A group of female betta fish can live in their tank, but males need to be alone until the mating season. Betta fish deserve more than bowls! And under white LED lights, their color is just as striking. If you plan on keeping a single male and female betta fish together then you need to make sure that the tank is not only big, but also has a lot of length (40 Gallons or more). Answer: Resting is a common behavior for betta fish, and unless you see signs of illness or distress, there is no reason to worry about his comfort. Breeding Betta fish as a hobby or for profit is a rewarding experience. 14 Answers. Another behavior that you should know about to help with betta fish care is the general aggressiveness of the fish. With ample space and hiding areas, female bettas may be able to live in a peaceful group. Answer Save. Betta fish occasionally fight each other, and one might wonder how they mate. Is this normal and should I buy a fish tank for him instead of using a fish bowl. Spade) You’re familiar with a spade from a deck of cards, right? 1 decade ago. They can show aggression when it comes to stress. They’ll attack and start chewing on their tails. The betta fish is native to Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia, and while most of the bettas sold in pet stores today are only distantly related to natives of Southeast Asia, they still have some features in common. The Betta Fish’ Characteristic Behavior. Males fight violently with each other until one of them surrenders and hides or even fight until the death of one of them. Female Betta Fish Names. Female Betta Fish are Aggressive . Wild betta fish are naturally muted in color and have short fins and tails. Make sure your fish has one or two covered areas to retreat to, but otherwise this can be considered normal fish behavior. Due to their being less active, they require less food than do the males, and as with the males, females will overeat if given the opportunity. Whether a female Betta will flare or not is a matter of temper: Female bettas can also flare at one another. Answer: There’s potential, but I’ve housed two females in a ten-gallon tank without issues. Most likely they ARE female. Betta fish are some of the most popular pet fish for beginning and experienced fish keepers alike. While males will fight with other males and male gouramis (a similar-looking species), they may be able to live singly in a “community” aquarium containing certain other docile species of fish, such as Cory catfish, kuhli loaches, or guppies. Females are not as aggressive as males but one thing to care don’t keep only a pair of females in your aquarium. Natural behavior. Colors: Typically female betta fish have less vibrant coloration than males. At the pet store male betta are placed in their containers because they are naturally aggressive. Female Bettas . Since they're often kept alone in a tank, owners may think their betta may be unhappy and lonely. They are slightly smaller in size because of it. First, I reviewed betta mate choice and the courtship ritual. In all cases male fish will flare their gills, spread their fins, thrash, and even bite at other fish. A male betta is an excellent choice if you want to learn more about this fish and his behavior. Some do this more than others, and some may not do it at all. If your betta fish has shorter fins, it's probably a female. It requires daily maintenance to ensure a stable aquatic environment for good health. Female Betta fish like some privacy, so don’t skimp on the plant life, but don’t make the area so dense that she can get tangled in the plants either. Betta Splendens are very aggressive and territorial fish. Betta Fish Mating Behavior. Betta fish need more room to swim, and it’s best to have a tank of at least five gallons, with 3 gallons as the absolute minimum. This is a critical distinction for aquarium enthusiasts who are interesting in breeding their own betta fish. Males are more brightly colored than females (Figure 1). It belongs to the gourami fish family. The main difference between them and male bettas is that females are rarely as aggressive. GloFish Bettas offer a unique addition to the world of betta fish. You may think that it’s only male betta fish that flare. That’s because captive bettas are bred for their spectacular finnage and rainbow array of colors, including metallics. They are much less active than male Betta fish, often leading people to worry unnecessarily about their fish's health. Is this normal Betta fish behavior? Egg Spot: Females also have an egg spot but it’s not always easy to spot. Relevance. Popular Betta Fish is very gorgeous fish among aquarium fishes. However, there are obvious ways to tell if your betta is a happy fish. 2)From what you say, he seems lonely and sounds like he needs a female betta. While nearly identical in behavior to traditional domesticated bettas, GloFish Bettas produce a fluorescent protein that allows them to fluoresce under blue LED lights. Do I need to get him a female to calm him down? Just like people, every betta is different. They are a perfect model species for studying sexual behavior. The ever-popular Betta fish continues to be in high demand due to their personality and beautiful finnage and coloring. When another male betta is introduced into the tank, the original male betta will first start by displaying warning signs. Generally, keeping any two bettas together increases that likelihood that one of them ends up dead. That could simply be down to the individual fish’s personality and shouldn’t cause you too much concern. I had a very aggressive female betta who killed my male when I attempted to breed them. No one’s figured out the cause yet, but tail-biting DOES result in infection and possible loss of the tail. Male betta fish tend to be more aggressive than female betta fish and will set up territories that they defend with their lives. Also, note the color of your betta fish. Favourite answer. Their aggressive responses can be observed by exposing them to their own reflection in a mirror outside the aquarium. Additionally, it is hard to tell the gender of the betta fish when they are still young since sexual dimorphism becomes apparent in maturity – 2-3 months of age. Betta Fish Flaring . If, on the other hand, you notice that your rumble fish is displaying vertical stripes, it is generally looking to mate. This will help your female stay away from your male if she needs to and reduce the chance of aggression between both fish. Why do betta fish flare their gills? Betta Fish Care Secret # 2: The Tank Is Everything. And here we have selected some fun and cute names for her. 1)It is very natural for betta fishes to be stressed.Especially when moving them into an new home.Give it about 4 or 5 more days, if the fish doesn't improve, then it may have a stress issue and it may need another betta, not a male betta but a female betta. In general they don't get along with others. Male and female betta fish will have certain requirements you need to provide before they can mate. Siamese fighting fish, or Betta splendens, are known for their flashy colors and extremely aggressive behavior. This is where this type of betta got its name. Some betta fish flare naturally when they get excited by some form of healthy stimuli, such as at feeding times or when you come into the room to play with him. Lv 4. 8. The male fish will notice that the female fish is carrying eggs, and they will start to engage in mating behavior. Introduction: Betta Behavior-1 Agonistic Behavior in Betta splendens Introduction to a Model Organism Wild Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens) are sexually dimorphic: males and females look different from one another. Betta females typically get along with other betta females as they are not nearly as territorial. Size: Females tend to be smaller in size. Because of their attractive colors and interesting behaviors, this Female bettas often have the same dramatic color patterns as the males without the longer fins and display of battling fish. They are well known due to territorial nature. Question: Will a female betta attack another female? He flares up a lot when I get near his aquarium as if he wants to attack me. Do female betta fish flare? Female betta fish can be just as territorial as males. There’s not a whole lot I can think of (sadly) You can’t really socialize a fish like you would a dog to make it less aggressive, which is why dealing with aggressive fish (bettas, cichlids, etc) can be tough. This type of betta is prone to tail-biting behavior. People tend to gravitate towards buying the male Betta rather than the female because of the male’s ornamentalism. I just got a betta fish yesterday and I put him in a fish bowl with rocks and a fake plant. Although some people might avoid Bettas because of their aggressive behavior, you don’t need to as long as you know how to handle them. When your betta flares, he puffs up his gill flaps and extends his pectoral fins as a gesture toward the perceived intruder. You can learn so much about the Betta fish’s behavior and life cycle when you pursue this project. This betta fish behavior usually signals that your fighting fish is ready to defend its territory. At a first approach, it appears that males display the same behavioral repertoire when presented with males, mirrors, or females. Signs of a Happy Betta Fish. All he basically does is lay on the rocks or stays still in one spot. However, captive-bred betta fish have strong sexual dimorphism because the male of the species is very different in looks and behavior to the female. Keeping A Single Male And Female Betta Fish Together. While not as aggressive as male betta fish, females will also flare their gills and display combative behavior toward other fish. Male betta fish tend to be bigger, longer and somewhat thinner. Spade Tail Betta (Betta splendens var. My male betta is maintaining a huge bubble nest three times his size and it's taking a mountain shape. Many people wonder if female bettas can be kept together or if a male and female betta can be kept together. I would suggest separating them or you will end up with a bunch of injured fish. Distinguishing between a male and a female koi betta fish is a daunting task even for pet store owners. However, as evolutionary purpose suggests, they will soon notice that they are both ready to reproduce, and they will come to a halt. Female Betta doesn’t have a bright coloration or long majestic tails, but they still deserve a pretty name for themselves. All of the different varieties of betta fish flare in captivity and the behavior is common to both sexes, too.. Flaring is used by betta fish to make themselves appear larger and more threatening to rivals. One of the first things many notice about female Betta fish is their behavior. Bettas like to rest on gravel, or even on plant leaves. betta fish behavior? Both male and female bettas are known to be extremely aggressive, with females fighting over pecking order in a particular family, and miles known to take bets on the fights that occur between male bettas competing for a mate. Betta fish have a reputation for jumping so a cover can help prevent any accidental escapees. Males are more aggressive and fighter than females. Once your betta fish is mature, look to see if it has long fins that are 2-3 times its body size, which is typical in males. LuvinLife. Male betta fish try to politely entice a female under the nest at first, flashing their fins and flaring their gill covers. Can Betta Fish Live With Other Fish? In advanced of the mating, male and female betta fish will have some light physical fight with each other. Although anymore breeders have found ways to develop females that are almost every bit as colorful as their brothers in some cases. Betta splendens is a species of fish where aggressive male-male display behavior is well documented. A proper filtration system that oxygenates the water but doesn’t pose a threat to your Betta. Cover your tank. Aggression or Behavior. Therefore, they can successfully coexist with semi-aggressive fish species and even other female betta fish. To determine the sex of a betta fish, you'll need to wait until your fish is at least 2 months old since that's when male and females start to look different. So how can you tell a male from a female?