Can a Betta Fish Live in Tap Water?

Bettas are beautiful, shiny fish with a unique appearance and behavior. As tropical fish, betta fish for sale need to live in warm water all the time. Even though their natural habitat is warm and humid, they need special care if you want to keep them as pets at home. If you have an aquarium or a bowl – there are many ways of getting your Betta the home conditions it needs to thrive. One way is by using artificial filters that remove ammonia from the water, but there’s something else you need to know before bringing your Betta home: Can a Betta live in tap water? Let’s find out.

What is ammonia?

The ammonia level in tap water can be dangerous for fish, including Bettas. However, the ammonia level in tap water is usually not high enough to kill fish right away. Instead, it is the buildup of ammonia in the water that can kill fish over time. Ammonia is a toxic compound produced by the breakdown of waste materials in a fish tank. It is harmful to fish because it interferes with their ability to use oxygen. 

Therefore, water with high levels of ammonia is not suitable for fish. The best way to prevent ammonia buildup in your fish tank is by regularly cleaning your tank and changing a portion of the water. Ammonia levels in water can be reduced by running an aquarium filter and changing the filter cartridge regularly.

Why does tap water have ammonia in it?

In the wild, the waters that Bettas live in are warm and humid. The water temperature is around 80°F and the air temperature is around 84°F. These tropical conditions are perfect for growing lots of bacteria. Bacteria break down the fish waste into ammonia, which is then removed by plants and filters. Betta fish are kept in tropical temperatures with lots of plants that remove ammonia from the water by themselves. 

In the wild, this process is so efficient that the water is not polluted with ammonia at all. In a bowl or an aquarium, Bettas need special equipment to remove ammonia from the water. Without this equipment, ammonia would build up in the water and become toxic to the fish.

Can a Betta live in tap water with ammonia?

Unfortunately, yes. If you don’t have an aquarium or a bowl with a filter, it’s very difficult to keep the ammonia levels in tap water low enough for the fish. Depending on the amount of fish waste and the amount of water you change each week, the ammonia level in tap water can be between 0 and 2ppm – sometimes even more. 

The level of ammonia that is safe for fish varies between species. Bettas are particularly sensitive to ammonia and can die at levels lower than 0.5 ppm. This means that even if you don’t have an aquarium filter, you could still keep Bettas if the ammonia level in your tap water is below 0.5 ppm.

Can a Betta live in bottled water with ammonia?

This is a much better option for Betta fish. If you can’t install an aquarium filter in your bowl or if you don’t want to change the water every week, you could take bottled water from a store and just let your Betta live in it. Bettas are tropical fish and need warm water. If you use colder bottled water, you could put your Betta at risk for developing swim bladder disorder. Bettas like to live in water that is between 78 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit. You can put a thermometer in the water of your bowl so you can check the temperature. If it is not warm enough, you can add warm water to bring it up to the right temperature.

Alternatives for Betta bowl and aquarium with tap water

– Put a filter in your aquarium – The easiest way to lower the ammonia level in tap water is by using an aquarium filter. This will reduce the ammonia level to a safe level for your Betta and enable you to have a regular aquarium.

– Use a Betta bowl – If you want to keep your Betta in a bowl and don’t want to install a filter, you could get a bowl that has an internal filter. This will keep the water clean and enable you to change a smaller volume of water more often.

– Change the water more often – If you don’t have a filter and keep your Betta bowl in a place that stays warm, you could change the water more often and lower the ammonia level in the water.

– Change the water completely – If your water has a high level of ammonia, you could change the water completely. Fill the bowl with clean water and put your Betta fish in it. After the ammonia level in the bowl has gone down, you could slowly start putting some of the old water back in the bowl.

Conclusion

Betta fish are tropical fish that like warm water and clean water. They can’t live in water that has too much ammonia. Water with too much ammonia can damage the gills of fish. It can also make them more sensitive to diseases. If you want to keep Betta fish, you need to keep an eye on the water conditions in your aquarium or bowl. You can do this by testing the water regularly. If the water has too much ammonia, you can change the water more often and install an aquarium filter so that the water is clean again. With the right equipment, Betta fish can thrive in your aquarium or bowl and keep your home smelling nice with their beautiful scent.