- Common name
- Alien betta
- Scientific name
- Betta splendens-complex hybrid ('Alien' line)
- Category
- Freshwater fish
- Group
- Domestic betta hybrids
- Environment
- Freshwater aquarium
- Origin
- Domestic breeder-created hybrid line; exact parent species and generation vary between breeders and are often undocumented
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- Unknown by standardised line — commonly about 5–7 cm total length
- Expected lifespan
- Plan for about 3–5 years. Hybrid-line ancestry and individual conformation may affect longevity, so avoid unsupported claims for a fixed maximum.
- Minimum housing
- At least 40 L with a 45 cm or longer footprint for one adult male
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Hardness / minerals
- 2–15 °dGH (approximately 36–268 mg/L as CaCO₃)
- Salinity
- Freshwater; 0 ppt routine salinity
- Lighting
- Subdued with floating or overhanging cover
- Placement / zone
- Upper and middle water with easy surface access
- Filtration
- Use mature biological filtration sized for the complete adult alien betta group, with guarded intakes and accessible mechanical capture. Keep flow gentle with a calm warm surface and no fin-damaging suction where the fish lives, and maintain undetectable ammonia and nitrite.
- Aeration
- Maintain reliable surface agitation and oxygen exchange at all times. Increase aeration during warm weather, medication, transport recovery, heavy feeding or any sign of rapid breathing.
- Maintenance
- Perform regular matched-water changes guided by nitrate and waste, remove uneaten food and trapped detritus, clean mechanical media without disrupting the biofilter, and record feeding, body condition, respiration and aggression.
Identity and search names
Domestic hybrid line within the Betta splendens complex. “Alien” does not describe a valid species and exact parentage may differ among breeders.
Search names: alien hybrid betta, wild-type alien betta
Environment and housing
Warm gentle water, dense cover, resting leaves, low current and a secure lid retaining warm humid air above the surface
Social structure: Usually keep one adult male; breeding pairs are temporary and require close supervision
Feeding and nutrition
Feeding ecology: Small insectivore or carnivore pellets plus frozen or live aquatic invertebrates
Feeding routine: One or two small measured meals daily with regular body-condition checks
Breeding, reproduction or spread
Usually bubble-nest spawning, but fertility and behaviour can vary with hybrid ancestry
Detailed care and app-ready planning
- Identity scope
- Domestic hybrid line within the Betta splendens complex. “Alien” does not describe a valid species and exact parentage may differ among breeders.
- Adult size and space
- Standardised maximum size is unknown because the line is not fixed. Adults are commonly about 5–7 cm total length; use at least 40 L and a 45 cm footprint for one male.
- Social structure
- Keep one adult male in the minimum enclosure. Females and breeding pairs require individual assessment, refuge and immediate separation if attacked.
- Swimming zone or placement
- Upper and middle water with frequent surface access for labyrinth breathing.
- Feeding ecology
- Small-predator labyrinth fish adapted to insects and other small animal foods.
- Feeding plan
- Use quality insectivore or carnivore pellets with varied frozen or live foods. Feed one or two small meals and avoid obesity.
- Water stability
- Maintain 24–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.5 and roughly 2–15 °dGH with low current and warm humid air above the surface.
- Habitat structure
- Provide dense plants or cover, resting leaves near the surface, gentle filtration and a secure lid.
- Compatibility plan
- Do not keep adult males together. Choose calm tank mates only after assessing the individual and remove fin nippers or persistent competitors.
- Breeding or reproduction plan
- Bubble-nest breeding is expected, but hybrid fertility and behaviour are line-dependent. Record parentage and do not sell offspring as a pure wild species.
- Quarantine
- Quarantine separately and confirm feeding, respiration, fins, skin, waste and normal surface behaviour.
- Welfare checks
- Check body condition, fins, breathing, surface access, temperature, hiding and aggression.
- Biosecurity and release
- Never release fish, eggs, fry, plants or water. Verify hybrid import and movement requirements using the exact declared identity.
- Main risk
- False species labelling and severe aggression in unsuitable social housing.
- Adult projected load
- Project biological load from the full adult alien betta group, adult body mass, feeding pattern, activity and social requirement rather than juvenile sale size. One male has a low body load, but warm water, protein-rich feeding, long fins and a compact aquarium leave little tolerance for waste or oxygen decline.
- Filtration
- Use mature biological filtration sized for the complete adult alien betta group, with guarded intakes and accessible mechanical capture. Keep flow gentle with a calm warm surface and no fin-damaging suction where the fish lives, and maintain undetectable ammonia and nitrite.
- Aeration
- Maintain reliable surface agitation and oxygen exchange at all times. Increase aeration during warm weather, medication, transport recovery, heavy feeding or any sign of rapid breathing.
- Maintenance
- Perform regular matched-water changes guided by nitrate and waste, remove uneaten food and trapped detritus, clean mechanical media without disrupting the biofilter, and record feeding, body condition, respiration and aggression.
- Overridable warnings
- Non-overridable: do not accept persistent ammonia or nitrite, oxygen distress, starvation, chronic aggression or inadequate adult space. Different equipment, stocking or maintenance methods may be used only when measured water quality and adult welfare remain equivalent or better. Alien is a commercial hybrid-line label, not a formally described wild species; keep one adult male unless a deliberate expert breeding arrangement is used.
Compatibility, welfare and risk
Compatibility: Assess the individual. Never house adult males together, and avoid fin nippers or strong current
Welfare: Tiny unheated containers are not acceptable. Stable warmth, cover, surface air and enough room to exercise are basic requirements.
Main warning: “Alien” is a trade line, not a formally described species or proof of pure Betta smaragdina, B. mahachaiensis or any other wild taxon.
Biosecurity and release
Never release aquarium fish or water. Hybrid import eligibility cannot be assumed from a parent species; verify the exact declared taxon and line with BICON and the Live Import List.