{"product_id":"dumbo-female-fighting-fish-betta-splendens","title":"Dumbo Female Fighting Fish | Betta splendens","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Dumbo, or \"elephant ear\", Betta is named for its greatly enlarged pectoral fins, which spread out like ears and wave as the fish swims. This is a female — shorter-finned than the males but just as colourful, and generally more tolerant of company. Reaching around 6–7 cm, she is a lively, characterful fish sold as an individual, 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 signature feature is the oversized, often pale pectoral fins that flap like elephant ears against a colourful body — reds, blues, coppers, marbles and multicolours. As a female she has neat, moderately short fins and a fuller body; in breeding condition she shows vertical barring and a small white ovipositor. Colour deepens with age and good care.\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\u003eDumbo (Elephant Ear) 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":55351900832035,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232795935011,"sku":"AA2157","price":45.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Dumbo_Ear_Female_49f08547-9ac0-49f0-948d-7359708cc964.jpg?v=1781698513","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/dumbo-female-fighting-fish-betta-splendens","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}