The Veiltail Betta Fish is freshwater fish that has different magnificent colors. This fish is scientifically known as the Betta splendens. This fish species is highly popular among tropical fish. It is one of the common varieties of beta fish. The bettas are also known as the Siamese fighting fish due to the aggressive nature of the male species. The Veiltail Betta belongs to the family of Osphronemidae.
The betta fish has different varieties’ which are approximately 15, but the number keeps changing since the varieties are being bred and introduced as time goes on. The Veiltail is the most popular variety. Its popularity has grown due to its eye-catching and spectacular coloring. This look makes them stand out from the rest of the fish.
In this guide, we are going to discuss all you need to effectively take care of this fish. This includes the diet, tank conditions, and water conditions. By the end of the guide, you will be ready and fully prepared to have a Veiltail betta in your aquarium.
QUICK FACTS
| Scientific Name | Betta splendens |
| Family | Osphronemidae |
| Care Level | Moderate |
| Size | 1.5 to 2 inches |
| Color Form | Yellow, blue, black, red, green, purple, pink, white |
| Temperament | Peaceful but can be territorial sometimes |
| Diet | Carnivores |
| Tank size | 3 gallons |
| Lifespan | 2 to 4 years |
| Temperature | 72 to 82 degrees F |
| Freshwater or saltwater | Freshwater |
| Compatibility | Peaceful community fish |
TANK COMPANIONS
The male Veiltail Betta fish is not as aggressive as most other varieties of Betta. However, they still have some aggressive behavior toward other species, especially bettas. If you put the male Veiltail in the same tank with other Betta, irrespective of the variety, he will perceive them as a threat and will most likely display some aggressive behavior towards them. It is therefore discouraged to put them in the same tank.
However, the male Veiltail will enjoy and tolerate the presence of another female betta in the tank, but you will still need to keep a close eye on them to ensure that they are compatible. If you notice there is some aggressive behavior, it is important to separate them. When choosing the ideal tank mates for the Veiltail Betta, ensure that you choose the very placidly, fish that is not aggressive. Some of the ideal tank companions that are recommended include;
- Kuhli Loaches
- Cory fish
- Ghost Shrimps
- Guppies
The above species should be able to be compatible with this species, and they should be able to get along with each other in a community tank without any social problems.
VEILTAIL BETTA APPEARANCE
The Veiltail betta fish is popular as a result of its appealing appearance. This is mainly due to its striking colors. This species is mainly found in a broad range of bright colors. Some of the common colors of this fish are bright royal blue and turquoise, but you will sometimes find them in other colors such as red, green, orange, yellow, and deep purple. Despite the color, the Veiltail Betta is always shimmery with an almost iridescent sheen to their bodies.
It is normal to find that the males, in most cases, have brighter colors while the females have colors that are sometimes less vibrant and more subdued. You will occasionally find out that your Veiltail fish might be changing color. However, this is not a good indication since it might be indicating that your Veiltail is under stress or is feeling unwell. When this species is sick, the disease causes its bright, shiny hue to fade to a dull hue.
SIZE
The Veiltail are small fish species that grow to an average size of 2 to 3 inches when fully grown. This fish is beautiful and small in size, and as a result of this, the fish is common among small tank aquarists. This fish takes approximately seven months to attain maximum growth, and they will be mature. Below are some of the main factors that determine the size of a Veiltail Fish;
- The quality of care accorded to the fish in the pet store that sold you the species.
- The quality of care you provide to your Veiltail fish in your aquarium.
- Genetics.
Comparing the Veiltail Betta males and females, you will notice that there is a difference in the size of the fins. The male has larger and longer males compared to the females, and also they have wide bodies.
ORIGIN AND DISTRIBUTION
The Veiltail Betta Fish is a tropical freshwater fish that originates from South East Asia, specifically in Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. This species is the most popular Betta species, and it has spread across most parts of the world. Originally, they were bred for aggression and applied to cockfighting gambling matches. This explains the origin of the name Siamese fighting fish; this species prefers living in ponds, paddies, and slow-moving streams and swamps.
VEILTAIL BETTA LIFESPAN
The average lifespan of a Veiltail Betta fish is between 2 to 5 years. However, this depends on the level of care you are going to give to your fish. If you maintain high standards in terms of the water tank and diet, your fish will live to the optimal age and can even outlive it. Below are some of the things you need to do in order to ensure that your Veiltail Betta lives a long, wonderful life;
- MONITOR THE HEALTH OF YOUR TANK
This guide explains clearly what to look out for in order to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy fish. It is advisable to avoid buying the fish that was stored in cups. Also, ensure all the other tank mates are healthy to avoid spreading any form of illness.
- ALWAYS ENSURE THE TANK IS CLEAN
The tank should always be clean. However, this is virtually important since some of the pathogenic bacteria love the dirty environment. This can be done by regular tank cleaning and water change.
- GET A PROPER TANK
You should ensure that the tank you provide for your fish meets the highest standards. First, the tank should be spacious, have a high-quality heater and filtration system, and have plenty of decorations.
- PROVIDE A BALANCED DIET
If you want your Veiltail Betta to live a happy and healthy life, you need to ensure that you feed them with high-quality food that is rich in all the necessary nutrients. Also, you need to make sure that you change the fish menu from time to time; this will enable them to have a balanced diet. It also has crested appetite.
TYPICAL BEHAVIOUR
This species is known to be a little bit aggressive. This is especially when they feel that their territory is under threat of being invaded, he will turn on any other male betta that tries’ to invade the territory. It is therefore advisable to keep the male Veiltail in their own tank since these solitary fish are often happier living alone in the tank. This does not mean that this fish cannot be kept with other species in the same tank. This is possible and can be done; however, you need to give careful consideration when choosing the right tank mates. This is to ensure that you choose the tank mates that the Veiltail Betta will not consider a threat to them.
In order to establish whether your Veiltail fish Betta is okay and happy in the tank, you can take a closer look at the fins. When the fish is happy, and at ease, the fins are loose and flaccid, and they are always waving about freely in the water. However, if you notice that the fish is holding his fins in a stiff and tough position, it is likely to be an indication that he is feeling threatened and endangered. This might be an indication that the Betta is preparing to attack the tank mates.
A Veil tail Betta that is happy, relaxed, and comfortable should be seen being gentle and calm as it swims around; if you find out that your pet is rapidly swimming and appears to be moving frenetically, rushing from one end of the tank to the other, and back again, and banking on things as they swim. This means that the fish is unhappy and probably feeling stressed.
VEILTAIL CARE
TANK REQUIREMENTS
Just like any other fish or Betta, the Veiltail, which originates from the Rivers and marshes of South East Asia, deserves living in a good aquarium. The natural home is tropical, and therefore it is warm. The water in the rivers in South East Asia is slow-moving with little current. These conditions must therefore be replicated in the aquarium for the fish to thrive and be happy. This will also make the fish feel at home and will have no fear or anxiety.
Therefore, below are some of the conditions that the ideal home for your Veiltail Betta should have;
- TANK SIZE
This species is a very small but active fish. This, therefore, implies that they need a spacious tank to be able to accommodate their activities. If you are out there thinking of getting a fishbowl for your fish, it is high time you change your mind since this is not a good idea. The fish will not survive in such as small area, and therefore, you should provide a spacious tank that is at least 4 gallons for single fish.
If housed in a tank of such a tank, the fish will have enough room to swim freely and comfortably without feeling congested. If you think of having multiple fish in the same tank, you will even need a bigger tank. Bearing in mind this species can be aggressive, it is important to provide a spacious tank where the fish can establish their own territory and lie there uninterrupted.
- HEATER
There are high chances that the room temperatures in your house do not go beyond 75 degrees F. This means that you are going to need a heater. The type of heater needed will be different depending on the tank size. This is because the big tanks will need a bigger and more powerful heater while the small ones need a less powerful heater.
Whenever you notice a drop in the temperatures below the recommended range, you can always switch on the heater and heat the water, and you should closely monitor the heater as you warm water.
- LIGHTING
As a good aquarist, you should always ensure that your fish is kept away from direct sunlight. Despite the fact that the domesticated Veiltail do not really mind bright light, creating a dim environment is a better decision since too much light can be a bit stressful for these species.
Normally, the Veiltail Bettas need to be exposed to light for a period of 8 to 12 hours a day and up to 16 hours of darkness. It is recommended to use artificial lighting since it does not interfere with the water temperatures and will not support the growth of algae. Also, ensure that you add a few plants to the water so as to diffuse the light. They will also provide good hiding spots.
- FILTRATION
As said earlier, this species lives in slow-moving rivers and streams with low currents. Therefore, you need to have a filtration system in the tank so as to provide the same exact environment for the tank. You will need to have a filtration system with a low flow rate. Also, the filter should not have a strong current. This is because this fish does not have features that can help them survive in strong currents.
You should choose a filter that will barely disrupt the surface of the water. You can either choose a sponge or an internal filter, depending on the size of your tank.
- DECORATIONS
The Veiltail Betta needs some sort of entertainment where they will relieve themselves whenever they feel stressed or overwhelmed. It is therefore important to ensure that you provide some toys and decorations for your beloved fish. As you get your decorations, ensure that they do not have any sharp edges and that the surface is soft. Otherwise, the fish might get injured as it moves around. You can choose to include something like the betta log that the fish is going to swim through or even sleep in. Sometimes the males decide to build their nest right inside the log.
- PLANTS
It is also advisable to try and add some plants inside the aquarium. You can use live or artificial plants, and there will be no problem. The plants are important in mimicking the natural environment, and also they provide hiding spots and providing shades. Just ensure that the aquarium is spacious enough for the fish t freely swim even after you have added these plants and other decorations.
Also, you can add some almond leaves to mimic the natural environment and make your Veiltail feel at home. These leaves are full of tannins and flavonoids, which have inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. These compounds are important in helping lower the water ph. and absorb some minerals. It is advisable to add one leaf for every two gallons of water. You can choose to add it as a whole or slice it into pieces.
TANK CLEANING
The most time-consuming aspect of taking care of the Veiltail Betta is keeping the tank clean. Just like any other tropical fish, their tank needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. This helps in ensuring the fish will remain healthy and have a happy stay in the tank. The cleaning should be done at the barest minimum of once every two weeks. As you clean the tank, ensure that the gravel is siphoned.
It is important to ensure that as you clean, you do not use any soap-based or chemical elements since they may harm the fish. Just use lukewarm water and a piece of cloth to clean. Clean the walls of the tank and all the equipment.
WATER PARAMETERS
- TEMPERATURES
As said earlier, the average water temperatures in the tank should range between 72 to 82 degrees F. You should ensure that there are no sudden fluctuations since this species is very sensitive to changes in temperatures. As said earlier, the tanks should have a heater to keep warming water whenever the temperatures are not within the range. The Veiltail Betta is at risk of dying as a result of temperature shock, and therefore you should always keep a heater at standby.
- PH
The Veiltail Betta needs a moderate ph. level in the aquarium. This species cannot tolerate extremely acidic or alkaline water. Therefore, the ph. level should range from 6.8 to 7.5, and this will keep your fish happy and healthy.
- WATER HARDNESS
Generally, the water hardness should be kept at 3 to 4 dGH. These numbers refer to the dissolved concentration of calcium and magnesium ions. The carbonate hardness should be between 3 to 5 dKH. This describes the buffering ability of water.
- AMMONIA, NITRITES, AND NITRATES
The concentration of the nitrites needs to be kept as low as possible. It should be below 20 ppm while ammonia and nitrates remain close to zero as possible. This is why it is very crucial to have a filter inside your tank. This thing provides a home for the beneficial bacteria that turns the fish waste into something less toxic. If you do not add the filter to your tank, the ammonia will just build up in the water, and with its toxicity, it might end up burning the gills of your fish.
It is important to have regular checks to monitor the levels of minerals in the water. Elements such as magnesium, calcium, and other trace elements should always be kept at a steady level.
WATER REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE
As said earlier, the Veiltail Bettas need a clean environment in order to thrive. Therefore you need to ensure the water quality is not compromised at any particular time. That is why it is advisable to do regular water replacement in the tank. Every time you are doing the tank cleaning, you should also ensure that you do water replacement. This species has a small bio load, and therefore 10 percent of water can be replaced in a week or two.
The water new water should maintain the required parameters such as temperatures and ph. This will ensure there is no variation in parameters.
VEILTAIL BETTA DIET
Just like any other betta, the Veiltail beta is a carnivore in nature. This, therefore, means that the species’ diet should mainly consist of meaty foods. The best choice of food is the live ones, especially for a carnivorous diet. This fish enjoys feeding on both live and frozen bloodworms and shrimp, as well as live mosquito larvae.
You can also feed your Veiltail with freeze-fried foods as well as fish food flakes and pellets. These should be good quality fish food that has a high content of protein. You should remember that this species is small in size and therefore avoid they need to be fed small food that is in small pieces. You should be careful not to overfeed them. It is easy to do that if you are not keen, and this will cause bloating in your fish; they will constipate and become sick. This might even be fatal.
To avoid overfeeding them, ensure that you allow them to feed only for a minute. That will be enough. They should be fed two times a day, and you should space it by 12 hours. Soon your pet will adapt and learn the feeding schedule and will know when to expect food. This is why it is crucial to stick to a regular feeding schedule and offer them food same time every day.
VEILTAIL BETTA BREEDING
This fish species is a dominant gene that can easily be bred with no difficulty. Among the betta species, the Veiltail is the most popular, and this is the species that is mainly found in pet stores. At the age of 6 months, the Veiltail Betta will be ready for breeding. Any attempts to breed them earlier than this will most likely be unsuccessful since their body will not be mature for breeding yet.
If you want to encourage breeding among the breeding pair as an aquarist, ensure that you provide this pair with a separate breeding tank. In the presence of other fish in the tank, this pair is not likely to mate, and this might delay the breeding. As you pair the two Veiltail Betta, the female must be a bit smaller than the male. This is because when you pair them with the same size or a bigger female, the male will be intimidated and will not approach her.
When the female Veiltail Beta is ready for mating, she changes its color. She becomes darker and will develop some noticeable stripes down her body. When she is ready for mating, the female ovipositor also becomes clearly visible. This may sometimes be noticed as a white dot between her fins. When the female fish is ready for the male, she will start to behave in a flirtatious way toward him. She may start to act coyly by waving about and flaring her tail in his direction. These are signals that she is ready to mate.
All the female Veiltail Bettas have a tendency to try to eat their eggs, and this is common to all bettas. The only means of preventing this from happening is to ensure that the eggs have some little crevices to settle in when they are laid. This will make them inaccessible to the mother fish. The best way to create these crevices is by using the substrate of gravel and perhaps adding a few marbles to the substrate. This gives the eggs a place to hide until they hatch.
After the eggs have been laid by the females, the male usually releases in the water something known as milt to fertilize them. The male will then maintain the nest for the next day or two as he catches the babies. The male will take care of the babies until they start to swim on their own after around four days. At this point, you can now separate the male from the fry.
HOW TO TELL YOUR VEILTAIL IS HEALTHY AND HAPPY
As a fish keeper, it is always your aim to ensure that your fish has a healthy and happy life. Fortunately, there are a few signs that you can observe and conclude that your fish is happy and thriving. They include;
- GREAT APPETITE
Healthy bettas love eating. Actually, this fish species will start to act differently when the feeding time is almost. They will start to swim closer to the area where they normally feed on. They will move there, and whenever food is provided, they will start feeding straight away. If you notice that your fish does not have an appetite, this might be an indication that your fish is sick or depressed.
- BUBBLE NESTS
Bubble nests are among the easiest signs that you will notice as soon as you come close to the tank. These nests are a collection of bubbles found on the surface of the water. Once these species feel happy and comfortable and ready to mate, they will start blowing bubbles in the water. However, it is only the males that have the capability to do much, and therefore if you have only females in your aquarium, you are not going to see them.
However, If you have males in your tank and you have not seen them, do not be disappointed. Every fish takes their own time to produce them, and some will go up to six months or more.
- VIBRANT COLORS
A healthy fish that is happy and has nothing to worry about will display some beautiful and vibrant colors and flowing fins. If they are sick, these fish develops droopy fins and dull colors. If they are stressed, the fish may develop a stripe known as stress stripe. This is a stripe that develops horizontally across the fish body.
EFFORTLESS SWIMMING
A healthy Veiltail will never experience any difficulty as they swim. If you find out that your fish is having trouble while swimming and struggling to move in one direction, keeps leaning on one side, and appearing uncoordinated, then your fish might be unwell. You should consult a vet so that the fish can be treated before it becomes severe.
- NORMAL ACTIVITY
As mentioned earlier, the Veiltail Betta is an active fish that interacts with its surroundings regularly. They might swim quickly or in a relaxed manner, and these are all normal behaviors that indicate that the fish is happy and healthy. However, if you note that the fish do not want to use the toys and decorations but rather want to stay in one part of the tank throughout, then something might not be okay.
- GETTING ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER FISH IN THE TANK
Generally, betta fish are relatively aggressive, and they love their own company. However, if you provide compatible tank mates, they will learn to coexist and will adapt to that. They will be swimming around without intending to chase or arm them. Such behavior means the fish is happy and healthy. Otherwise, it means something is wrong.
COMMON VEILTAIL BETTA DISEASES
The Veiltail bettas are a bit hardy, and therefore, if you manage to keep the water parameters at the optimum and provide a balanced diet, you are likely to have healthy fish. However, there is some common disease that your fish is likely to contact in the course of keeping them, and they include;
- FIN AND TAIL ROT
This is a condition that is caused by fungi and bacteria. If you ever find out that the fins or the tail of your fish are becoming grey and appear to be melting away, then it is high time you get the antibiotics medication for your fish. If you manage to keep your aquarium clean and looking nice all the time, you might never have an encounter with this disease.
- BETTA TUMORS
This fish can get cancer lumps and growths. This is mainly caused by infections or genetic mutations. This can be solved by a simple surgical operation.
- ICH
This is a parasitic disease that is also referred to as the white spot. When the Veiltail Betta has this disease, the skin will develop some white dots, rings, and marks. This disease is treatable with the right medication. To avoid contracting this disease, ensure that you optimize the water parameters always.
- FISH FUNGUS
This is a fish disease that originates from precious infections. The affected fish may develop white fuzz films, slime, and so on. This disease should be treated immediately using the right antibiotics.
FAQS
Are Veiltail Bettas freshwater fish?
Yes, the Veiltail bettas are freshwater fish that originates from South East Asia. They prefer living in ponds, swamps, paddies, and slow-moving rivers.
Can I put Veiltail Bettas Together?
You should never put two male Veiltail together, but you can mix a male and female during the breeding. You can put a few females together, but they can also be aggressive to each other, and therefore you should monitor them closely.
How much does Veiltail cost?
The Veiltail are the most popular species of bettas. This means that they can be found in almost every pet store. This species is affordable, with an average cost of between 3 to 5 dollars depending on the color and pattern.
Are Veiltail Bettas rare?
No, The Veiltail bettas are a common species of bettas. They are the most accessible, and you will find them in most pet stores. However, with time, the popularity of this fish has dropped, and most aquarists prefer the fancy bettas that have extraordinary fins.
CONCLUSION
The Veiltail Bettas are a great addition to your tank despite the fact that they are common and readily available. They are known to be more social, docile, and friendly compared to most of the betta species and make great community fish. It is the males only that are aggressive to other males, but this can be avoided.
This fish is actually a beautiful species that is easy to take care of, and they will always make a great addition to your aquarium. If you are planning to add a fish to your aquarium, you should consider the Veiltail Betta, and you will never regret.
