TankBud

Slender betta

Betta bellica

Also known as Betta fasciata

FreshwaterFish

Slender betta (Betta bellica)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
77–86°F
25–30°C
pH
6.0–7.0
Adult size
3.5 in
9 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Bubble nester
Rarity
Rare
Family
Osphronemidae
Origin
Sumatra, Malay Peninsula

Overview

The slender betta is an elongate, active wild betta for a shaded, planted tank. It suits a keeper with some experience.

Did you know

With its long body and pointed fins, the slender betta looks more like a small pike than a typical fighting fish. Its name, bellica, means warlike, a hangover from a time when nearly every wild Betta was assumed to be a fierce fighter.

Caring for the slender betta

Give a slender betta a well-planted, shaded tank of at least 20 gal (75 L), with plenty of surface cover. It can be a strong jumper, so a tightly covered tank is essential. Subdued lighting, driftwood, leaf litter, floating plants and a dark substrate suit it, and dense planting gives it places to feel secure.

Keep the water warm, at 77 to 86°F (25 to 30°C), with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. It likes soft, tannin-stained water and a calm surface. Feed meaty foods such as bloodworm, brine shrimp, small crickets and a good carnivore dry food.

Keep it as a single pair or alone, rather than in a group. It is generally peaceful but will eat small fish and shrimp. Choose calm, similar-sized tank mates, or keep it in a species tank.

The male builds a bubble nest and guards the eggs and fry. Its breeding difficulty is not formally rated, but it needs soft, acidic water and a compatible, well-conditioned pair to succeed.

Good to know

The slender betta belongs to the gourami family Osphronemidae. It is one of the larger and most streamlined bubble-nesting bettas.

In the wild

The slender betta is found in Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula. It lives in soft, acidic forest streams and peat-influenced waters shaded by overhanging plants.

Common questions

What size tank does a slender betta need?

A slender betta needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a slender betta need?

A slender betta is comfortable at 77–86°F (25–30°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.0.

What does a slender betta eat?

A slender betta eats meaty foods, such as bloodworm, brine shrimp, small crickets and a good carnivore dry food. It will also eat small fish and shrimp.

How big does a slender betta get?

An adult slender betta reaches about 3.5 in (9 cm).

How does a slender betta breed?

A slender betta is a bubble nester, and the male guards the eggs and fry. Breeding needs a compatible, well-conditioned pair in soft, acidic water. Its difficulty is not formally rated.

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