Bettas

What are betta fish?

Bettas, also known as Siamese fighting fish, are freshwater tropical fish native to Southeast Asia. They’re some of the most popular fish in the fishkeeping hobby as they come in a huge variety of shapes, colours, and patterns. Like koi carp, they’re often bred for different characteristics, such as tail shape, scale type, and pectoral fin size. Some popular varieties include crown tail bettas, dumbo bettas, half moon bettas, alien bettas, and koi bettas.

How long do betta fish live for?

Owning a betta fish is quite a commitment. On average, bettas live for 2-4 years but it’s not uncommon to hear of them living for more than 5 years if they’re properly cared for, kept in a suitably sized and well-filtered aquarium, and fed a diet of specially formulated betta food. We recommend an aquarium that can hold at least 19L of water for a betta fish. It’s also important that you add a filter and a heater to this aquarium. Do these things and your betta fish will live a long and happy life.

What fish can live with bettas?

It’s true that betta fish can be aggressive, particularly males, but this doesn’t mean that they can’t be kept alongside other tropical fish. The best types of fish to keep alongside bettas are fish that won’t nip their fins, such as neon tetra and other small tetra, fish that live at the bottom of your aquarium, such as corydoras and plecos, and fish that are most active at night, such as kuhli loaches. Bettas also get along well with invertebrates, like snails, but they may sometimes go after shrimp.

Not all betta fish can be successfully housed alongside other fish; if you notice your betta bullying your other fish – or vice versa – remove them and place them in their own aquarium. You can increase the chances of your betta getting along with your other fish by increasing the size of your aquarium (tanks larger than 35L are best), adding in live plants and other décor that will interrupt their lines of sight, and only pairing them with suitable tankmates.

Do betta fish need a filter?

Yes, just like any pet fish, bettas need to be kept in a suitably sized aquarium equipped with some kind of filter. The best types of filters for betta fish tanks are sponge filters as they’re quick and easy to install, budget friendly, and don’t produce powerful flows. As slow-moving fish, bettas prefer calm water, so sponge filters and other filters that only create a small amount of flow, such as waterfall filters and small internal filters, are perfect for betta aquariums.