The Crowntail Betta fish or also known as the Siam fighting fish , has its origin in the shallow waters of rice crops found in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. This freshwater fish is one of the most popular pets for aquarium enthusiasts due to its spectacular colors.
If you are considering having this fish as a pet, there are things you should know, taking into account that you require a certain level of responsibility.
See Also = Glass Catfish Complete Care Guide, Size, Tank
Appearance Crowntail Betta fish
This colorful animal has left many amazed by the ways in which it performs the movements of its beautiful tails and fins, leaving a light and transparent effect before the eyes of the spectators.
The Siam fighter adapts easily to different types of environment, among its most outstanding qualities it can be observed that:
- It can live up to 2 years, but in captivity it can live up to 5 years.
- It only measures 6.5 cm , although with its double tail and crowns on its fins it leaves more than one surprised.
- They can be seen in different colors: green, brown, blue, deep red, orange, black, purple, pink, white, butterfly color , among others.
- They have a special organ called a labyrinth , which allows them to take in air from the surface.
- It is striking for its different types of tail: comb, crown, delta, double feather, half sun, round, sword and many more.
- It is aggressive and territorial which is why it is called the fighting fish .
Crowntail Betta fish live better in pairs than in groups because they are territorial and aggressive, they could hurt themselves, it is recommended:
-
The fighting fish habitat is very important, it must be similar to its natural environment, some recommendations are:
- The size of the fish tank will depend on the amount of fish that will live in it, if it is a male it should be 20 liters, this will allow it to swim freely at ease.
- The females can live together, preferably start with three and thus observe their behavior, it is rare that the females fight each other but precautions must be taken, the aquarium should be 30 to 40 liters.
- The recommended thing is one male per tank, but if the person prefers a community of betta fish, it should be a 100-liter tank, this to avoid seeing betta fish fighting
2.- Community Aquarium
These fish are sensitive to changes and therefore you have to be very careful when looking for other fish to live with them, you should consider:
- If you want to create a community aquarium, you should investigate the cold water fish that you want to get together with the bettas, to avoid fights and attacks.
- You should never mix a betta fish with a guppy fish , as it is faster and more active and it can die from stress.
- A male betta can be paired with several female fish.
3.- Aquarium water quality
Because it is an intelligent, sensitive and irritable fish, it should be placed in a comfortable environment, as if it were in its natural habitat, for this:
- The aquarium should be acclimated with natural plants and places where it can hide .
- Bear in mind that oxygen is not required, with a depth of 15 cm in the tank, as he rises to the surface to take a breath .
- The temperature should be optimal between 25 and 30 ° C , so a heater with a thermostat is recommended.
we do not recommend using tap water as the PH will not be regulated.
Feeding
This fish is carnivorous , its live foods are its favorites, it can be given processed food, although it is recommended that natural foods be added to the diet so that it does not lack nutrients.
The fighting fish consumes mosquito larvae , daphnia or water fleas , spectrum , grindal worms , they can also be given raw squid or shrimp in pieces . Everything in small sizes
Additionally, krill can be added to their diet , which is a complement to keep the colors of this exotic fish bright, as well as brine shrimp , a small crustacean that helps them grow fast.
Remember that we must not overfeed our fish and not give more food than it can eat for 2 minutes.
Diseases
Most of the diseases that this fish can suffer can be prevented by keeping the aquarium environment clean, placing antibiotics and aquarium salts , in addition to taking care of the diet.
From the first moment you acquire one of these fish, you must observe its behavior inside the tank, so you will quickly notice when the fish acts differently.
1.- Mouth fungus
It is characterized by presenting white cotton-like spots in the mouth, gills and all the fins of its body, it occurs when the environment is not appropriate due to lack of space and circulation of clean water.
2.- dropsy
Caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites and poor nutrition, it is characterized by a bulging abdomen, loss of appetite and frequent rises to take oxygen.
3.- Ripped tail
It is a common disease, it occurs due to the poor quality of the water, the fish looks decayed, with strange white spots, black and red edges along the affected areas, so the water must be changed frequently to improve.
4.- White spot disease
It is a parasite that needs the body of the betta to live, at first the fish looks listless, nervous and rubs its body all over the tank.
Then the white spots appear, which are cysts where parasites live, they must be treated with drugs, salt water and thermotherapy for the fish to heal.
Compatibility with other fish
It is compatible with bottom fish such as chupalgas, calm fish such as corydoras or botias, colonies of live food such as the daphnia with which it feeds, as well as snails and freshwater mussels.
If, on the other hand, if he joins fish faster and more active than him, with physical characteristics like his, he will always live in conflict and may die of stress.
How to know if it is male or female?
It can be seen that the female crown has a slightly wider body , small fins, pale whitish or brownish tones. It appears smaller than the male crown due to the smaller size of its fins.
On the contrary, the male is more striking due to his strong and bright colors, his fins are larger and his body is slightly elongated and thin .
Things to consider before buying one
Before buying a Crowntail Betta fish, certain aspects must be taken into account, it should be noted that it does not present bulging in the abdominal area, as this indicates that it suffers from parasites or any other disease.
In addition, you must carefully observe the eyes that do not present ulcers or lesions, you must also stare at their fins and their tail, if any of them is broken, do not buy it.
If before buying it, you see that the fish is at the bottom of the tank without activity, it is a sign that it is sick, so we must choose another.