- Common name
- Betta
- Scientific name
- Betta splendens
- Category
- Freshwater fish
- Group
- Bettas and gouramis
- Environment
- Heated, gently filtered freshwater aquarium with a secure lid, air gap and easy access to the surface
- Origin
- Domestic ornamental lines derived mainly from Southeast Asian Betta splendens and affected by historical selection and hybrid ancestry
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- Up to 6.5 cm total length
- Expected lifespan
- Commonly around 3–5 years in well-managed captivity; individual longevity varies with domestic line, health and husbandry.
- Minimum housing
- 20 L or more for one adult; 10 L is an absolute welfare minimum, not a target; use at least 40 L for any carefully planned community
- Temperature
- 24–26 °C
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Hardness / minerals
- Unknown as a universal domestic-line range — use stable, source-matched mineral chemistry
- Salinity
- Freshwater; no routine salt addition
- Lighting
- Moderate with floating cover and a normal day–night cycle
- Placement / zone
- All levels, with frequent access to the surface
- Filtration
- Use mature biological filtration sized for the complete adult betta group, with guarded intakes and accessible mechanical capture. Keep flow very gentle with protected intakes, a calm surface and unobstructed atmospheric access 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 ornamental profile centred on Betta splendens. Modern colour and fin lines may contain historical ancestry from other Betta species, so they should not be represented as pure wild conservation stock.
Search names: Siamese fighting fish, Domestic betta, Fighting fish
Environment and housing
Heated, covered low-flow aquarium with broad surface access, smooth plants and shelters, guarded intakes and no sharp décor
Social structure: Keep one adult male per enclosure. Female groups are not reliably safe and require expert management, large space and a backup separation plan.
Feeding and nutrition
Feeding ecology: Carnivorous insect and zooplankton feeder; domestic fish accept quality prepared foods
Feeding routine: Feed one or two controlled meals daily with regular body-condition checks
Breeding, reproduction or spread
Male builds a bubble nest and tends eggs and newly hatched larvae; breeding requires separate conditioning, spawning and grow-out systems
Detailed care and app-ready planning
- Identity scope
- Domestic ornamental profile centred on Betta splendens. Modern colour and fin lines may contain historical ancestry from other Betta species, so they should not be represented as pure wild conservation stock.
- Adult size and space
- Adults reach about 6.5 cm total length. Provide 20 L or more for one adult; 10 L is an absolute minimum rather than a target. Use at least 40 L for a carefully selected community.
- Social structure
- Keep one adult male per enclosure. Do not rely on visual barriers to make two males safe. Female groups can fail suddenly and require expert observation and immediate separation capacity.
- Swimming zone or placement
- Uses all levels but must reach the surface freely to breathe atmospheric air.
- Feeding ecology
- Predatory feeder on insect larvae, small crustaceans and zooplankton; domestic fish can thrive on a varied high-quality prepared diet.
- Feeding plan
- Feed measured betta pellets or fine carnivore food once or twice daily, with small frozen or live invertebrates for variety. Prevent obesity and remove leftovers.
- Water stability
- Maintain 24–26 °C and pH 6.5–7.5 with stable source-matched hardness, zero ammonia and nitrite, gentle flow and routine partial water changes.
- Habitat structure
- Use a secure lid with warm humid air space, broad surface access, gentle filtration, floating and rooted plants, smooth refuge and guarded intakes.
- Compatibility plan
- Single housing is the safest baseline. In 40 L or more, choose peaceful non-nipping tankmates and keep a cycled backup enclosure ready; never combine adult males.
- Breeding or reproduction plan
- Use separate conditioned adults and a dedicated shallow spawning tank. The male tends the bubble nest; remove fish according to aggression and developmental stage, then provide specialist fry foods and grow-out space.
- Quarantine
- Quarantine in a separate cycled freshwater aquarium with dedicated nets and siphons. Match temperature and mineral chemistry, confirm normal feeding, respiration, skin, fins and waste, and never pour transport water into the established aquarium.
- Welfare checks
- Check temperature, appetite, body condition, fin integrity, surface breathing, buoyancy, resting behaviour, filter-current avoidance and persistent aggression or glass surfing.
- Biosecurity and release
- Never release fish, fry, eggs, aquarium water, sediment, plants or live foods into drains, dams or natural waterways. Check the exact accepted scientific name in current BICON and applicable South Australian rules before import, sale or movement; import eligibility does not authorise release or wild collection.
- Main risk
- Chronic cold, poor water quality or aggression in a bowl, tiny container or incompatible shared aquarium.
- Adult projected load
- Project biological load from the full adult betta group, adult body mass, feeding pattern, activity and social requirement rather than juvenile sale size. One adult has modest biomass, but warm water, protein-rich food and low-flow refuge still require a mature biofilter and dependable maintenance.
- Filtration
- Use mature biological filtration sized for the complete adult betta group, with guarded intakes and accessible mechanical capture. Keep flow very gentle with protected intakes, a calm surface and unobstructed atmospheric access 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. The heated 20 L target, secure lid, warm humid air gap and free surface access cannot be overridden by bowl traditions or temporary shop housing.
Compatibility, welfare and risk
Compatibility: Single-specimen housing is dependable. Community housing requires at least 40 L, peaceful non-nipping tankmates and an immediately available backup tank.
Welfare: Check temperature, surface access, respiration, appetite, body condition, fins, resting sites, filter flow and any repeated aggression or glass surfing.
Main warning: Bowls, unheated containers, strong current, blocked surface access and forced cohabitation with another male are unacceptable.
Biosecurity and release
Never release fish, fry, eggs, aquarium water, sediment, plants or live foods into drains, dams or natural waterways. Check the exact accepted scientific name in current BICON and applicable South Australian rules before import, sale or movement; import eligibility does not authorise release or wild collection.