{"product_id":"female-alien-fighting-fish-betta-splendens","title":"Female Alien Fighting Fish | Betta splendens","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Alien is a Siamese Fighting Fish line prized for shimmering, iridescent metallic scaling that glows like something otherworldly. This is a female — shorter-finned and a little more tolerant than a male, but still a betta with real personality. Given a warm, gently-filtered, lidded tank she will colour up beautifully. Sold as a hand-picked individual adult, reaching around 5-6cm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBetta splendens comes from the shallow, still and slow-moving waters of Thailand and the wider Mekong and Chao Phraya basins — rice paddies, ditches, marshes and floodplains. These warm, often oxygen-poor waters are why the betta evolved its labyrinth organ to breathe air from the surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlien-line bettas carry dense, reflective scaling in blues, greens, coppers and turquoise that shifts with the light. Females are shorter-finned and slightly smaller than males but share the same metallic sheen. Each fish is an individual.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFemales are less aggressive than males and, unlike males, can sometimes be kept in a carefully managed group (\"sorority\") in a larger, well-planted tank — though this always carries risk and needs watching. A single female also works well in a calm community with peaceful, short-finned tank mates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA carnivore and insectivore. Feed a quality betta pellet as the staple, supplemented with frozen or live bloodworms, brine shrimp and daphnia. Feed small amounts to avoid bloat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs a labyrinth fish the betta breathes air at the surface, so a lid is essential with a pocket of warm air above the water. Keep the water warm and gently filtered — bettas dislike strong current. Minimum 5 litres, but a heated, cycled 10-20 litre tank gives far better results. Weekly water changes keep her healthy and colourful.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA bubble-nesting species. The male builds a surface bubble nest and entices the female beneath it to spawn; he then tends the eggs and fry alone, and the female is removed after spawning. Fry are tiny and need infusoria and finely-crushed foods.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\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\u003eFemale Alien Fighting Fish (Siamese Fighting Fish)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThailand and the Mekong\/Chao Phraya basins, Southeast Asia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5-6cm\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\u003eFemales more tolerant than males; can be territorial\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\u003e10-20 litres, heated and lidded\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore \/ insectivore\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\u003e6.0-7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5-20 dGH (soft to moderately hard)\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\u003eBeginners; calm community or sorority tanks\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\u003cp\u003ePeaceful, short-finned species such as small rasboras, ember tetras, corydoras, kuhli loaches, and snails. Choose calm tank mates that won't nip fins.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAggressive males in cramped quarters, fin-nippers such as tiger barbs, and boisterous or much larger fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSold as an individual adult female. Australian livestock for in-store collection or local delivery, with our live arrival guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55351900995875,"sku":null,"price":52.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232796098851,"sku":"AA1846","price":62.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Alien_Fighter_Female_7beeb104-c925-40fc-87b4-4d4496120f4c.jpg?v=1781698476","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/female-alien-fighting-fish-betta-splendens","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}