{"product_id":"blue-marble-panda-female-betta-splendens","title":"Blue Marble Panda Female | Betta splendens","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis Blue Marble Panda is a female Siamese Fighting Fish in a soft marbled pattern, her pale body dappled with blue and bold dark 'panda' patches that can shift and develop as she grows. Every betta is an individual with real personality, and females are more tolerant than males, so she makes a lovely centrepiece or a member of a carefully managed sorority. She reaches around 6 cm.\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 marble pattern splashes blue and dark markings across a pale ground, and because marble genetics are unstable her colours may change over her life. The panda look comes from strong dark patches against the lighter body. As a female she has short fins and a rounder body than a male, showing a small white egg-spot when mature.\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 Marble Panda 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":55351904436515,"sku":"BA9224-S","price":50.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232798163235,"sku":"BA9224","price":60.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/blue-marble-panda-female-betta-splendens","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}