Betta fish’s popularity is getting bigger. As tropical fish, the color of the fish varies and it is attractive to own as a pet.
Having female betta fish is a good option since they are cheaper at the market. However, you should know some female betta fish types first beforehand.
Many betta fish enthusiasts tend to choose female fish because they are less aggressive. They can be in the tank with other female fish and they live in peace. It can maximize the size of the tank, plus increase the aesthetic of the aquarium as well.
For that reason, getting to know more about female betta fish types will help you to care for them properly. There are many types and guidelines to differentiate them as well.
Different Types of Female Betta Fish
Here are different types of female bettas that you should know.
Rosetail
The rosetail type is one of the common female betta fish. It has a beautiful tail that can spread 180° and can back and forth. This type is the breed of halfmoon betta. The behavior of this type is very aggressive. The color can be different, but the tail looks like a rose to be in this category.
You may notice that rosetail have tail-biting behavior which is very dangerous to their life. Before you own this fish, consider its lifespan which is shorter than other female betta fish types. However, it is still worth having because the fish is very beautiful.
Crowntail
Crowntail have a tail that looks like a crown. The sighting of this fish is spectacular even though the female one is less colorful than the male one. This fish type loves to dance and the speed is high.
However, this variety is more aggressive than other types. You can manage their aggression by creating a good environment for them. If their genetics is aggressive, usually their behavior can be more aggressive as well. You have to ensure that the water condition for your betta is always pristine.
Super delta tail
Among the female betta fish types, this fish can spread its fin more than 180 degrees. The pattern of this type is more attractive, especially the anal and caudal fin. It is available in many colors, but the most popular pattern is grizzle, koi, and marble.
Sometimes, super delta tail bettas look similar to the halfmoon fish. They also have bad behavior like tail-biting. This behavior develops when they reach a mature age. They can get severe infections because of this which leads to shorter lifespans. This female betta fish loves live food such as white worms.
Feathertail
This type may be the most beautiful one among female betta fish types. The anal fin is ruffly, as well as the dorsal and caudal. It is attractive because it can have its pattern and colors. The fish is aggressive as well even though they are female fish.
Sometimes, the feather tail betta fish looks like a rosetail and crowntail. You can distinguish by seeing the anal fins. The edge of the fins has extra and smaller fins. This is why this variety is very beautiful. At the market, this type is very expensive.
Half sun fish
The half sun fish doesn’t mean that it’s the opposite of the halfmoon betta fish. This fish is very popular at the market because of its shape. The fish has a fringe of rays on the tail, especially when it gets exposed to light. It is stunning and unique.
The personality of Half sun fish is aggressive for the female. You might see the appearance of this fish is odd because it looks like the fins are united and it doesn’t have tails. The color of half sunfish usually consists of at least two colors.
Spade tail
One of the popular female betta fish types is the spade tail. The fins of this betta fish have curves to a point, but the whole fins are spreading. The size of the anal and dorsal fins is bigger and wider than the tail itself. Many spade-tail female betta fish are orange and they are similar to koi.
The name of the spade tail is given because the fish does look like a spade in the card. This type has many patterns such as piebald, solid, and butterfly. It is rare to have a bicolor of this fish. The domination is only the shade of orange from the body to its fins.
What Type of Fish Can Live with a Female Betta
Ember tetra fish
This fish can be a good company for all other female betta fish types. The color of this fish is orange. The size of ember tetra fish is small, yet you need more than 10 gallons of the tank to put them with the female betta fish.
Usually, there are five to six ember tetra fish in a tank to accompany a single female betta. They swim well with betta fish and eat the same food as a betta. You don’t have to differentiate the food for this small community.
Kuhli loaches
This fish looks like an eel and the length is about 3 inches. This fish is a nocturnal creature. When betta sleeps, kuhli loaches will be fully awake and otherwise. This fish won’t bother female betta fish at all. Since they live in different shifts, you can safely pet this with betta fish.
However, kuhli loaches eats different food from other female betta fish. Kuhli loaches usually eat gel food, pellets, and blackworms. You have to create the best environment in the tank because this fish loves to hide.
Harlequin rasboras
This fish can live with all female betta fish types well. The size of this fish is only 2 inches and the body is bright orange. The fish is very friendly and harmless. Normally, you can have about five to six rasboras in a tank to accompany the female betta.
Harlequin rasboras are peaceful fish. They won’t dominate the tank and food. The fish is also active and attracts female betta fish to play with them. It is a good exercise for female betta fish and their lifespan can be longer.
Trumpet snails
This snail lives well in a tank and they can live together with all female betta fish. It is active at night and a hard worker in a tank. They eat the algae on the glass and reduce the amount of waste in the aquarium. You can have about one or two trumpet snails in a tank.
This snail is as slow as other snails. They live on the floor or the glass only, so they won’t disturb the female betta fish. The size of this snail is less than 3 inches. If they have enough food, they can reproduce well by themselves.
Cory catfish
The cory catfish is also a great option to be the fish company of the female betta. The catfish are very playful and they are safe to live in a tank with betta fish. There are many species to choose such as panda, pygmy, and albino according to their color.
The size of this fish is only 3 inches and they love to look for some leftovers as food. They only eat the sinking food, so you can feed them specific food that will reach the floor. Five to seven fish in a tank are enough.
How Big Do Female Betta Fish Get?
Female betta fish has a size of about 2.5 inches or 7 cm maximum. The fish has the same size as the male, but the fins are smaller than the males. It is the maximum size of all female betta fish types, both in the wild and in the tank.
Factors of Female Betta Fish Size
Several factors will influence the growth of female betta fish. The first is the environment of the tank. If the temperature is too low or too high from the average, their growth can stop. The female betta fish can be smaller than the average size.
The second factor is feeding behavior. Those who get fed properly will grow healthily and reach maximum growth. Their lifespan is also better. If you feed the female betta fish with too much food, they might grow bigger but their lifespan is shorter than it should be.
The growth period
The growth period of the fish will be different. Those who live in the wild will grow faster than those who live in the tank. It is because wildlife offers more natural supplies. The average period to grow up to 2 inches for female betta fish is 7 months.
How to make the female betta fish grow faster?
The first step is you have to provide a bigger tank for the female betta fish. A bigger tank will let the fish grow bigger and healthily. It doesn’t mean that the tank should be gigantic. You only have to prepare the right tank. A tank with 5 gallons of water fits a single female betta fish.
Besides the tank, it is very important to prepare the right food for female betta fish. Food with rich protein is vital because it lets them grow healthily. Also, the female betta fish loves live food. They tend to catch the food and it gives them a chance to be more active.
The last thing that you have to consider is the cleanliness of the tank. It is a big support for the growth of the female betta fish. Clean water increases the lifespan after they reach adult age. For the age between 1-7 months, it maximizes their growth up to 2.5 inches.
Female Betta Fish Appearance
The color
The color of female betta fish is different according to the type. However, you might find the color is less vibrant than the male betta fish. The pattern of the female fish is hard to differentiate from the male because they share the same traits for this.
The fins
You will notice that the fins of female betta fish are very short even though the type of the fish is half-moon. The fins are also thinner than the male. It allows them to swim passively and easily in a tank. The tail shape is different according to their type.
Pattern
The pattern of female betta fish is attractive. It is bold and distinctive. There are many patterns according to the type of fish. Both female and male betta fishes have pretty patterns on their bodies.
Wider body
The body of female betta fish is wider. However, the length of the body is shorter than the average when they reach maturity. Even so, their beard cannot be seen, unlike the male betta fish.
Difference Between Female and Male Betta Fish
Colors
The colors of female betta fish are different from the male. The female ones are less vibrant than the male. The pattern can be similar, but the color is also less colorful. That’s how predators in the wild attack the females more than the male.
Body shape
The body shapes of female betta fish are wider but shorter than the male. You will also notice that the female fish is not as flat as the male betta. This body shape can be seen when they reach adult age, after 5 months.
Stripes
You will notice that the female betta fish will have some vertical stripes. The stripes appear when they are mating and about to lay their egg. However, these vertical stripes are not seen on male betta fish.
Egg spot
The egg spot is at the bottom of the body, between the anal fins and ventral. This egg spot is only available for the female betta fish. Meanwhile, the male betta fish doesn’t have this egg spot. This egg spot’s name is ovipositor.
The fins
The fins of female betta fish are shorter than the male. It is visible. The ventral part of female betta fish is thinner and shorter. Some varieties show that the tail of female fish is also shorter than the male.
Beard
The beard is easy to notice when you see the flare. The male betta fish is not flaring and the beard is very large. Meanwhile, the female betta fish have beards even though the size is smaller. When the female fish is not flaring, the beard is invisible.
Aggression
The aggression of female betta fish is lower than that of males. When the female is in a tank with the male, the male will become very aggressive and tend to attack the female fish. The violence they show is only reducing the lifespan of female fish, so they shouldn’t be in a tank unless for mating.
The bubble nest
Female betta fish never blow the bubble nest. Only male betta fish do that while they are in a tank. Usually, the bubble nests are produced to protect the egg after mating. If there is no egg in a tank, it is very rare for the fish to blow bubble nests.
How to Care for Female Betta Fish
Tank setting
The tank setting should be careful because they should be in a clean environment. The minimum water for the tank is 3 gallons or larger. However, if you want to put many kinds of plants and pebbles, the tank size should be at least 5 gallons.
Water quality
The fish needs dechlorinated water to live longer. After that, you have to change the water at least once a week to maintain its quality. You can add some beneficial bacteria into the water such as tetra safe to maintain the water quality.
Water temperature
The temperature to keep the female betta fish is about 78-82 degrees Fahrenheit. It shouldn’t be warm because the fish live well in cooler water. Warm water only reduces their lifespan. If the water is too cold, you can add a heater to heat the water in the tank.
Decorating the tank
It is important to decorate the tank because female betta fish get bored easily. The decoration inside the tank will make them happy. Make sure the decoration is safe for them. You can add some silk plants as well for decoration.
Feeding tips
All female betta fish types are carnivores. They will thrive well if they have various diets. Some premium fish food will help them to live well, such as flakes, worms, and pellets. However, you shouldn’t overfeed them because it will lead to some health issues.
When it comes to aesthetics, the female betta fish are not as colorful as the male betta fish. However, the female betta is a good option if you want to grow a betta fish community in a tank. The female fish can live well with other creatures.
The tips to care and how to differentiate the female and males above can be your guideline to properly care for them. This fish is unique because the female betta fish’s size is small. All the female betta fish types are also easier to care for in a tank.
