{"product_id":"assorted-female-fighting-fish-betta-splendens","title":"Assorted Female Fighting Fish | Betta splendens","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe living jewel of the aquarium, the Siamese Fighting Fish flares in colours and finnage no other fish can match, and every one is an individual with real personality. This listing is for assorted females, hand-picked from our stock. Females are shorter-finned and more tolerant than males, and can even be kept together in a well-planted group. Given warm, gently filtered, lidded water, a betta will dazzle for years.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eBetta splendens originates on the central plains of Thailand and neighbouring parts of Southeast Asia, where it lives in shallow, warm, slow or still waters such as rice paddies, ditches and floodplains. As a labyrinth fish it gulps air from the surface, so it copes with warm, low-oxygen water but needs a lid and a little warm air space above the surface. Gentle planting and warmth suit it best.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemales are more compact than males, with shorter fins, but come in the same glorious range of colours — reds, blues, coppers, marbles and pastels — that this assorted group reflects. A dark horizontal barring often shows when they are unsettled, giving way to strong colour as they relax. Each fish is unique, and colour intensifies as it settles into warm, clean water.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemales are far more tolerant of one another than males and can be kept as a group (a 'sorority') of five or more in a larger, well-planted tank with plenty of broken sight lines, though they still form a pecking order. A single female also makes a lovely, peaceful centrepiece. Avoid keeping them with fin-nippers or with male bettas outside of controlled breeding.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA surface-oriented carnivore that thrives on a staple of quality betta pellets, supplemented with frozen and live foods such as bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp. Feed small amounts once or twice daily and avoid overfeeding, as bettas are prone to bloating.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum of around 5 L for a single female, though 20 L or larger is needed for a sorority and is easier to keep stable. Keep temperature warm and steady at 24–28 °C with a heater, pH 6.5–7.5 and soft to neutral water, around GH 2–12. Use gentle filtration, a secure lid with a little air gap, and soft plants or silk decor with no sharp edges. Generally plant safe.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA bubble-nest breeder. The male builds a raft of bubbles at the surface, courts the female beneath it and wraps around her in an embrace, then tends the eggs and fry himself. Breeding requires a separate, carefully managed tank, as the pair must be watched and the female removed after spawning to prevent injury.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003ctable\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBetta splendens\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSiamese Fighting Fish (assorted females)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThailand and Southeast Asia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 5–6 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–5 years with good care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFemales more tolerant; can be kept in a group with care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 L (single); 20 L+ for a group\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore: betta pellets, frozen and live foods\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.5–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoft to moderate, around 2–12 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHeated, lidded nano and community aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003c\/table\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn a larger tank, suitable tank mates include calm, non-nippy fish such as small rasboras, ember tetras, corydoras, kuhli loaches, otocinclus and snails. A single female is also perfectly content kept alone.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with male bettas (outside controlled breeding), fin-nippers such as tiger barbs and serpae tetras, and other flashy, long-finned fish. Avoid boisterous or aggressive species and cool, unheated water.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55351901684003,"sku":"AA1547-S","price":12.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232796655907,"sku":"AA1547","price":17.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/assorted-female-fighting-fis-43884305056035.webp?v=1790306097","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/assorted-female-fighting-fish-betta-splendens","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}