
Here are four steps you should take to make this cup-to-tank transfer smooth and with little stress for your new pet fish.
Note that these steps can vary depending on your tank set-up.
1. Buy a Healthy Betta Fish
Don’t buy your Betta until your fish tank has completed cycling. It will just make the whole process smoother. When your tank is ready, it’s time to go and purchase your Betta.
But how do you pick a healthy Betta? Here is how to tell whether a Betta fish is healthy.
- Sparkling body and undamaged fins
- The Betta fish is active and swims well
- No deformities (missing fins, scales, or eyes)
- If it’s flaring with you and other fish
- No white patches or silky substances (signs of disease)
2. Transfer your Betta into a Quarantine Tank (optional)
A quarantine tank is a temporary tank where the Betta stays for a week before moving to its permanent tank. However, this option only applies when you plan on keeping your Betta in a community tank. Skip this step if your new Betta has its own tank.
A quarantine tank allows your Betta to de-stress from the ride home before getting into its permanent home with plants, filters, and gravel. Furthermore, it will enable the Betta to slowly adjust to the home water condition.
You can use a tiny tank or clean vase and gently pour the Betta into it using the water from the cup. Slowly add water from the big tank to this quarantine tank. This allows your Betta to acclimate to the new water.
When the quarantine is almost full of ‘new’ tank water, then your Betta will be ready for the transition to its permanent tank.
Read: How to sterilize fish tank after fish died
3. Acclimate Your Betta to Its New Environment
Don’t directly add your new Betta into your tank. It will stress your fish and is likely to end your Betta life. Instead, acclimate it to its new environment.
Of course, your Betta fish will come in a cup of its own water, which will be different from the water in your tank. Keep the cup closed and float it in your aquarium until the water in the cup attains the same temperature as your tank. This will take approximately half an hour, so be patient.
Once the water in your Betta’s cup reaches the same temperature in your aquarium, start adding small amounts of your tank water into its container. When most of the water in the container is from your tank, let your Betta fish swim freely into the new tank.
4. Monitor your Betta
You need to ensure you continually monitor your Betta when you are at home or nearby for a couple of days.
First, make sure the new Betta adjust well to their new environment. Then, if you notice any strange behavior that could be due to stress, act immediately by separating the fish.
Also, watch for signs of territorial aggression. Male Bettas have territorial aggression and are known to be fighting fish. So, if your new Betta fish is causing trouble for others, prepare to house it in a separate tank.
Frequently Asked Question About Putting a Betta in a New Tank
How Long Can a Betta Fish Survive in a Transfer Cup?
Transfers can be quite distressing for pet fish. So, it’s recommended that you make your journey back from the aquarium store as short as possible.
Keeping your Betta in a cup or plastic bag for more than two days (48 hours) can be harmful due to low temperatures, stress, and poor water conditions.
So, plan ahead and make your purchase trip as short as possible when buying your new Betta fish.
Can I Put My Betta Fish in a New Tank Right Away?
When adding a new Betta to your aquarium, it’s always important to acclimate it first. Directly adding the fish from the transfer cup to the tank without acclimating it can have a big risk.
The sudden water and temperature change can shock the Betta fish’s body or cause stress.
How Long Should I Wait to Put a Betta with Tankmates?
Betta fish don’t often get along well with other fish, though there are exceptions. Always ensure you have a separate tank for your Betta to stay in or get back to if introducing them to new tankmates is unsuccessful.
Putting together unfamiliar fish without a proper introduction can cause aggression or water contamination. So, you should wait for at least two weeks before putting Bettas in a tank with other fish.
Furthermore, it’s crucial to do your homework regarding Betta fish compatibility.
Betta fish are among the cheapest and low-maintenance pet fish that will perfectly steal the show in any aquarium they end up in.
It’s worth learning how to properly transfer them from their cup to tank because you will end up with one of nature’s showpieces thriving in your aquarium.
However, putting your new Betta fish safely into its new tank is just the beginning of the journey. To stay active, healthy, and deeply colored, this hardy fish will require you to stay on top of a primary tank cleaning and maintenance routine.
Read: What kind of water do you use in a fish tank?
Reference
Pet Advocacy Network: CARING FOR YOUR BETTA