Bettas

The Betta, also known as the Siamese Fighting Fish, is a popular aquarium fish. While most fish species show little difference in appearance between males and females, the Betta exhibits enormous variation in color and fin size. Think of fin shapes like halfmoon, spadetail, crowntail, and veiltail, and color varieties from the black and white Samurai to the colorful Koi, Copper, Metallic, and Dragon.

Vulnerable Fins

Many long-finned Bettas experience problems swimming due to the weight of their fully grown fins, resulting in them biting off their own fins to relieve themselves. There are even known cases of fins literally breaking because they are larger than the fish can support due to excessive breeding.

Ideal Habitat

A Betta feels most comfortable in a small aquarium of approximately 30 to 50 liters, at a water temperature around 26°C, with many plants and little water flow. Choose a larger Anubias species and some floating plants - it's better to avoid artificial plants and stones with sharp edges, as the fish can injure itself on them.

Bettas are labyrinth fish: they get their oxygen from the water surface. Ensure that the air temperature above the water is the same as the water temperature - an aquarium with a lid is therefore recommended.

Not a Community Fish

A Betta is not a suitable fish for a community aquarium. Males should always be kept solitarily: their aggressive, territorial nature makes other inhabitants unsafe. Never put a male and female together in the same aquarium - the female will not survive this.

Multiple Females Together

Keeping multiple females together is possible, provided the aquarium is spacious with plenty of plants and hiding places, so that each fish has sufficient territory. The females establish their pecking order among themselves, and this is not done gently. Choose females of approximately the same age, color, and size - a fish that stands out as an 'odd one out' is almost guaranteed to become a victim, recognizable by damaged fins.

Breeding

Males build bubble nests on the water surface, preferably among floating plants. When breeding, they place their eggs in these until they hatch. Breeding Bettas requires a lot of patience, knowledge, and especially space: a nest can easily contain 100 eggs, and within a few months, the young males must be separated from the females and from each other - for 70 young males, this means 70 separate aquariums.

Thorough Research in Advance

Always thoroughly research a fish species before purchasing it - not just with Bettas. Does the species fit your current fish stock? How large can the fish grow? What water parameters and food does it need? With these answers, you can avoid surprises later.