{"product_id":"black-white-samurai-female-betta-splendens","title":"Black \u0026 White Samurai Female | Betta splendens","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Siamese Fighting Fish is the living jewel of the aquarium, and this Black \u0026amp; White Samurai female wears the striking 'samurai' scale pattern - crisp metallic white and armour-plated black across the body. Females are shorter-finned and often more tolerant than males, with real personality of their own. Sold as a single hand-picked fish for a warm, gently-filtered, lidded tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBetta splendens originates from the warm, shallow, slow-moving waters of Thailand and Southeast Asia - rice paddies, floodplains, ditches and marshes. These waters are often warm and low in oxygen, which is why the betta evolved to breathe air at the surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA female betta with shorter, neater fins than the male, showing the bold black-and-white 'samurai' patterning of dense metallic scaling. Females are stockier through the body and, when in condition, show a white ovipositor spot between the ventral fins.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFemales are generally more tolerant than males and can sometimes be kept in a carefully managed sorority group in a large, heavily planted tank, though they still have their own pecking order and can squabble. A single female is easily kept in a community of calm, non-nippy fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA carnivore and micropredator that eats insects and larvae in the wild. Feed a quality betta pellet as the staple, supplemented with frozen or live bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp. Avoid overfeeding, as bettas are prone to bloating.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a labyrinth fish, the betta gulps air from the surface, so it needs access to the water's surface and a lid - both to let it breathe warm, humid air and to stop it jumping. Keep the water warm and stable with gentle filtration and no strong current. A minimum of 5 litres suits a single female, but 20 litres or more, heated and planted, is far better.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA bubble-nesting labyrinth fish. The male builds a raft of bubbles at the surface and embraces the female beneath it; she releases the eggs and is then removed, as the male tends the eggs and fry alone and turns aggressive toward her. Condition females well before any spawning attempt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBetta splendens\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSiamese Fighting Fish (Black \u0026amp; White Samurai Female)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoutheast Asia (Thailand); domesticated strain\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 5-6cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2-4 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFemales more tolerant; males solitary (will fight)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 litres (heated \u0026amp; lidded)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 litres or more\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore (micropredator)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24-28°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0-7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5-20 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWarm, planted, lidded betta or community tanks\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCalm, non-nippy community fish such as Corydoras, Kuhli loaches, ember and rummynose tetras, harlequin rasboras, and snails. A carefully managed sorority is possible for experienced keepers in a large planted tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMale bettas (except brief supervised spawning), fin-nippers such as tiger barbs and serpae tetras, bright or long-finned fish, and anything aggressive or boisterous.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55351904338211,"sku":"BA9219-S","price":50.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232798064931,"sku":"BA9219","price":60.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/black-white-samurai-female-b-43091484541219.webp?v=1790306085","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/black-white-samurai-female-betta-splendens","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}