Betta fish are known for their bright colors .
鬥魚以色彩鮮豔而聞名。
They are popular with Americans as pets .
牠們是很受美國人歡迎的寵物。
They are often kept alone in a small tank .
牠們通常被單獨養在一個小魚缸裡。
Male fish are prized for their stronger colors and beautiful fins .
雄魚因顏色更濃豔、魚鰭更漂亮而備受青睞。
With good care , bettas live three to five years , but some are known to live 10 years .
如果照顧得好，鬥魚能活三到五年，有些甚至能活10年。
Keeping a betta fish can be a fun hobby that does not involve going outside .
養鬥魚是一項不用出門也能享受的有趣嗜好。
It also does not require too much skill , but you do have to be willing to learn .
這也不需要太多技巧，但你必須願意學習。
But how do you take care of a betta fish ?
那麼，該怎樣照顧鬥魚呢？
First , betta fish need a home .
首先，鬥魚需要一個家。
A tank that holds at least 11 liters of water is suggested although 19 liters is better .
建議使用至少能裝11公升水的魚缸，不過19公升的更好。
Larger tanks are better because the water needs to be changed less often and provides a healthier environment for the fish .
魚缸越大越好，因為換水次數更少，也能為魚提供更健康的環境。
Second , the tank needs small rocks or sand at the bottom .
其次，魚缸底部需要鋪上小石子或沙子。
In the pet fish industry , this is called substrate .
在觀賞魚行業，這被稱為底砂。
A few centimeters at the bottom are all that is needed .
底部鋪幾公分厚就夠了。
Clean the rocks or sand with running water without soap until it runs clear before adding them to the tank .
在把石子或沙子放進魚缸前，先用流水沖洗（不要用肥皂），直到水變清為止。
Third , a filter is needed to purify the water .
第三，需要一個過濾器來淨化水質。
Many people keep bettas without filters .
很多人養鬥魚不用過濾器。
But the fish should be raised with a filter to stay healthy .
但為了讓魚保持健康，應該使用過濾器。
Follow the filter's guidelines and choose a filter that is the right size for the tank .
按照過濾器的說明操作，並選擇與魚缸大小相符的過濾器。
Fourth , a heater is suggested to keep your fish in good condition .
第四，建議使用加熱器，讓魚保持良好狀態。
These fish prefer warmer water , usually between 24 and 28 degrees Celsius .
這種魚喜歡較溫暖的水，通常在攝氏24到28度之間。
Choose the right size for your aquarium and follow its guidelines , or instructions , to set it up .
選擇適合你魚缸大小的加熱器，並按照說明安裝。
A light and decorations are the final details to set up your tank .
燈光和裝飾是布置魚缸的最後細節。
A light may not be necessary if the room receives enough natural light .
如果房間有足夠的自然光，可能就不需要燈。
But an electric light might be helpful if you wish to grow plants in the tank .
但如果你想在魚缸裡種植物，電燈可能會有幫助。
If real plants seem like too much work , plastic plants work as well .
如果覺得真植物太麻煩，塑膠植物也可以。
You can also find other decorations like rocks , or wood pieces .
你還可以找到其他裝飾品，比如石頭或木塊。
Just make sure they are safe for fish .
只要確保它們對魚是安全的就行。
The quality of the water is important to keeping a fish alive and healthy .
水質對於讓魚存活和保持健康非常重要。
The filter and heater will do a lot to keep the water safe for the fish , but there are additional steps you should take .
過濾器和加熱器能在很大程度上確保水對魚是安全的，但你還應該採取一些額外措施。
Make sure the water you add to the tank is safe for fish .
確保加入魚缸的水對魚是安全的。
Tap water can be used .
可以使用自來水。
But it usually contains a chlorine-based chemical harmful to fish , so additional steps need to be taken .
但自來水通常含有對魚有害的含氯化學物質，所以需要採取額外措施。
Krista Keller is a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Veterinary Medicine .
克莉絲塔·凱勒是伊利諾大學厄巴納-香檳分校獸醫學院的教授。
Pet stores sell dechlorinating chemicals and they are easy to use .
寵物店有賣除氯劑，使用起來很方便。
Just follow the instructions on the container .
只要按照包裝上的說明使用即可。
Stores also sell home water testing products .
商店也販售家用水質檢測產品。
But many fish stores are happy to test your water if you bring in a small amount .
不過，如果你帶一點水過去，很多水族店都很樂意幫你檢測。
They can also provide advice on keeping fish in your area's water .
他們還能針對你所在地區的水質給出養魚建議。
After setting up your tank , there are a few more things to consider .
魚缸布置好之後，還有幾件事需要考慮。
You will need to feed your fish and change its water .
你需要餵魚並給牠換水。
There are many choices for food .
魚食有很多種選擇。
There are pellets , frozen whole foods , freeze-dried foods , and live food .
有顆粒飼料、冷凍整隻飼料、冷凍乾燥飼料和活餌。
Pet stores will carry many of these .
寵物店裡很多種都有賣。
Feed your fish once to twice a day .
每天餵魚一到兩次。
Whatever food you choose , make sure it contains meat or insects because that is what bettas eat in the wild .
無論選擇哪種魚食，都要確保含有肉類或昆蟲，因為野生鬥魚吃的就是這些。
It is suggested to change one fourth of your tank's water once every week or two .
建議每一到兩週更換魚缸裡四分之一的水。
Remove the old water and add fresh water .
把舊水抽出，再加入乾淨的水。
Your filter also may require some additional cleaning every month or so .
過濾器也可能需要大約每月清洗一次。
Male betta fish are kept alone because they are aggressive fish .
雄性鬥魚要單獨飼養，因為牠們是好鬥的魚。
Another name for bettas is Siamese fighting fish .
鬥魚的另一個名字是暹羅鬥魚。
Males should never be kept with other betta males .
雄魚絕對不能和其他雄性鬥魚養在一起。
If you have a larger tank with other fish , they might live together peacefully .
如果你有一個養著其他魚的大魚缸，牠們也許能和平共處。
But know that male betta fish often attack other fish and may have to live separately .
但要知道，雄性鬥魚經常攻擊其他魚，可能需要分開飼養。
Female betta fish can live with other fish peacefully .
雌性鬥魚可以和其他魚和平相處。
A group of females can be kept too .
也可以把一群雌魚養在一起。
Make sure they have a tank that is large enough and a filter designed for the tank's size .
確保魚缸夠大，並配備與魚缸尺寸相符的過濾器。