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Betta (Siamese fighting fish), photographed on a transparent background

FreshwaterIn the market90 coinsCommon

Betta (Siamese fighting fish)

Betta splendens

A stately surface fish that treats any long-finned fish as a rival.

The Betta (Siamese fighting fish) (Betta splendens) is a tropical freshwater fish of the family Osphronemidae. It swims in midwater, close to the bottom. Adults grow to about 6.5 cm. The IUCN Red List rates it Vulnerable. In the aquarium it needs a tank at least 45 cm long and water at 24–29 °C.

Size
6.5 cm
Smallest tank
45 cm
Temperature
24–29 °C
Care
Easy

In the aquarium

Temperature24–29 °C
pH6.0–7.8
Hardness3–15 °dGH
Temperament
Aggressive
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Calm
Water layer
Surface
Group
Lives on its own
Plants
Plant safe
Drawn to scale in a 45 cm tank

These values are compiled from real species data, and the LumaReef simulation is built to keep them true to life.

Which tank it fits

  • Nano60 cm · 65 litres13 of them
  • Standard90 cm · 180 litres36 of them
  • Wide120 cm · 300 litres60 of them
  • Living room180 cm · 650 litres130 of them
  • Showcase250 cm · 1,200 litres240 of them
  • Gallery300 cm · 1,440 litres288 of them

Who it lives with

Gets along25 species
Caution1 species

Narrow shared temperature range

Not together73 species

In the wild

Water type
Freshwater
Climate zone
Tropical
Habitat
Midwater, close to the bottom
Aquarium trade
Very common

Conservation status

Classification

  1. OrderAnabantiformes
  2. FamilyOsphronemidae
  3. GenusBetta
  4. SpeciesBetta splendens
  5. Described byRegan, 1910

In other languages

English
Siamese Fighting Fish
German
Siamesischer Kampffisch
Spanish
Pez Beta
Italian
Pesce combattente
Dutch
Siamese kempvis
Turkish
Betta Balığı
Russian
Бойцовая рыбка-петушок
Chinese
鬥魚

Quick answers

Betta (Siamese fighting fish) size: how big does it get?
Adults reach about 6.5 cm. Record sizes among the 21 Betta species on LumaReef: 2 cm (Snakehead Betta) to 9 cm (Giant betta).
Betta (Siamese fighting fish) tank size: what is the minimum?
A tank at least 45 cm long. In LumaReef that is the Nano tank or larger.
Betta (Siamese fighting fish) water parameters: what does it need?
Temperature 24–29 °C, pH 6.0–7.8, hardness 3–15 °dGH. Close to what most Betta on LumaReef need (22–28 °C).
Betta (Siamese fighting fish) tank mates: what can it live with?
It gets along with 25 of the 99 freshwater species in the catalogue, such as Diamond tetra, Dwarf gourami, and Swordtail.
Betta (Siamese fighting fish): alone or in a group?
It can be kept on its own.
Betta (Siamese fighting fish) and plants: is it plant safe?
Yes, it leaves plants alone.
Betta (Siamese fighting fish): is it endangered?
The IUCN Red List rates it Vulnerable. Threatened among the 18 assessed Betta species on LumaReef: 13.

All Osphronemidae speciesAll species A–Z

Sources

Betta (Siamese fighting fish): compiled from these references.