An Illustrated Betta Fish Care Guidebook with Augmented Reality (AR) Written and Illustrated by Nur Dayana Batrisya
An Illustrated Betta Fish Care Guidebook with Augmented Reality (AR) Written and Illustrated by Nur Dayana Batrisya An Illustrated Betta Fish Care Guidebook with Augmented Reality (AR} Written and Illustrated by Nur Dayana Batrisya Editor Nur Aiza Zainol Abidin
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about this book 4 introduction 5 CHAPTER 1 : THE ORIGIN OF BETTA FISH 6 CHAPTER 2 : TYPES OF BETTA FISH 10 CHAPTER 3 : BETTA FISH CHARACTERISTICS 16 CHAPTER 4 : TANK SETUP 22 CHAPTER 5 : BETTA TANKMATES 30 CHAPTER 6 : BETTA FUN FACTS 36 TABLE OF CONTENTS 3
ABOUT THIS BOOK Betta Love is an illustrated guidebook with Augmented Reality (AR) about the basic knowledge of betta fish care. This illustrated guidebook utilizes cuttingedge Augmented Reality (AR) technology to bring these illustrations to life, providing an interactive and enriching experience for betta fish enthusiasts. 4
INTRODUCTION Betta splendens (also known as Siamese fighting fish) are an incredibly popular freshwater fish who’s beautiful and vividly coloured tails can be found elegantly swimming in aquariums all around the world. Their wild, eye-catching coloring has made them one of the most popular fish in the aquarium hobby and a lot of misinformation is available online. It’s easy to be misled if you are a beginner. Therefore, I have decided to make this illustrated betta fish care guidebook. This guidebook contains the basic knowledge about betta fish care perfect for beginners. What is special about this guidebook is, instead of photos I implemented illustrations that are eyecatching and mesmerizing, and the use of Augmented Reality (AR) for the interactive experience. I hope you have fun exploring the wonders of this book! 5
CHAPTER 1 THE ORIGIN OF BETTA FISH THE ORIGIN OF BETTA FISH 6
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Wild Betta Splendens ORIGIN OF BETTA FISH Betta fish (Betta splendens), also called Siamese fighting fish, are one of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish in the world due to their beautiful colorations, various fin shapes, and their relative ease of care. Betta fish are best known for being small, colorful pets with big personalities. Male bettas in particular have an amazing variety of tail shapes. Since bettas require minimal maintenance, they're a great species for beginners. Male bettas are known for their aggressive behavior, especially their love of biting and tearing at their opponent in a fight. This would inflict life-threatening wounds, meaning each fight only lasted a few minutes. Even before the 1800s, children of Malaysia were intrigued by betta. Collecting as many as 50 of them at a time from rice paddies, they would then host fights with the winner becoming the ‘village champion’. Unlike the betta fish you see in the pet stores today, the wild betta fish would be much duller without the exaggerated flowing fins. Wild betta fish are territorial and fighting has always been in their genes. They will fight any other fish thought to be a threat. What is a Betta Fish? 8
Where do Betta Fish come from? Betta fish originated from Thailand but can be found in nearby countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Wild bettas live in shallow, freshwater areas such as rice paddies, stagnant ponds, marshes, and slow-moving streams. Wild betta could be found in their natural habitat, living in shallow ponds, rice paddies, and moving streams containing water of a temperature at or above 25 degrees Celcius. They belong to a special group known as ‘labyrinth’ fish, who can survive in very little water by using this organ to breathe oxygen from the surface of the water. 9
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CHAPTER 2 TYPES OF BETTA FISH TYPES OF BETTA FISH 11
The Veiltail is the most common type people have in their aquariums. These bettas have long, flowing, downwards swooping tail that look almost like a sail as they fly through the water. One of the prettiest betta breeds, Halfmoon Tail bettas a 180-degree, fan-like tail that will make a perfect half circle resembling a half moon. This long-finned Betta also has unusual coloring. tYPES OF BETTA FISH Veiltail Veiltail Before you even purchase your betta fish, you should be aware that there are so many different tail types to choose from! The tail is one of the most attractive features of all variety of betta fish. Betta fish are often classified based on the shape and size of their tail. The last thing you need is to purchase one betta fish, to find out you like a different variety more. Here are all the different types to choose from! Easy to breed Less aggressive Weak swimmers Halfmoon Tail Halfmoon Tail Quite aggressive 12
Crowntail Crowntail Combtail Combtail Delta Tail Delta Tail Named after the Greek alphabetic letter, Bettas with a Delta Tail have a tail that starts narrow towards the body of the fish and widens towards the tip giving it a triangular shape with straight edges. Similar to Crowntails, Combtails have spikes in the end. Combtail Betta has a webbed tail and fins appearing just like a wide-toothed comb. The webbing will extend more than 2/3 towards the tip. Crowntails have webbing similar to that of Combtails. However, they do not reach all the way down each ray. Their tails have spikes that resemble a crown. The tail webbing will extend no more than 2/3 towards the tips. Very aggressive Dominant and territorial Prefer to live alone Can only be bred through selective breeding Various levels of aggression 13
Rosetails are similar in appearance to Feather Tails. It has excessive tail branching which causes overlapping giving it a rose like aesthetic. Feathertail Feathertail Spadetail Spadetail Rosetail Rosetail The name of these Bettas indicates the shape of their spade-like tails. Their caudal fins meet at a point, while the bottom fins are straighter and pointier than other betta varieties. The Feathertail variety of Bettas has beautifully ruffled fins that are long and wide. Their feathery look comes from the triangular shape along the edges of their fins and tails. Quite aggressive Not recommended for new owners Quite aggressive Easy to breed 14
Double tail Double tail Plakat Plakat The term Plakat betta is used to describe short finned betta fish. The tail is short and round. They descend directly from the line of Siamese Fighting Betta with their wild, ancestral counterparts. As its name suggests, double tail bettas have two distinct tails, each shaped like a half moon. This sets them apart from similar-looking bettas, which have only single, split tails. Very aggressive Very active Famous for trying to jump out from the aquarium More prone to bladder disease It is not recommended to breed with other types 15
CHAPTER 3 bETTA FISH CHARACTERISTICS bETTA FISH CHARACTERISTICS 16
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Female THE DIFFERENCE OF MALE AND FEMALE BETTA FISH THE DIFFERENCE OF MALE AND FEMALE BETTA FISH People who are new to the world of betta keeping are sometimes surprised to learn that the classic betta fish with long, flowing fins are always male. Male and female bettas can look very similar unless you know exactly what to look for. How would you know which is which? The best approach is to look at a combination of small differences between the two. More subdued in color Short and wide-bodied Smaller, less visible beard Show vertical stripes when ready to mate Have “egg spot” between ventral and anal ffns 18
Male In general, males have extravagant finnage and bright colors, whereas females have short fins and are less gaudy in appearance. Consequently, it’s usually male fish that you’ll find for sale in regular pet stores. Longer, fiatter bodies Much longer Larger, more ffns visible beard Can blow bubble nest Brightly colored 19
THE ANATOMY OF BETTA FISH THE ANATOMY OF BETTA FISH Knowing your betta fish’s anatomy is part of being a good caretaker. This magnificent species has important anatomical features called out in the diagram below: Operculum Mouth Beard Pectoral Fin Pelvic Fins 20
Anal / Ventral Fin Caudal Fin (Tail) Dorsal Fin Scan this diagram to see the internal anatomy of Betta fish! 21
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CHAPTER 4 TANK SETUP TANK SETUP 23
Fish Tanks for Bettas To keep betta fish healthy and happy, it’s important to keep them in an environment that is similar to their natural habitat. Recreating a betta’s environment should be the top priority when keeping them in a habitat within your house. Here’s what your betta tank setup will need: Tank size: At least 2.5 gallons in size, ideally it should be 5 gallons. If you plan to add more fish to your aquarium, start with a minimum of 10 gallons. Water temperature: Since Betta fish is a tropical fish, the room temperature is ideal (25 to 27 degrees Celcius). Water quality: Calm water, without strong currents, and with a pH of between 6.8 and 7.5. Decorations: Provide plenty of hiding places and decorations for your fish to explore. Live plants can be a good way of introducing oxygen into the water, and can also provide hiding places for your Betta fish. Prized for their beauty, bettas are very popular fish. Unfortunately, this has led to some pet owners keeping betta fish for their looks and not bothering to take care of them. A common myth is that bettas do just fine in tiny, undecorated glass vases. Keeping any fish in a tiny living space is cruel, and bettas are no exception. Bettas need clean water and a sizable, decorated tank to thrive. Never put any fish into a bare, empty, small bowl. 24
Building a betta tank Tank size Decorations & Plants Minimum 2.5 gallons (9.5 liters), ideally 5 gallons. Temperature Substrate Room temperature (25 to 27 degrees Celcius.) Use either gravel or sand substrate Filtration Water Low current for a calm, healthy environment. Calm water, without strong currents, and with a pH of between 6.8 and 7.5. help keep the water cleaner through biological filtration. 25
Live plants help purify the water from your fish’s waste, but they also provide a beautiful, natural environment for your betta. In the wild, Betta splendens are commonly found in tropical marshes and rice paddy fields chock-full of thick vegetation. Therefore, aquarium plants serve as excellent enrichment for your betta to explore, obstacles to block line of sight in case he gets territorial, and resting places for him to sleep at night. PLANTS FOR YOUR TANK PLANTS FOR YOUR TANK 26
Top 10 Betta Fish Plants Java Fern Cryptocoryne Betta Bulb Water Sprite Amazon Sword Plant Vallisneria Marimo Moss Ball Anubias Amazon Frogbit 27
WHAT DO BETTAS fish EAT? Betta fish are carnivorous animals. In the wild, they hunt insects, larvae, and insect eggs from the water’s surface. So this means that your betta should be eating a meat/protein-based fish food. Packed with all the protein and nutritional ingredients that your betta fish needs Packed with protein and guaranteed not to contain the parasites that sometimes come with live food Never give your betta regular tropical fish or goldfish flakes. The main drawback is that they tend to sink once wet An extremely convenient way of introducing some high-quality meaty protein into your betta fish’s diet A very popular variety of fish food that is readily available from all good fish stores In nature, most of the betta fish’s diet consists of insects and larvae. You can replicate that in the captive environment by feeding your betta with live food. Baby Pellets Frozen Food Betta Pellets Live Food Freeze-dried Food Fish Flakes 28
How Often Do You Feed A Betta Fish? How Often Do You Feed A Betta Fish? How Often Do You Feed A Betta Fish? You should feed a betta fish two small feeds per day. Feeding your betta fish once in the morning and once at night every day is great. Making these feeds around 12 hours apart and at the same time, every day will help you and your betta get in a routine. Some owners opt to fast their betta fish for 24 hours once every 10-14 days. This day of fasting helps reduce the chance of constipation. 29
CHAPTER 5 BETTA FISH TANKMATES BETTA FISH TANKMATES 30
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Bettas are considered one of the most aggressive freshwater fish. It is not recommended to keep male betta fish together in the same tank. If males are kept together, they will likely fight until the death. Female bettas can be housed together since they are not territorial like males, and will often form docile groups. CAN BETTA FISH BE PUT TOGETHER? CAN BETTA FISH BE PUT TOGETHER? VSVS 32
BETTA FISH TANK MATES Mystery Snail Mystery Snail Keeping betta fish with other kinds of fish can be tricky unless you know what you’re getting yourself into. When considering fish and other aquatic animals to put with bettas, you always want to make sure that your potential tank mates will thrive in the same water conditions and habitats as your betta fish does. Here are some top recommendations for betta fish tank mates. Mystery snails are a great because they feed on uneaten food and clean up algae, helping with aquarium cleanliness.Mystery snails are plant-safe and do well with bettas because of their docile nature. Tank Size: 5 Gallons or more Feeder Guppies Feeder Guppies Feeder guppies don’t have the bright coloring or long fins like the fancy guppy. This makes them an ideal fish to live with a betta. Guppies are also content living on their own, so adding one as a tank mate is easier than schooling fish. Tank Size: 8 gallons or more 33
Neon Tetra Neon Tetra Amber Tetra Amber Tetra Harlequin Rasbora Harlequin Rasbora The rasbora is a shoaling fish that prefers to live with a school of 5 to 6 in a tank. They’re great tank mates for a betta as long as your tank is 10 gallons or more. Embers are another species of the tetra and will even school with neon tetras. They require groups of 4-6 tetras for adequate schooling. Much like the betta fish, they also prefer heavily planted tanks and tasty brine shrimp. Despite advising betta fish owners to avoid tank mates with bright colors, the neon tetra can do well with betta fish because of their speed. In your community tank you will need to add more than one, as neon tetras prefer to school in packs of 6 to 10. Tank Size: 10 Gallons or more Tank Size: 10 Gallons or more Tank Size: 10 Gallons or more 34
As with all fish, personalities will differ, so knowing your betta fish before adding them to an aquarium with other fish, is a good idea. If they show signs of aggression, it’s common sense to keep them away, but if they don’t show any hostile behavior, then feel free to experiment with other species. 35
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CHAPTER 6 Betta FISH Fun facts Betta FISH Fun facts 37
BETTA FISH FUN FACTS Betta fish can jump Betta fish can jump A betta tank should always have a secure lid on it as bettas are great jumpers. In the wild, they jump out of the water to move between locations and catch food. In the aquarium, jumping can be a sign of stress due to poor water conditions, stress, or improper care. Betta fish flare their gills and fins Betta fish flare their gills and fins When upset, betta fish will flare their gills and fins to appear larger than they actually are. This can be very stressful for the fish if unwarranted. On the other hand, some hobbyists intentionally make their betta fish flare to provide some stimulation and enrichment. Now that you know the basic knowledge on how to take care of your betta fish, there are a lot more interesting betta fish facts that you will definitely enjoy and learn a lot from and get to know more about your betta fish. 38
Male betta fish build bubble nests Male betta fish build bubble nests Using their labyrinth organ, male betta fish blow bubbles at the surface of the water to create mats of bubbles. These are prepared nests, ready to house fertilized eggs once connected with a female. As the eggs are fertilized, the male will catch them and place them into the bubble nest. After a few days, the eggs will hatch and paternal care will end. 39
Copyright Nur Dayana Batrisya 2024 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retreival system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher and copyright holders. The moral rights of the author and editor have been asserted. Betta Love Written and illustrated by Nur Dayana Batrisya Nor Azhar Edited by Nur Aiza Zainol Abidin Printed by Print Expert Sdn Bhd, Malaysia. First Printing Edition: February 2024 https://dyaaart.carrd.co/ Printed in Malaysia Nur Dayana Batrisya was born in 10 March 2001. Currently she studies in UiTM Puncak Alam, Selangor, majoring in Bachelor’s Degree graphic design. She has a passion for art ever since childhood. She specialized in graphic design and illustration. In the future, she aspires to become a successful graphic designer and illustrator in the future. NUR DAYANA BATRISYA NOR AZHAR
Betta Love is a beautifully illustrated guidebook that will show you how to properly care for your pet betta fish at home. This book also includes Augmented Reality (AR) for a fun and interactive experience. Covering all the basic steps, from learning the different types of Betta fish, to setting up your Betta fish tank and feeding them, this book is an essential reference for the basic steps of Betta fish care.