Use a quality water conditioner such as Seachem Prime before putting fresh tap water in the tank. The chlorine and chloramines in standard tap water can harm bettas, as well as kill off all that beneficial bacteria housed in the filter. Older sources may suggest aging the water (standing it for a time) but it's best to use a water conditioner, as aged water removes chlorine but not chloramine and heavy metals. Use a master freshwater test kit to ensure that your tank is completely cycled before adding your betta! The parameters should be: ammonia 0 ppm, nitrite 0ppm, nitrate <20 ppm, and around 7 pH. It is a not a good idea to use distilled bottled water because this deprives your betta of necessary minerals and is not fish 'safe'. Treated tap water is both a cheaper and better alternative. If the tank is without a top cover, fill it about 80% high to ensure your fish won't leap out. Bettas are very active and can jump over 3 inches/7.5cm when motivated! However, bettas usually won't be trying to escape if they're comfortable in their home.

Summary: Prepare the water. Fill the betta's tank.


When handling liquid bleach, it's important that you wear thick rubber gloves and a facemask. Bleach can damage your skin, nose, eyes, and mouth so keep it away from your face while you're cleaning. You'll want to make sure that you never mix liquid bleach with other household cleaning products like ammonia, vinegar, or rubbing alcohol. Only use cold or warm water when cleaning with bleach. If you mix bleach with the wrong cleaning product, it can create dangerous noxious fumes. Fill up a spray bottle with a quart of warm water. Do not mix bleach with boiling water because it can release a dangerous gas. Get water from the tap and test it with your finger to make sure that it's lukewarm. Carefully measure out ¾ of a teaspoon (1.64 ml) of chlorine bleach and pour it into the top of the spray bottle. Once you add the bleach, shake the bottle to mix the solution together. The cleaning solution is now ready to be used for the interior and exterior of your dishwasher.

Summary: Wear the proper safety gear. Take the proper safety precautions. Fill a spray bottle with warm water. Add chlorine bleach to the bottle.


Look back over your recorded cycles to find the shortest cycle within the last 6 months. Then, subtract 18 from the total number of days in this cycle. For example, if the total number of days in your shortest cycle was 27, then subtracting 18 would give you a result of 9. Next, pull out your cycle for the current month. Find the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP) and count forward by the number you got as your result. The day you mark is the first day in that cycle that you might be able to become pregnant. For example, if you got a result of 9, then you would count forward to day 9 on your current cycle calendar and mark this day. This is the first fertile day in your fertile window for the current cycle. Look back over your recorded cycles to find the longest cycle on record. Then, subtract 11 from the total number of days in this cycle. For example, if the total number of days in your longest cycle was 32, then subtracting 11 would give you a result of 21. Start at day 1 on your calendar again and count to the result you got by subtracting 11 from your longest cycle. This will give you the end date of your fertile window. Mark this date on your calendar. For example, if you got a result of 21, then day 21 on your calendar would be the end of your fertile window for the current cycle.

Summary: Subtract 18 from the total days in your shortest recorded cycle. Count from the first day on the calendar to find your first fertile day. Subtract 11 from the longest cycle in your record. Count forward on the calendar to find the last fertile day.


You can use geese to hatch their own eggs, but doing so can be expensive and difficult since geese do not lay while sitting on their eggs. Muscovy ducks provide the ideal conditions.  Turkeys and chicken hens can work well, too. Natural incubation is believed to produce the best results overall, but if you cannot use natural incubation, artificial means will also work. Make sure that the hens you use are already broody.  In other words, they need to have laid enough eggs of their own for their natural instincts to kick in and demand a period of brooding. For a Muscovy duck, place six to eight eggs underneath her. For a chicken hen, you can only fit about four to six eggs. If you do use a goose to hatch her own eggs, you can place 10 to 15 eggs under her. If using ducks or chicken hens, the eggs will be too large for the birds to turn naturally. You'll need to turn the eggs by hand on a daily basis.  Wait until the bird leaves the nest to eat and drink. After 15 days, sprinkle the eggs with lukewarm water when you turn them. After the tenth day, pass the eggs under a bright light to look inside. Infertile eggs should be discarded and fertile eggs should be returned to the nest. Incubation can take 28 to 35 days, and hatching can take as long as three days. Keep the conditions of the nest clean throughout this entire period and continue turning the eggs each day during the entire process.
Summary: Use Muscovy ducks, when possible. Lay the eggs under the bird. Turn the eggs by hand. Candle the eggs. Wait until the eggs hatch.