Butterfly Beta fish, whose scientific name is Betta Splendens, is a freshwater fish that originates from Southeast Asia. They are mainly found in countries such as Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia. Formerly, Thailand was referred to as Siam and hence the name Siamese Fighting Fish. This fish is also known as Halfmoon Butterfly Betta. It is popular due to its vibrant coloring, which comprises bright colors such as red, yellow and blue and some shades of orange, green, and purple.
This fish is a very popular freshwater fish that is also known for its unique shape. Just as the name suggests, it has a butterfly shape. This fish is generally aggressive, more so the male species. This species belongs to the Osphronemidae family. This fish has a labyrinth organ which is a common feature among bettas. Due to this distinct feature, they have a unique ability to inhale oxygen from the surface of the water. They also use the gills for breathing in whenever they are inside water.
This fish might be challenging for a beginner, but with dedication, one can successfully keep one. Before keeping the Butterfly Betta Fish, you need some information about the care and all you need to do. This guide seeks to give all the information.
QUICK FACTS
| Scientific Name | Betta spends |
| Family | Osphronemidae |
| Size | 3 inches |
| Color | Red, blue, orange, yellow, green |
| Tank size | Five galloons |
| Lifespan | Up to 5 years |
| Diet | Carnivores |
| Temperament | Aggressive |
| Care level | Moderate |
| Temperament | 75 to 80 degrees F |
| Freshwater or Saltwater | Freshwater |
| Compatibility | Other small freshwater fish |
TANK COMPANIONS
The male Butterfly Betta Fish is a very aggressive fish, especially towards the other male Bettas of any variety. If this species is placed in the same tank with other bettas, it will consider them a threat, and there is a high likelihood he will start to attack them. This, therefore, means that the male Butterfly Bettas should not be placed in the same tank. However, this does not mean they can only live alone; no, they are quite happy being placed in the same tank with the betta females, but you should watch them closely to ensure that they are compatible.
This fish can also share the aquarium with other freshwater tropical fish, but the tank mates’ should be a bit smaller compared to them and peaceful in nature to avoid fights and constant attacks. Some of the most suitable tropical fish that would make ideal tank mates include;
- Guppies
- Cory fish
- Ghost shrimp
- Kuhli loaches
- Red Cherry shrimp
- Neon Tetras
- Endlers
Most of the above species will be perfectly compatible with those species, and the Butterfly Bettas will be happy to share the aquarium without feeling that their territory has been invaded.
UNSUITABLE TANKMATES
As an aquarist, you should avoid keeping your Butterfly Bettas with some species since they are too aggressive and are known for fin nipping. Some of the species include;
- Cichlids
- Rainbow shark
- Red finned shark
APPEARANCE OF BUTTERFLY BETTAS
The Butterfly Bettas are among the most beautiful species of fish in the world. They are colorful with a large and majestic fin. These species that are wild bred and captivity bred are different in terms of the shape and color of their fins. Fish species with this pattern usually have three different color variations. Due to the improved breeding, the bettas bred in captivity are more radiant and have brighter colors. The breeders apply different layers of pigmentation on the skin of the fish in order to make the color permanent when breeding.
The common colors of this fish are blue, red, yellow, orange, green, and purple. Besides the bright colors, this species also stands out due to its shiny iridescent shimmer. Due to the experimentation, some of these species have multi-colored fins and tails. Also, the colors of your fish will start to change whenever they are fighting to dominate and during the breeding season as the male tries to impress the female.
You can easily distinguish between male and female. The females have smaller bodies and fins compared to males, and also their colors are less vibrant. On average, the butterfly betta grows up to 3 inches, but with the females being smaller in terms of size and other physical features, they grow to an average size of 2.5 inches.
BUTTERFLY BETTAS COST
On average, the cost of this species is between 10 to 15 dollars, and this differs depending on the store and the breeder you are buying from. The price also depends on the rarity, color, and health of the fish. As you buy your pet ensure that you d so from a reputable breeder or pet store.
LIFESPAN
On average, the lifespan of Butterfly Betta fish can go up to 5 years. This is mainly determined by the level of care they receive as they grow. This includes the diet you are feeding them the water and tank conditions. If the standards are not met, then definitely the lifespan will be shortened.
HABITAT
The Butterfly Betta fish originates from Southeast Asia. They specifically come from regions such as Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia. They prefer living in freshwater rice paddies and river basins. In this environment, the water is shallow, warm, slow-moving, and with a lot of vegetation. You will therefore need to reciprocate these conditions in captivity.
TYPICAL BEHAVIOUR
Generally, the Butterfly Betta fish is known to be very aggressive, more so the male species. If he thinks that their territory is under any form of threat, he will turn against any male betta that will come close to its territory. He will attack using the fins and tail. He makes them stiff and firm and will be thrashing out using them. He will also try to bite any fish that he perceives as a threat to his dominion over his territory.
It is in most cases advisable to have the male Butterfly Bettas live in their own tank since they are happier having their own space without feeling threatened. However, this does not mean that this fish cannot be kept with any other species in the same tank. It can have tank mates, but you need to be careful when choosing the ideal tank mates. The species that you choose e to keep in the same tank with them should not be a threat to them.
As an aquarist, if you want to know if your Butterfly Betta is at ease and happy in the tank, just observe what he is doing using his tail and fins. When they are happy and at ease, their tail and fins will be moving softly and gently. They will be completely flaccid and waving about freely in the water. However, if you realize that the trail and fins are stiff and taught, this means that the fish is feeling that their territory has been invaded and needs to protect it by attacking.
If you notice that your fish is swimming rapidly, from one end of the tank to the other, as they bump their nose against the bottom of their tank, this indicates that the fish is stressed and anxious.
BUTTERFLY BETTA CARE
As an aquarist, the main aim is to have your pet thrive and have a long life. For all these things to happen, you have to take good care of the pet all through under the right conditions. This also involves a clean and suitable aquarium. The quality of the aquarium has a direct impact on the life of your fish.
Naturally, the Butterfly Betta Fish is found in freshwater rice paddies and water basins. In these places, the water is shallow, warm, and slow-moving, and there is a lot of vegetation, as said earlier. Therefore, this type of environment must be reciprocated in captivity for the fish to survive and thrive. The following are some of the things you need to take care of about this fish.
- TANK SIZE
Despite the fact that this species is small in size, it should not be kept In bowls. They need a larger space Where they can swim and move around. The ideal tank size should be 5 gallons to 10 gallons, and this depends on the number of fish you are keeping. Do not put them in a squeezed space since this will damage their long fins as they swim. If you add one or more fish in the tank, you should consider at least 10 gallons.
- LIGHTING
You should ensure that your tank is not under direct sunlight whenever you are adding some light to your fish. For artificial fish, ensure that you expose them to light for 12 hours daily, and then you can switch off to control the algae growth rate.
- FILTRATION
One of the features of a good aquarium is a good filtration system that works well. This fish is a slow-moving one, and therefore the filter helps in regulating the flow rate. The primary role of the filter is to aerate, filter, and circulate the water inside the aquarium. It also helps in the removal of toxic substances in water. The size of filter you choose should fit the size of the tank effectively for it to work well. The bigger the size of the tank, the bigger the filter you need.
- SUBSTRATE
A fish tank is incomplete without the substrate. Before adding water to the aquarium, it is important to add some substrate in the tank so as to mimic their natural habitat. The gravel is the ideal choice for the substrate. You should ensure the material you use does not have rough edges to avoid damaging your fish.
- TANK LID
It is common knowledge that the bettas are jumpers, and this means they can easily jump from the tank and ends up escaping. To prevent this, you should ensure that the tank has a lid that is well fitted. You should leave no opening in the tank since a small opening is enough for this fish to escape. The access snaps should either be closed or should be locked or weighted down in some manner.
- PLANTS AND DECORATIONS
Generally, this species is aggressive towards each other, but they also need someplace where they can hide and rest their weary fins. Despite the size of the tank that you have provided, you should ensure that you have provided some nooks and crannies for your Betta to hole up and also provide some horizontal surface for them to rest. When you visit any aquarium store, you will be given options for your tank, such as little buildings, preformed caves, plants, shipwrecks, among others. On plants, the best are the live ones. However, if you choose the artificial one, you need to go for the soft, silky one, and they should not be made from hard plastic.
WATER PARAMETERS
- TEMPERATURES
The temperature of the water is one of the most crucial elements of proper care for a betta fish. In their natural habitat in Southeast Asia, they are used to living in warm water with an average temperature of 75 to 80 degrees F, and therefore this should be reciprocated in the tank. The water temperatures keep changing, and therefore you need a heater and a thermometer to monitor and keep regulating the temperatures.
The heaters are easy to install in the aquarium, and in case you are worried about the aesthetics, you will realize how easy they are to conceal with plants or other decors. To enable your heater to work perfectly, you need to be very careful about where you are placing your aquarium. You should avoid placing it near fireplaces, radiators, stoves, and any other vents that might blow hot or cold air.
- WATER PH AND OTHER PARAMETERS
It is not okay to simply fill the tank with tap water even if you provide the right temperatures. This is because most tap water contains some additives that are meant to make it safe for human consumption, but they are harmful to the fish. Ther are different types of water conditioners that are available to transform tap water into the acceptable aquarium water. It is crucial to be able to be in control of levels of PH, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. You should conduct regular water testing to allow you to always be in control of all these factors. This is because any change in these parameters will have some serious health effects on the fish.
The tank water should have an average Ph of between 6.0 to 7.5. This indicates that the ph. levels of water can range from slightly acidic to very slightly alkaline.
TANK SET UP
We have discussed all the necessary equipment and conditions that you need to provide in order to give your Butterfly Betta a perfect home. Now we are going to give you a step-by-step process of setting up the tank until it is ready for the fish.
- INITIAL TANK PREPARATION
The first step in setting up a tank is to clean it up, whether it’s a new one or you are recycling a used one. This ensures that the tan is clean and free from any type of chemical product or toxic substance. All you need to do is use warm water and a piece of cloth without using any soap-based or chemical product. Also, you should clean other equipment that will get in the water, such as heaters, thermometers, filters, and all the decorations.
- ADDING THE SUBSTRATE
You also need to rinse the substrate thoroughly before adding it to the tank. For gravel and marbles, the best thing is to rinse in a clean strainer, colander, or sieve under hot water. This should be done repeatedly until it is perfectly clean. If you are using sand too, you will need to patiently rinse it in a bucket and carefully por the water after the sand has settled.
- FILTER INSTALLATION
The water in the aquarium needs to be kept clean from the start, and therefore you need to fix the filter first. Every filter is different, and therefore your bed to take the instructions of the manufacturer. If they are difficult to follow, you can always consult a professional to help you in installing them correctly. Always remember to never turn on the filter until the water is full Inside the tank. Running it in a dry system will damage the pump.
- ADDING HEATER
Always remember the water should always be warm at an average temperature of 76 to 81 degrees F. It is important to add the heater before adding the decorations since you might need to conceal the heater using the plants and other decorations such as recks. You should install the heater in the most convenient place and the least visible one.
Just like on the filters, the heater should never be turned on before the water is full since this may damage the heating element and end up causing the glass casing to explode.
- ADDING PLANTS AND DECORATIONS
It is fun to decorate the tank, and it is this stage that makes the aquarium unique. You need to make it look so natural so as to mimic the natural habitat of the Butterfly Betta fish. You should be careful not to overcrowd your tank using these decorations. The fish needs a free room to roam, and having too many decorations will limit the free movement. Adding f some live plants that develop roots in the substrate should be added after the water has been put in the aquarium. However, the easiest is the artificial plants since you can control how the leaves float and ensure they remain anchored.
- ADDING WATER
At this point, everything that is needed in the tank is in place, and now it is time to add water. Moat, the moat available source of water, is the tap, and this water mainly contains some chemicals such as chlorine that are used to treat it. These components are not healthy for the fish. You will therefore need a water purifier. Even if you use the well water, you will need to purify it to remove any meatal and component in water.
BUTTERFLY BETTA FISH DIET
The betta fish are carnivores in nature. They enjoy feeding on meaty foods such as mosquito larvae, blood worms, and brine shrimp. The best choice for them is live foods, and they also enjoy eating freeze-fried and frozen meat-based foods. They can also be fed on high-quality fish foods such as flakes and pellets, which are common among the aquarist and they contain high content of protein. You should, however, be careful not to overfeed your fish. This species is a small fish, and therefore, they need a small amount of food every day. You can easily fall into the trap of feeding them too much food, and this will be dangerous to their health.
Overfeeding your Butterfly Betta Fish will cause constipation; the fish will become bloated and eventually very sick. You should feed them on a single potion that contains a small amount of food. They should also be fed at regular intervals twice a day. They easily adapt to the feeding schedule and will start to swim to the top of the tank as soon as he sees you approaching to feed them.
CARE AND MAINTENANCE
The Butterfly Betta fish is not a complicated fish to keep at home since it needs moderate care that does not need a lot of effort. Al, you need to do is maintain the water parameters in their right condition and ensure the tank is in the right condition. It is also important to ensure your tank is always clean despite the fact that the process is time-consuming. This is because the algae and other harmful bacterial build up so quickly. If not taken care of will cause serious illness to your fish.
Every time you clean the tank, ensure that you siphon the gravel and replace at least 10 to 15 percent of water from the tank. You also need to keep monitoring the level of minerals in water regularly and making all the necessary adjustments. It is advisable to use a commercial water testing kit to test the mineral levels in your aquarium. Any deficiencies that you notice should be corrected immediately.
BREEDING BUTTERFLY BETTA FISH
The process of breeding the Butterfly Betta Fish is straightforward. This species reaches maturity at the age of 6 months, and they are ready to breed. If you make an attempt to breed them at a younger age, it will not be any fruits. This is because their organs are not fully developed or mature enough for reproduction at this age. The chances of successive breeding are higher when a breeding air is isolated in its own tank. There likelihood of them breeding the presence of other fish is slow and therefore the need for separation.
The males will only breed with the female Betta that is smaller than him, since she does not make him feel threatened and intimidated. He will approach her with confidence. It is sometimes challenging to tell whether your fish is ready to breed, but there are certain signs that you can observe. The female will change their colors slightly. The color will turn duller. You may also notice a faint stripe down body. If you notice a dot that is white in color between her fins, then that is an indication that her ovipositor is filling up, and she is almost laying eggs. This is the ideal time to introduce the male.
You may also notice the female acting in a coy, flirtatious manner towards the male. She starts waving her tail and faring her fins towards the male. This is an indication that she is ready to receive him. However, you should note that these species have a tendency of concessionary eating their own eggs, and this is done by both the male and female. The best way to avoid this from happening is to ensure there is a lot of little crevices in the tank. The eggs will settle in these spaces, and the female will not reach them.
To achieve this, you need a gravel substrate in the tank with an assortment of marble scattered around the bottom. The egg usually finds its way into the little spaces to develop in safety and hatch eventually.
COMMON DISEASES
Just like the other Betta fish, the Butterfly Betta fish is prone to some diseases. Mainly these diseases are caused by lack of good diet, poor water condition, and poor tank condition. Generally, you need to keep the tank clean and all the water parameters in optimal condition to prevent diseases. Some of these diseases include;
- FIN/TAIL ROT
This disease is mainly caused by poor water conditions. If you notice your fish has started looking shredded, redden, or chewed, there is a high likelihood that it is fin rot. This disease can be treated by changing the water quality for the better and using some anti-bacterial water treatments.
- SWIM BLADDER DISEASE
If you find out that your fish is struggling to swim or is sinking uncontrollably, this may be an indication of Swim bladder disease. This disease is caused by multiple reasons such as malformation, undiagnosed illness, environmental problems, deformity, and can have an unknown cause. This disease needs immediate treatment, but it can be relieved using aquarium salt or Epsom salt baths, increasing the temperature of the water but within the limit and hand feeding.
- ICH
This infection is sometimes referred to as white spot disease. This disease is caused by a parasite that gets into the tank from new plants, fish, or infected water. These parasites will swim through the water until they get into your fish. They cause your fish to be itchy and uncomfortable, leading to hiding, flashing, and lethargy. You can prevent this by treating water using antiparasitic.
- VELVET
This is a parasitic disease caused by a parasite known as iodonium. This disease is also known as rust disease or gold dust disease due to the gold or rust-colored film it creates on the fish. These parasites feed on the skin of the fish until they cause sores. They cause breathing difficulties and lead to secondary infection. To prevent this, you need to improve the water quality in the tank and also the antiparasitic medication.
- DROPSY
This deadly disease is very hard to treat. It causes the abdomen of the fish to swell and also makes the fins flare outwards. They may also have bulging eyes, pale gills, and unusual spine curvature. This disease can be treated with aquarium salt or antibiotics. You also need to provide a high-quality diet and quality clean water. This disease is highly fatal.
FAQS
Are Butterfly Betta freshwater fish?
Yes. The Butterfly Betta is a freshwater fish that originates from Southeast Asia. They prefers living in freshwater rice paddies and river basin. In this environment, the water is shallow, warm, slow-moving, and with a lot of vegetation.
Should I get a male or female Butterfly Betta?
Both males and females make great pets with similar personalities. However, the males have more vibrant colors and are therefore visibly impressive. The female is less bight but is also not as aggressive as the males.
Can I play with my Butterfly Bettas?
Yes, your fish naturally learn how to respond to you as you feed them. They are very trainable, and you can play around with them and see what tricks you can teach them.
Can I use a bowl instead of an aquarium for my Butterfly Betta?
The ideal home for your fish shuls is a small tank of 5 gallons since they will give your fish enough space to swim around without feeling suffocated. Proving a tank that is less than 5 gallons increases their chances of getting ill and decreases their lifespan.
CONCLUSION
On so many levels, taking care of the Butterfly Betta fish is so rewarding. They ate interesting to observe, and they will stand out in the aquarium. They are not beginner-friendly; there is fun in taking care of a fish that needs close attention. You are involved in every bit of their lives. It helps you improve your skills as an aquarist. Therefore, if you are looking to add a species in your community tank with a great personality and bright colors, then this is the ideal choice. We hope this guide has given all the necessary information regarding the care and maintenance of the Butterfly Betta fish.
