Last updated on December 3rd, 2023 at 09:46 pm
Crowntail Betta are amazing fish with their bright colors and beautiful fins. In this guide, you’ll learn everything there is to know about Crowntail Betta care, from species history to what kind of water parameters they need to thrive. You’ll also find tips on how to feed your betta, how to avoid common betta illnesses, and much more!
With their bright, fiery fins and long, flowing tail fins, crowntail bettas are one of the most popular types of betta fish due to their unique appearance and relative hardiness in terms of care requirements.
The crowntail betta fish, or betta fish, is a variety of Betta splendens that comes in many different forms.
Whether you’re looking to learn how to care for your first crowntail betta or you’re an experienced breeder looking to learn more about your crowntail betta fish pet, you’ll find all the tips and advice you need in this comprehensive crowntail betta care guide and species profile.
Why a crowntail is called crowntail betta?
The term crowntail refers to a specific type of betta, and is often used interchangeably with plakat.
They earned the name from their vibrant tail fin and the large extensions of their caudal fin which can be as wide as 8 inches (in diameter), about 3x the size of their body.
They are found in pet stores across North America. They can be identified by their unique appearance, as well as their habitat requirements.
The most important thing to know about crowntails is that they require specific care conditions in order to thrive and live long lives. That’s why we have put together our guide on everything you need to know about caring for a crowntail. Here’s what you should expect from your fish
Origin and description
The Crowntail Betta is a popular fish that is native to Thailand and Cambodia. They have interesting tails and are loved by many hobbyists due to their attitude, looks, activity level, and more. In recent years, they have become increasingly popular because of their variety of coloration along with their incredible finnage.
I will be covering all aspects of crowntail betta care in depth here, so let’s get started!
I want to start off with a species profile, there are three different types: Veiltail, Halfmoon, and Delta Tail (also known as DT). Each type has different characteristics. For example, Veiltails and halfmoons both have long flowing fins while deltas have short stubby fins which sometimes make them look like a ball of fuzz.
All types are beautiful in their own unique way, and it really comes down to personal preference on which you like best. For instance, I personally prefer delta tail but my brother always goes for veiltails whenever he can find them at our local fish store!
Species profile
The Crowntail betta (Betta splendens) is a species of fish in the Osphronemidae family. They are also known as Siamese fighting fish because of their aggressive territorial nature and ability to quickly be trained to fight with another male Betta fish.
Crowntails (Betta splendens) are definitely in a league of their own. If you’re looking for an alternative to traditional Bettas, look no further than these beautiful fish that hail from Thailand. While they still require dedicated care and maintenance, Crowntails offer unique rewards to those who are willing to put in that effort.
Unlike many other Betta species, crowntails can be kept alone or with another male; females have even been known to be less aggressive toward them. They also tend to be larger compared to your standard male Betta.
Lastly, unlike normal Bettas that show sexual dimorphism in coloration (males show much more vivid coloration), both males and females exhibit equally vibrant markings when properly cared for…that is if they live long enough!
Scientific name
The scientific name of the crowntail betta is betta splendens
Habitat
The crowntail betta originates from Thailand, where it inhabits shallow rice paddies and floodplains. This area is prone to flooding during the wet season and droughts during other seasons. It’s believed that crowntails evolved with these conditions in mind and have developed some adaptations to make their lives easier.
For example, their fins are somewhat longer than those of a traditional betta, which allows them to live comfortably in shallow water with less disturbance. They also can tolerate higher levels of both ammonia and nitrites than other types of bettas, making their water quality higher overall. They typically grow no more than an inch long—even fully-grown adult fish won’t grow larger than 2 inches (5 centimeters).
In captivity, they’re considered omnivores; though they eat fish food like pellets or flakes readily, they will also eat worms or insects if given access to them. Their diet should consist mainly of meaty foods but can include vegetable matter as well.
It’s important not to feed your crowntail too much protein, since high levels of protein can make male bettas begin showing secondary sexual characteristics; females will also become aggressive toward one another. Crowntails don’t do well in warmer waters; ideally, you’ll want to keep your tank at about 78 degrees Fahrenheit (26 degrees Celsius), but below 82 degrees F (28 degrees C) is fine. Full spectrum light or a vitamin supplement may be required for best results.
Crowntail betta size
Crowntails are one of smallest betta fish species, with males growing to just under 2 inches and females slightly bigger at around 2.5 to 3 inches in length. Crowntails should not be kept with larger species of fish or ones that are aggressive. Because of their size and activity level.
Crowntail betta tank size
Bettas are very small fish and can be kept in vases as small as 2 or 3 gallons, but for such a colorful species, it’s best to give them some extra space. A 5-gallon tank is ideal—and if you’re going to keep multiple bettas together, a 10 or 20-gallon tank should do it (as long as there are more males than females). Any bigger and your betta may start feeling hemmed in, which can lead to stress.
Crowntail betta tank set up
Keeping Bettas in a well-planted aquarium is recommended. Their fins can get damaged in a bare tank, so make sure they have plenty of plants to hide around. They are also known to jump out of tanks, so an enclosure with a lid or cover should be used. When it comes to decorations, it’s up to you. Adding rocks and/or driftwood will allow them something to rub against if they want.
Be careful not to use any type of gravel that could potentially damage their scales or eyes. Plants, driftwood, caves and real or artificial turf (especially silk) all work great as decor for your betta habitat. Planting Java Moss works especially well because bettas love hiding under it! After setting up your tank, change 20% – 30% of your water every week when doing regular water changes as part of your routine maintenance schedule.
Letting your fish live in dirty water can cause fin rot and other bacterial infections to form on them. Regular water changes will help keep your fish healthy, happy and looking beautiful. The smaller the amount of fish waste build-up in your tank each week, the less often you’ll need to perform these weekly water changes.
Crowntail betta tank mates
Crowntails have a reputation for being nippy, especially to their own kind. However, if you house them with peaceful fish that swim at different speeds and don’t pose any threat to them (such as long-finned varieties of barbs or tetras), then these fish will be fine housed together. With their generally bold nature and large size, Crowntails are more suitable for bigger tanks than other betta species.
As a general rule, however, it is better to keep just one crowntail per tank. It is also recommended that you keep your Crowntail away from smaller fish as they can be frightened easily by quicker moving companions. If you prefer having non-aquatic animals in your tank along with your bunnies, then go ahead but remember to make sure there are no dangers between the two types of pets.
Some of the best tank mates are Angelfish, neon tetras, guppies, danios, Discus fish, and other types of tetras. Also, they look great when kept with aquatic plants such as java ferns and Anubias Nana. Remember that if you add new fish to your tank, always let them acclimatize first, so their chances of survival greatly increase if you do that.
Crowntail betta breeding
Crowntails, unlike other betta species, can be bred in a wide variety of water parameters. Since they come from slower-moving waters and ditches as juveniles, they are accustomed to less oxygen. They will generally breed in soft acidic water, though their adaptability allows them to reproduce in hard alkaline water as well. Lower temperatures (below 76 degrees Fahrenheit) yield better results for spawning and raising fry; however, it is possible to raise Crowntails at higher temperatures.
Water quality must also be good and stable — cycling plants or using ammonia removers prior to introducing your fish into your tank will ensure that you avoid any adverse effects on fry. A breeding ratio of 2 females per male works best, with one male per every 10 females being an acceptable minimum ratio for breeding purposes. When choosing between males with different colors, pick based on personality (larger fins may indicate a healthier fish).
The female should have clear rounded abdomens; if she does not, she may not have been properly conditioned prior to introduction into your tank (feed her live foods for 1 week before attempting to breed her). Your goal is spawning within six months of bringing both sexes together.
Spawning usually takes place when lighting conditions are at their lowest. This provides cover for eggs so they aren’t eaten by adult fish, and keeps hatching much safer than when lighting conditions are optimal. Remove any large pieces of rock or wood because the fry may hide there when first hatched out. Avoid quick changes in temperature because these affect water chemistry quickly.
Choose either neutral or slightly basic water conditions (neither too acidic nor too alkaline). Water temperature needs to stay below 82 degrees F while fry remains free-swimming since excessive heat can cause problems such as fin rot among younglings, which leads to early death due to infection by fungus moving through bloodstreams after fungal spores enter skin wounds, caused by rough surfaces against which swimming occurs over time.
Ensure adequate aeration since physical trauma happens frequently in overcrowded tanks. If adults start nipping scales off of each other and begin to display reddened areas, increase circulation immediately. Provide plenty of food; initially feed small portions several times daily, increasing size over time until adults are eating massive amounts twice daily.
Fry needs about three weeks to become free-swimming, with another three weeks until half develop pigmentation (this excludes actual development outside tanks requiring transition along shorelines leading up to the adoption of marine behavior patterns once spawned successfully).
Three months total is all fry require before becoming miniature predators, making environmental shift comparatively smooth!
Life cycle
Bettas, like most fish, go through life in cycles. At any given time you can identify what stage of life your betta is in based on its size and appearance. Although it’s difficult to sex bettas when they are very young, they can be sexed once they mature. Bettas only live for a few years, so there’s plenty of opportunity to witness each one grow up and become its own unique individual with distinctive characteristics.
The Crowntail Betta’s life span is short. From 3 to 6 months of age, a Crowntail will go through several molts or outgrow their old skin. Eventually, they will reach sexual maturity and produce offspring. A female can give birth to as many as 2,000 live young in one spawning event!
The eggs will fall to the bottom of your aquarium (or be released into your tank) where they begin to hatch. If you are breeding Crowntails and want to preserve some of these little guys, you must remove them from your tank immediately after hatching. Otherwise, they will eat each other in order to survive!
Are crowntail betta aggressive or peaceful?
The crowntail betta is a bit of an oddball in terms of temperament. On one hand, it can be very aggressive — but on the other, it can be peaceful. Although, Crowntails have a reputation for being too aggressive to keep with other fish — and while some are indeed overly territorial, many are fine with living in community tanks and fighting only when directly provoked.
Crowntail betta care
They are schooling fish, meaning they should be kept in groups of five or more. They can easily live in a tank as small as a 10-gallon and require good water quality with an ideal temperature between 72 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything less than 68 or higher than 86 will make them quite unhappy.
Because they’re schooling fish, bettas need other crowntails to keep them company. If you want to keep them with other species, try tetras (specifically black neon) and danios for peaceful companions that won’t be intimidated by their finnage!
What does crowntail betta eat?
Crowntails are carnivores and will eat both commercially prepared pellets and freeze-dried bloodworms. Some crowntails have been known to be finicky eaters. When you first bring a crowntail home, start with just one kind of food at a time. Only introduce another type of food after your betta has eaten all of what you offer at it first.
Once you’ve introduced multiple types of food, test its reaction to each by dropping some on its head or into its tank. Observe how long it takes for your fish to begin eating that particular kind of food. It may take several days or weeks before a crowntail is willing to try new foods, but once it does, you know that betta is likely going to continue eating them.
Water conditions
Crowntails are relatively hardy and easy to care for, but it is still essential that their environment is stable. The most important factor you can control in your crowntail’s living conditions is temperature. They are tropical fish and therefore, require a warm aquarium environment. Ideally, it should be around 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal health; anything over 82 degrees or below 70 will likely result in sickness or death.
A pH level of 6 to 8 is appropriate, although many breeders use water with a pH between 7.5 and 8 to encourage breeding behavior in their betta pets. Bettas will only live in clean water, so change your crowntail’s water weekly or at least every other week to keep your fish healthy and happy.
Crowntail betta lifespan
Their average lifespan is 2 to 3 years. Crowntails can perfectly live up to three or four years. Some make it to five or six, but older bettas are pretty rare. The oldest known crowntail was eight and a half years old when he died, which is quite an accomplishment for a fish with such tiny fins! Bettas really don’t get big enough to survive longer than that anyway… so age isn’t really a measure of success.
Parasites and diseases
The crowntail betta (taken from an ancient breed of fighting fish) is naturally resistant to many external parasites and diseases. It is unlikely that you will ever see a crowntail with ich, velvet, or oodinium (just to name a few). Crowntails are not hardy fish, however; they are highly sensitive to poor water quality.
A trip to your local pet store will prove that there are myriad medications and treatments on offer for other species of fish. None of these remedies have been tested or proven safe for use in crowntail bettas at any stage in their lives. Therefore, unless your vet advises otherwise, avoid any form of treatment beyond removing uneaten food and making sure your tank is clean and well maintained.
At best, medicating your fish may make it even more susceptible to disease by disturbing its natural defenses, at worst, it could be fatal. Never medicate without talking to a veterinarian first!
Predators
Crowntails are very prone to getting eaten by other fish. They are so attractive that they’re considered a delicacy by many of these other fish. Some common predators are Oto Catfish, Knifefish, Asian Redtail Catfish, Piranha, Angelfish, Plecostomus & Pacu.
So what can you do to prevent them from getting eaten? Keep your crowntail betta in their own tank with no other fish or shrimp present and feed them floating live foods such as Daphnia and mosquito larvae. If you must keep them with other species, make sure those species don’t hunt or eat meaty live foods!
How much does a Crowntail Betta fish cost?
The price of a Crowntail Betta can vary, depending on its coloration. The most common is a crowntail male (the name tells you that much) and it starts at around $7.
Does crowntail betta make good pets?
Yes. In fact, if you’re looking for a great beginner fish, then look no further than your local pet store’s betta section. Crowntails, specifically, are known for their bright coloring and acrobatic nature, as well as for making great pets. So don’t pass up on these amazing freshwater fish!.