Is hawaiian salt or see salt good for betta fighting fish?

Question

Well I went to buy a $30 fighting fish yesterday and I bought indian almond leaves with it. The person working there told me that I should put a pinch or 2 of hawaiian salt into the fish water. Is that true? He said it helps the fins clamp better and stuff. I never heard anyone say that before. I only read up that the almond leaves are the best. Anyway, I did fill up the 2 galon tank with some rocks, then dropped that amonia tablet stuff to lower the pH levels or something, then put 2 pinches of hawaiian salf and put half a leaf into the tank. Good?

Answer 1

keep up the work.

only the existence of your betta can tell you whether you're doing what you're suppose to.

if it lives, keep up the good work.

if it dies, try changing some of your methods.

Answer 2

The most important thing in keeping a bettas fins nice looking is clean water. Bettas, especially the fancier varieties such has crowntails and halfmoons, tend to deteriorate when they are kept in subpar water conditions. I have never heard about hawaiian salt on bettas, but you should NOT use sea salt in freshwater tanks. Aquarium salt, which is intended for freshwater tanks, is much purer, sea-salt has minerals and other things that could damage your fish, especially if he is not used to more saline conditions.

Aquarium salt is added to the aquarium to act as a prophylactic, it can help deter diseases that cannot withstand the salt. I have not heard of it improving finage. I would stick to the Indian Almond Leaves, myself, and most betta hobbyists swear by them. They should be enough to lower the pH in your tank. I would not recommend adding anything into your tank (especially tablets that you don't know what they do). A 2g tank is very small, and it is easy to overdose your fish.

As for Giant bettas, those were produced via selective breeding. If you look at a wild betta, you'll notice that it looks nothing like the "fancy" bettas you see in stores. This is the result of generations of selective breeding (breeding together only the fish that have the desired traits). Interestingly enough, the aggression that bettas are famous for, is also a selective trait. Wild species of bettas tend to be much more tolerant, and in some cases even enjoy, the company of members of their own species.

It may be useful to join a forum to lean more about your betta, and get some advice from other people whom have experience with more expensive bettas, I recommend

www.ultimatebettas.com  

Answer 3

Do not listen to Mr.Right, I suggest asking questions on a online fish forum. I wouldn't worry about the salt, Bettas live fine without salt. More importantly, the Betta needs clean conditioned water and a warm temperature of no lower than 74F. A 2g is on the small side for him, consider getting a 4 or 5g for him to live a happy and healthy long life. Giant Bettas and your common fish store Bettas are morphs of actual wild Bettas, they are pumped with man made hormones. A natural wild Betta looks nothing like your fish store Betta.