{"product_id":"red-white-dragon-female-fighting-fish-betta-splendens","title":"Red \u0026 White Dragon Female Fighting Fish | Betta splendens","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA stunning red-and-white 'Dragon' female Siamese Fighting Fish, with the thick, opaque scaling that gives the Dragon strain its jewelled, armoured look. Every betta is an individual with real personality, and females bring all the colour with a slightly calmer temperament than males. Sold as a single hand-picked fish, reaching around 6–7cm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBetta splendens originates from Thailand and neighbouring Southeast Asia, where wild fish live in shallow, warm, still and often oxygen-poor waters — rice paddies, ditches and floodplains. To survive there they evolved a labyrinth organ that lets them breathe air from the surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Dragon female shows a bold red body overlaid with crisp, metallic-white scaling, and shorter fins than a male. Females are still vividly coloured but more streamlined, and colour intensifies when they are settled or displaying.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFemales are more tolerant than males and cannot be housed with males except briefly for breeding. They can sometimes be kept in a carefully managed 'sorority' of several females in a large, well-planted tank, though this always carries risk and needs close monitoring. Many do best kept singly or in a peaceful community.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA carnivore built for meaty foods. Feed a quality betta pellet as the staple, plus frozen and live foods such as bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp. Feed small amounts and avoid overfeeding, as bettas are prone to bloating.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvide a heated, gently filtered, well-planted tank of at least 5 litres (bigger is better) with a secure lid — bettas breathe from the surface and are prone to jumping, and a covered tank also keeps the surface air warm and humid to protect the labyrinth organ. Warm, stable, clean water keeps them healthy and colourful.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMales build a floating bubble nest and entice the female beneath it; after a wrapping embrace the male tends the eggs and fry. The female should be removed after spawning, as the male guards the nest and may turn on her. Breeding bettas is rewarding but labour-intensive.\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\u003eSiamese Fighting Fish (Dragon, female)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThailand and Southeast Asia (ornamental strain)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 6–7cm\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\u003eSemi-aggressive; females more tolerant than males\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\u003e20 litres or larger\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\u003e3–15 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; heated, lidded planted 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\n\u003cp\u003eIn a peaceful community, calm species such as small rasboras, corydoras, kuhli loaches, ember tetras and snails. A managed sorority of several females needs a large, heavily planted tank and careful observation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMale bettas, fin-nippers such as tiger barbs, boisterous or aggressive fish, and other long-finned or brightly coloured fish that may trigger aggression.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55351902208291,"sku":"BA8084-S","price":40.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232797311267,"sku":"BA8084","price":45.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/red-white-dragon-female-figh-43884835307811.webp?v=1790306098","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/red-white-dragon-female-fighting-fish-betta-splendens","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}