{"product_id":"candy-plakat-male-betta-splendens","title":"Candy Plakat Male | Betta splendens","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Candy Plakat Male is a short-finned Siamese Fighter in a bright sweet-shop swirl of colours. Plakats are the classic \"fighting\" form — muscular, active swimmers with short, sturdy fins and huge personality. Sold as a single hand-picked adult male; adults reach around 5–6cm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wild ancestor of Betta splendens lives in the shallow, still and slow-moving waters of Thailand and mainland Southeast Asia — rice paddies, floodplains, ditches and ponds, often warm and low in oxygen. As a labyrinth fish it breathes air at the surface, so a warm room and a covered tank are important.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA plakat (short-finned) male with a compact, powerful body and short, neat fins that make it a stronger swimmer than long-finned show bettas. The \"candy\" colouring is a marbled blend of reds, blues, pinks and pastels, unique to each fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMales are solitary and must be kept one to a tank — two males will fight, often seriously. Being short-finned, plakats are agile and can be quite bold. A single male may head a calm community of non-nippy fish, or live alone. Never house with another betta.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA carnivore. Feed a quality betta pellet as the staple, supplemented with frozen or live foods such as bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp. Offer small amounts and avoid overfeeding.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvide a warm (24–28°C), gently filtered, planted tank of at least 5 litres — ideally 15–20 litres or more — with a secure lid and a small air gap above the water so it can breathe at the surface. Avoid strong currents. Stable warmth and clean water keep it healthy and colourful.\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, embraces the female beneath it, then guards the eggs and fry alone. Breeding needs a separate tank and careful conditioning, with the pair separated after spawning.\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\u003eCandy Plakat Fighting Fish (male)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoutheast Asia (aquarium-bred 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\u003e3–5 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMales solitary (will fight); otherwise peaceful\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\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15–20 litres or more\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore\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\u003e6.5–7.5\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\u003eNano tanks, planted tanks, peaceful communities (as a single male)\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\u003eWhen kept as a single male: calm, non-nipping fish such as small rasboras, ember tetras, corydoras, kuhli loaches, and peaceful snails or shrimp (with some risk).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOther male bettas, fin-nippers such as tiger barbs and serpae tetras, boisterous or aggressive fish, and anything that flares at its fins.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55351900537123,"sku":"AA3185-S","price":50.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232795541795,"sku":"AA3185","price":60.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/candy-plakat-male-betta-sple-43883625873699.webp?v=1790305826","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/candy-plakat-male-betta-splendens","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}