Betta splendens
Centrepiece nano fish with personality and presence — the male's fins and colour are an aquascape feature on their own. Single males only; two males will fight. Filtered, heated, planted tank is the standard, not the unfiltered bowl.
Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens) reaches 6–7 cm as an adult and needs a minimum tank of 20 L. Native to Mekong basin, Thailand and Cambodia, it lives in the all water column with a territorial (single male per tank) temperament. Aim for 24–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.5, and 3–15 dGH hardness. Lifespan is 3–5 years with good care. Siamese Fighting Fish can be kept singly or in a small group. Diet: carnivore, Betta-specific pellets, frozen bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp. Skip flakes — most bettas spit them out. Plant-safe: Yes. Shrimp-safe: No (adult bettas pick off shrimp).
Care at a glance
Centrepiece nano fish with personality and presence — the male's fins and colour are an aquascape feature on their own. Single males only; two males will fight. Filtered, heated, planted tank is the standard, not the unfiltered bowl.
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Part of our complete guide to aquarium fish for the planted tank.
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The parameters that decide whether siamese fighting fish fits in your tank.
All
No
Can be kept solo
Osphronemidae
Carnivore
Betta-specific pellets, frozen bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp. Skip flakes — most bettas spit them out.
3–5 yrs
Medium
Mekong basin, Thailand and Cambodia
Mekong basin, Thailand and Cambodia
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
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Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens) needs a minimum tank of 20 L. They live in the all water column and can be kept singly, so a longer footprint matters more than depth.
Target 24–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.5, and 3–15 dGH hardness. Acclimate slowly when moving them between water sources.
Shrimp safety: No (adult bettas pick off shrimp). Plant safety: Yes.
Siamese Fighting Fish are carnivore. Betta-specific pellets, frozen bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp. Skip flakes — most bettas spit them out.
On Fin & Stem's 1–5 difficulty scale this species rates 2/5. Forgiving, beginner-friendly once the tank is cycled. Breeding difficulty: medium.
Typical lifespan in a well-maintained tank is 3–5 years.
A planted tank is a system. Pair this fish with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.
