Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish)

Overview

The Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish) (Betta splendens) is a Freshwater (Tropical) fish growing to about 2.5–3 in and living 2–4 yrs. It's aggressive (males) and best kept on its own. Plan a tank of at least 5 gal. With a typical lifespan of around 3 years, it's a shorter commitment.

Is the Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish) right for you?

A good match if — you're new to fishkeeping and want a hardy species.

Think twice if — you wanted a peaceful community tank; you wanted several of the same kind together.

What a Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish) needs from you

The ongoing work is water quality: filtration, regular water changes and stable parameters. As a tropical fish it needs a stable, heated tank. Keep it singly, or it will fight its own kind. Don't undersize the tank (minimum about 5 gal).

Key facts

Water type

Freshwater (Tropical)

Scientific name

Betta splendens

Adult size

2.5–3 in

Life span

2–4 yrs

Temperament

aggressive (males)

Social needs

solo (males)

Min. tank

5 gal

Care level

beginner

Notes

Males must be housed alone; NOT a bowl fish — needs heated, filtered tank

What it needs from you (at a glance)

What it costs

Scaled to this breed’s roughly 10 g and a ~3-year life, keeping a Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish) works out at about:

Rough cross-breed averages in USD — a planning guide, not a quote. Break it down by life phase in the Cost Calculator →

Temperament (at a glance)