{"product_id":"crown-tail-male-fighting-fish-betta-splendens","title":"Crown Tail Male Fighting Fish | Betta splendens","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Crowntail is one of the most spectacular forms of the Siamese Fighting Fish, its fin rays extending well beyond the webbing to give a dramatic, spiky \"crowned\" edge. Every male is an individual with real personality and colour no other fish can match. Reaching around 6–7 cm, this is a single male sold on his own, as he must be — two males will fight. Hand-picked from our stock.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eBetta splendens originates from the still and sluggish freshwaters of central Thailand — rice paddies, floodplains, ditches and slow canals that are warm, shallow and often low in oxygen. To cope, the betta evolved a labyrinth organ that lets it gulp air from the surface, so it must always have access to the water's surface and a warm, draught-free room above it. Today's ornamental strains are entirely captive-bred.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Crowntail's trademark is its reduced fin webbing, which leaves the rays sticking out like the points of a crown. Colours span brilliant reds, blues, coppers, blacks and multicolours, deepening with age and good care. This listing is for a male, who carries the fullest finnage and boldest colour of the species.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eMales are territorial and must be kept one to a tank — two males, or even a male and his reflection, will flare and fight. A lone male can be kept in a peaceful community of calm, non-nippy fish, but avoid fin-nippers (such as tiger barbs) and other long-finned show fish. He is best appreciated as the centrepiece of his own tank.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA carnivorous micropredator. Feed a good betta pellet as the staple, supplemented with frozen or live bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp. Feed small amounts once or twice a day and avoid overfeeding, as bettas are prone to bloating and fussiness on dry food alone.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eGive at least 5 L as an absolute minimum, though 20 L or more (heated and gently filtered) makes for a far happier, longer-lived fish. Keep the water at 24–28 °C — bettas are tropical and suffer in cold water — with pH 6.0–7.5 and soft to moderate hardness. A tight-fitting lid is essential: bettas breathe air at the surface and can jump. Keep filtration gentle so the long fins are not buffeted.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eBettas are bubble-nest breeders. The male builds a raft of bubbles at the surface, embraces the female beneath it and tends the eggs and fry himself. Breeding requires a separate, carefully managed tank and the pair must be watched closely, as the female can be badly harried and must be removed after spawning.\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\u003eCrowntail Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCentral Thailand (captive-bred strains)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 6–7 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\u003eMales solitary and territorial (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 (absolute minimum)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 L or larger, heated and lidded\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore: betta pellets, frozen and live 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 moderate, 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 tanks and calm 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\u003eIf kept in a community, suitable tank mates include calm, short-finned fish such as small rasboras, ember tetras, corydoras, kuhli loaches and snails. Many keepers prefer to house a male betta alone.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with other male bettas, fin-nipping fish such as tiger barbs and serpae tetras, other long-finned fish that may be mistaken for a rival, and large or aggressive species. Avoid cold, unheated water.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55351901552931,"sku":"AA1549-S","price":13.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232796524835,"sku":"AA1549","price":18.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/crown-tail-male-fighting-fis-43884047794467-lv.webp?v=1790307189","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/crown-tail-male-fighting-fish-betta-splendens","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}