{"product_id":"delta-female-fighting-fish-betta-splendens","title":"Delta Female Fighting Fish | Betta splendens","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA female Delta-strain Siamese Fighting Fish — shorter-finned than the males but every bit as colourful, and generally more tolerant of company. Reaching around 6–7 cm, females are lively, characterful little fish that can be kept singly, in a carefully managed all-female \"sorority\", or as a lone showpiece. Sold as an individual fish, 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\u003eFemales have neat, moderately short fins and a fuller body than males, in reds, blues, coppers and multicolours. When in breeding condition they show vertical \"barring\" and a small white ovipositor. Colour deepens with age, good diet and stable, warm water.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemales are more tolerant than males but are not passive — they can still squabble and establish a pecking order. A \"sorority\" of five or more females can work in a well-planted tank with plenty of sight breaks, but it needs careful management and a backup plan, as bullying can flare up. A single female also does well in a peaceful community of calm, non-nippy fish.\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 for a single female, though 20 L or more (heated and gently filtered) is far better, and a sorority needs a larger, well-planted tank of 40 L or more. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eBettas are bubble-nest breeders. A conditioned female is introduced to a nest-building male in a dedicated tank; after the embrace beneath the nest the male tends the eggs and fry, and the female must be removed promptly, as she can be harried. Breeding is a project best suited to keepers with spare grow-out tanks.\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\u003eDelta Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta), female\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\u003eFemales more tolerant than males, but still establish a pecking order\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 for a single female)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 L or larger; 40 L+ for a sorority\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, sororities 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\u003eSuitable tank mates include calm, short-finned fish such as small rasboras, ember tetras, corydoras, kuhli loaches and snails. Other females can be kept together only in a properly managed sorority.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with male bettas (except briefly for supervised breeding), fin-nipping fish such as tiger barbs and serpae tetras, 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":55351903912227,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232797638947,"sku":"AA3687","price":30.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Delta_Female_3d8ff939-ca5e-43d2-854e-88340770cac0.jpg?v=1781698510","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/delta-female-fighting-fish-betta-splendens","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}