About The Female Betta Fish

The betta fish, as it is known in the US or the Siamese fighting fish is a very popular aquarium pet. It is also known in its native Thailand as trey krem or pla-kad. Its scientific name is Betta splendens. The betta fish is said to be one of the most beautiful freshwater fishes in the world. With its vibrant, striking colors and flowing tail, they have a huge following among pet owners.

            The female betta fish have less vibrant colors and shorter fins than males. You can also identify one because of dark horizontal or vertical stripe on their bodies. The females are also usually seen as small, dull-colored (when not mating) and fragile-looking fishes than their male counterparts.

Caring for a Female Betta Fish

            Female bettas enjoy being in a fish bowl. The bigger the fish bowl, the better. But if you decide to raise many female bettas, then a 10-gallon aquarium is the best place for the fishes. No more than 6 female bettas should be kept in a 10-gallon aquarium. If you do, you will only provoke them to fight each other as betta fishes, even the females, are territorial. 4-6 female bettas in a 10-gallon aquarium are the ideal setup. Remember; NEVER put only 2 female betta fishes together as they will fight until only one lives. Three female bettas are also not good because there is a possibility of the 2 fishes ganging up against the remaining one. Therefore, four fishes in an aquarium is the minimum required. Experts also agree that putting a male betta together with the females will cause more harm than good for your female betta fishes unless you want to breed.

Female bettas usually are “comfortable” in temperatures that range from 65 to 80 Fahrenheit. If you observed that your fish has no appetite and the water is quite cool, increase the temperature of the aquarium or move the fishbowl to a nearby heat source or a warmer spot. Temperature alterations inside the aquariums are not usually harmful to your fish but sudden or frequent changes may cause stress to them. A temperature drop of more than 10 degreess Farenheit can be alarming.

Female betta fishes love blood worms and brine shrimp. They also love floating food pellets. Remember that when feeding your fish, too much is bad. Take away the uneaten food from the aquarium 10 minutes after feeding to prevent them from rotting or decaying inside the fishes’ home. The best way to gauge that you are feeding your fish right is when it is sporting a softly rounded belly. Your female betta fish should not look pregnant.

            Initially after putting the female bettas in the aquarium, you will observe that they will start nipping at each other and often flare their gills. There is nothing to worry about as it is only a normal behavior in the first few days. This is how the female bettas organize their pecking order, to determine the dominant female. After the hierarchy is established, things will quickly calm down.