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.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated 1 min read
Part of our complete guide to aquarium fish for the planted tank.
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.
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
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.
