{"product_id":"blue-fin-mustard-gas-plakat-fighting-fish-female-betta-splendens","title":"Blue Fin Mustard Gas Plakat Fighting Fish Female | Betta splendens","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis Blue Fin Mustard Gas Plakat is a female Siamese Fighting Fish in the striking mustard-gas pattern, with a dark body giving way to bright blue fins edged in warm yellow. The plakat form keeps the fins short and neat, so she is a fast, robust and beautifully coloured betta. Females are more tolerant than males and reach around 6 cm, making a lovely centrepiece or the heart of a carefully managed sorority.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eBetta splendens comes from the shallow, still and slow-moving waters of Thailand and the wider Mekong basin, including rice paddies, floodplains, ditches and sluggish ponds. These warm, oxygen-poor waters are why the betta evolved a labyrinth organ to breathe air from the surface. Gentle filtration, live plants, leaf litter and plenty of resting spots recreate her home.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe mustard-gas pattern pairs a dark blue to steel body with brighter blue fins rimmed in mustard-yellow, a contrast that sharpens as she matures. As a plakat she has short, tidy fins and a stockier, more active build than the long-finned forms. Females are a little less flamboyant than males but still richly coloured.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemales are far more tolerant of one another than males and can sometimes be kept together in a well-planted sorority of five or more, though careful watching is essential as squabbles happen. A single female also does beautifully in a peaceful community. Avoid keeping her with fin-nippers or with male bettas outside of controlled breeding.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA carnivore built for small prey, the betta relishes live and frozen bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp and mosquito larvae, alongside a quality betta pellet as a staple. Feed small amounts once or twice a day and avoid overfeeding, as bettas are prone to bloating.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAs a labyrinth breather she must always be able to reach the surface for air, so keep a lid with a warm air gap above the water. A heated tank of at least 5 L suits a single female, while a sorority needs 40 L or more with dense planting and broken sight lines. Keep temperature at 24–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.5 and soft to moderately hard water, with gentle flow and regular small water changes. Completely plant safe.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eBettas are bubble-nest builders. The male blows a raft of bubbles at the surface, embraces the female beneath it and then tends the eggs and fry himself while the female is removed. Conditioning a female well on rich foods brings her into breeding condition; pairs must be introduced carefully and watched closely.\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 (Blue Fin Mustard Gas Plakat female)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThailand and the Mekong basin (South-East Asia)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 6 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2–4 years with good care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFemales more tolerant (males solitary and will fight)\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 for a single female (40 L+ for a sorority)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15–20 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore: betta pellets, live and frozen bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp\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\u003e6.0–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoft to moderately hard, around 5–20 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, community and sorority tanks\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\u003eSuitable tank mates include peaceful, non-nippy fish such as small rasboras, ember tetras, corydoras, kuhli loaches, otocinclus and snails, or other females in a well-planned sorority.\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 large or aggressive species. Avoid strong currents.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55351904010531,"sku":null,"price":50.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232797737251,"sku":"AA3685","price":60.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Blue_Fin_Mustard_Gas_Plakat_Female_671c3ae0-fe1c-4a86-9307-17a37f20d72a.jpg?v=1781698495","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/blue-fin-mustard-gas-plakat-fighting-fish-female-betta-splendens","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}