Having a pet fish never appealed to me when I was a kid. I was convinced that fish were boring when they only lasted for a couple of weeks and that was it.

It wasn't until about a year ago, when I walked into my local pet store, and there in big bold letters was an advertisement for betta fishes. At that point, I had only seen Tumblr photos of the colorful fighting fish. It was cool to have a betta fish as a pet for the aesthetic. I too had fallen under the spell of fish, the beautiful close-up shots of shimmering fins made me want one all to myself. So, when I spotted a seemingly pink and translucent betta, I knew it had to be mine. I bought the first tank I saw, which was barely a one gallon tank with no heater or filter because it was the cheapest. I brought my betta, Fionna, home and that was what I thought was it. I had a cute pink fish in a cute pink tank and thought they were happy to be out of such a small and dirty tank.

But, after a little research, I discovered that Fionna's translucent appearance was not their true color. Fionna was pale, as bettas are when they're unhappy. Naturally, like any mother would, I did all I could to change that.

Some people don't understand what it's like to have a pet fish. To really care for one, there's a lot of hard work, betta's especially. Betta fishes are described as being the perfect first pet because they can be kept in anything, even a glass vase, but it's more complicated than that. I had no idea it's tedious work if you're planning to keep the little fish alive for more than a couple of weeks.

For every betta fish, they need at least a 2.5 to a 10 gallon tank that includes a heater, a thermometer and a filter. Anything smaller will make them absolutely miserable, keeping them floating at the bottom. Because betta fish are Siamese fighting fish, they're supposed to be kept active. They are also extremely territorial, which is why they need a bit of room to swim and why only one betta can be kept in a tank at a time. Once a tank is picked out, you must cycle the tank. This will take a while, so it's better to plan ahead before bringing anything home. Remember to always use de-chlorinated water for the tank by either boiling the water or using a conditioner. And since bettas are tropical fish, they need to be in warm water, anywhere between 75 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit.

Prone to stress, it's essential to make sure your tank is perfect for your betta. Purchasing a Freshwater Master Test Kit might seem pricey, but it will come in handy in the long run. It helps ensure that the levels of ammonia, nitrate and nitrite won't cause harm to your fish.

Cleaning the tank can be easy with the right method. Vacuum's are fish friendly and are more efficient than dumping all the water out. About one-third of the water needs to be changed either once or twice a week depending on the size of the tank (I have a 5 gallon tank and change the water once a week).

With a bit of plants and betta safe decor in your tank, your little betta should be a happy fish. And you may even be a little pleasantly surprised if your fish's color restored, I know I was when I saw Fionna's indigo body for the first time.

A healthy fish is a happy fish.

For more information on betta fish, BettaBlogging helps a ton for any question you might have!