Betta
Betta splendens
Also sold as Plakat · Halfmoon · Siamese fighting fish · Bettas · Crowntail · Veiltail · Double tail betta
Synonyms Fighting fish · Betta fish · Beta fish · Dumbo betta · Siamese fighter
Betta (Betta splendens) is a semi-aggressive freshwater fish that reaches about 7 cm (2.8 in) and swims near the surface. It wants 75–82°F (24–28°C) and pH 6.5–7.5, can be kept singly, and needs a tank of at least 19 L (5 gal).
Check a freshwater stocking selection with your tank size and animal counts.
Try it in a tank
Put Betta in a 3D tank at your size and see how it sits with everything else. Free with an account.
At a glance
| Type | Fish |
|---|---|
| Adult size | 7 cm (2.8 in) |
| Minimum tank | 19 L (5 gal) |
| Group size | Can be kept singly |
| Temperature | 75–82°F (24–28°C) |
| pH | 6.5–7.5 |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive |
| Lifespan | 2–3 years |
| Eats shrimp | Yes |
Color forms · Same species, different color. Care is the same for all of them.
Before it goes in
- Betta needs at least 19 L (5 gal). The smallest size in this library that clears that is the Fluval Spec V.
- It eats shrimp. Cherry Shrimp, Crystal Red Shrimp and Bamboo Shrimp are on the menu.
- It holds at 75–82°F (24–28°C). That shares a window with Cherry Shrimp and Angelfish, but not with Goldfish and Dojo Loach.
- It can go wrong with Cherry Shrimp and Neon Tetra — it works in some tanks and not in others, so it is not a combination to buy blind.
- It is semi-aggressive — plan the tank around it rather than adding it to a finished community.
- It jumps. An open-top tank needs a lid or a low water line.
- One of them takes up roughly 40% of what a Fluval Spec V will comfortably hold, so plan the rest of the stock around it.
Betta: care and setup
What tank size does it need?
At least 19 L (5 gal). The smallest size here that clears it is the Fluval Spec V.
Will it eat shrimp?
Yes. Shrimp are food to it, so pick one or the other.
What water does it want?
75–82°F (24–28°C), pH 6.5–7.5.
How long does it live?
2–3 years in a tank that suits it. That is how long you are signing up for.
Good tank mates
- Tank mates from this library that share its temperature window, are peaceful and eat neither it nor its young: Bristlenose Pleco, Celestial Pearl Danio, Molly, Otocinclus and Ramshorn Snail.
- Plants that hold up with it: Hygrophila corymbosa 'Siamensis', Water Sprite, Anubias nana 'Petite' and Cryptocoryne wendtii.
Often compared with
| Betta | Bronze Cory | Odessa Barb | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult size | 7 cm | 7 cm | 7 cm |
| Min tank | 19 L | 75 L | 80 L |
| Group | 1+ | 6+ | 8+ |
| Temperature | 75–82°F (24–28°C) | 70–81°F (21–27°C) | 64–77°F (18–25°C) |
| Eats shrimp | Yes | Shrimplets only | Yes |