Last updated on July 29th, 2022 at 03:49 pm
Male betta fish are extremely easy to care for and will make an ideal pet for any owner. They are easy to distinguish from their female counterparts in that they tend to be larger and have more vibrant colors than the females.
While they can live without female betta fish types, they can be very aggressive when housed with one.
Male betta fish are generally larger and more aggressive than their female counterparts, which means they need to be kept in separate tanks so that they don’t cause damage to one another.
If you’re new to the world of betta fish, here are the 5 most common types of male betta fish that make excellent pets, as well as what you should know about them before purchasing one.
Species profile
Betta fish belong to the family Osphronemidae, which is comprised of more than 70 species. There are many different types of male betta fish, with distinct physical and behavioral characteristics. In fact, male bettas have such unique personalities that they’re often referred to as fighting fish because they compete against one another for female attention.
Bettas can live up to five years if properly cared for. They require a relatively small tank, but it should be well-filtered and contain fresh water at all times. Males tend to be territorial and will fight each other when kept together in a small tank. If you want multiple male bettas in your home, you must provide them with individual tanks.
Male betta fish size
Male betta fish are usually small, their size ranges from 2.4 to 3.1 inches (6-7 cm) in length.
Male betta fish tank size
Due to their small size, the minimum recommended tank size is 5 gallons (19 liters) or larger for a single male betta fish.
Betta fish tank setup
Male betta fish typically live in small containers and don’t need as much room. They can get aggressive, so it’s best to house them alone. Small, lidded tanks with a capacity of 5 to 10 gallons work well. A larger tank is needed for raising baby betta fish or if you plan on keeping multiple males together, in which they’ll be separated by a barrier to prevent aggressiveness.
The water should be kept clean at all times by changing out 25 percent of it every week. This helps prevent disease and keep your male healthy. If you have a filter, use it to maintain good water quality. The temperature should be between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (24-27 degrees Celsius).
Maintain that temperature by using an aquarium heater or placing your container near another heat source like a window during cold months. Use an air stone to keep oxygen levels high enough for your fish. Male betta fish are carnivores and eat bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, and other meaty foods.
Feed him twice a day at regular intervals until he is full. Then remove any uneaten food within 30 minutes to avoid fouling the water.
Male betta fish tank mates
Male betta fish are territorial, so they’re generally kept alone in a 5 or 10-gallon tank. However, if you buy multiple male betta fish and space their tanks out, they may not be as aggressive toward each other. When choosing your tank mates, keep in mind that some species of fish can carry diseases that will harm your betta.
For example, goldfish carry an illness called ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich), which can kill your betta within 24 hours. Make sure to research any potential tank mates before introducing them to your betta. Also, avoid putting more than one male betta in a tank together; doing so is asking for trouble.
Some good tank mates for your male betta fish are:
- Cherry Shrimp
- Ghost Shrimp
- Malaysian Trumpet Snails
- Mystery Snails
- Nerite Snails
- Endler’s Guppy
- Amano Shrimp
- Cory Catfish
- Otocinclus Catfish
- Pygmy Cory Cat
- Clown Plecostomus
- Kuhli Loach
Male betta fish behavior
Although all betta fish are aggressive, male betta fish are more aggressive than females. That said, some species of Bettas tend to be more aggressive than others. Large-scaled Bettas will generally attack anything that enters their territory—including other fish!
Male betta fish care
Proper care and diet are paramount to a happy and healthy betta fish. Every tank is different, and depending on how much you’re willing to invest, your betta could live for months or years. With proper care, a betta can live between one and five years in captivity.
Keeping water clean, temperature-controlled, feeding well (without overfeeding), and treating illnesses as they arise—are all important factors that affect how long your betta will live. If you have an aquarium with at least two gallons of water per inch of fish, provide your betta with a heater and thermometer (Bettas prefer temperatures between 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit) and feed him quality pellets once daily, he should be able to live comfortably for several years.
Remember: Bettas don’t like big changes in their environment! If you want to add plants or decorations, do so gradually so he doesn’t become stressed out by too many changes at once.
Betta fish food
Bettas are carnivores and will eat all kinds of live, freshwater food, such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, daphnia, and freeze-dried Tubifex. A good way to feed them is by dropping frozen or freeze-dried food into their tank to simulate an environment similar to what they would find in nature. Bettas can survive on live foods alone but should also be fed vegetable-based flake food.
Betta fish lifespan
Male betta fish generally live between 2 and 5 years with proper care and good water parameters.
Parasites and diseases
Bettas are often infected with parasites, such as anchor worms. Fungus or bacterial infections are also common in bettas. In fact, if you have a sick betta and take it to a pet store to be sold, it’s likely to be bought by another customer who doesn’t realize how sick it is and ends up infecting all his other fish.
Parasites and diseases can enter a fish through water, food, or even contact with another infected fish. They will cause your betta to lose its color, become lethargic and stop eating.
The best way to prevent diseases is not just to keep your tank clean but also to wash your hands before handling your fish and make sure that anything else coming into contact with your tank (such as nets) has been properly cleaned.
Predators
Bettas are wary, territorial fish and they can sense approaching danger. As such, they will attack anything that threatens them, including other bettas. They will even attack another male betta if he is already established in a territory that it wants to lay claim to.
However, some fish still prey on them, some examples their predators are goldfish, pufferfish and other big fish like lionfish.
Types of male betta fish
Fantail betta
The fantail is one of the most popular types of betta fish. They can come in a variety of colors such as red, blue, yellow, white, and brown. Some people might refer to them as plakat bettas because they typically have shorter fins compared to other male betta fish types. However, they don’t require any less care than regular male betta fish do. In fact, some owners prefer keeping their betta fish in a smaller tank or bowl so that they are easier to take care of.
Half Moon betta
The Half Moon is a new variety of betta fish that will not be for all beginners. You can tell which gender is male and female by looking at their abdomens. Males tend to have larger, more vibrant fins than females. If you want to get one, they are only available in limited quantities, so start searching now! The Half Moon gets its name from its heart-shaped tail fin, which gives it a distinct appearance when viewed from above.
Crowntail combtail betta
The crowntail combtail betta is an uncommon but stunning betta fish variety. Crowntails are characterized by long fins that create a comb effect. This type has orange or red fins and a blue body with black stripes. They also have a bulbous forehead, which gives them their other common name—the bubble-nose betta. Crowntail combtails are active swimmers, so they need a large aquarium to roam in freely.
Double tails combtail betta
The double tail betta is actually a type of genetic mutation that occurs in very rare instances. It looks exactly like you’d imagine – it has two tails. The scientific name for these kinds of bettas is Betta splendens, but they are often referred to as simply double tail bettas or double tails.
In terms of care, they behave much like regular single-tailed bettas and shouldn’t require any special attention. However, because there are so few specimens around and because it is a mutation that occurs so rarely, these fish can be hard to find and will cost more than your average pet store betta.
Veiltail betta
These fish are short, and their tails are long and flowing. The fins on veiltail bettas may be any color. These fish need large tanks with lots of plants and space for swimming. Tank mates should be peaceful because these active fish can stress out other aggressive or territorial fish. If you’re adding a male to a tank full of females, make sure they have plenty of hiding places to feel safe, as males can be aggressive toward other males in their territory.
They do best in water which is about 76 degrees Fahrenheit. They prefer tropical temperatures but will live in cooler water if provided with adequate cover and warmth from aquarium lights. Veiltails do not like bright light, so keep them away from direct sunlight when possible.
Dumbo/Elephant ear betta
The dumbo betta is unique in that its body’s shape makes it look like an elephant ear. This characteristic, along with its coloration, gives it a very striking appearance. In terms of care, they are similar to many other types and species of betta fish. They are relatively easy to breed as well.
Dumbo bettas can be found in any color variation, but most commonly come in red or blue. Their fins are also often frayed at their ends (known as fins n’ fur). These varieties have also been known to grow larger than most other types of bettas.
Plakat betta
The Plakat is a male betta with a more elongated body shape, similar to that of wild Bettas. They are a bright red color with fins that are very large and full, giving them an almost puffy appearance. Since they have shorter fins than other males, their back tends to be a little flatter as well. As far as personality goes, these fish tend to be quite active and playful. If you want a fun fish that’s great for beginners, then consider getting yourself a Plakat!
25 Common male betta fish names
Listed below are 25 of the most common male betta fish names that there is:
- Bruno
- Leif
- Nigel
- Shiloh
- Marino
- Ernie
- Zeus
- Moses
- Jedrek
- Darius
- Ortun
- Hungry
- Albert
- Tao
- Morado
- Anchor
- Thistle
- Barnaby
- Bay
- Gentian
- Akira
- Caspian
- Spike
- Gusti
- Kai
Male betta fish facts
Do male betta fish get lonely?
Although there are certain circumstances where males can actually benefit from having one or more roommates, male betta fish are naturally territorial and actually unlikely to get lonely in a tank. However, if they are placed in a small tank, they may get bored due to limited space to explore the tank.
Can you put a female betta with a male betta?
Yes, but only for a short period of time, especially during breeding, because the 2 fishes don’t get along very well. While you may think that male and female betta fish can live together, in many cases they don’t get along. These fish are aggressive to each other, especially when they are guarding their territory.
There is a bit of an exception with Siamese fighting fish; these varieties have colors that extend past their bodies, making them more suitable for living together without issues. With these types, you need to put more time into your research before bringing two male bettas home.
How can you tell if a betta fish is male?
The easiest way to tell if a betta fish is male is to look at his fins. The presence of a long, flowing tail fin or an extended dorsal fin indicates that he’s male. He may also have air bubbles under his gills and an obvious red patch on his anal fin.
Female betta fish vs male
Just as male and female humans have different physical characteristics, male and female betta fish look different. The first obvious difference is their size. Female betta fish are typically larger than males, usually growing to be three inches long, while males rarely reach 2 inches in length.
Additionally, females tend to be more rotund than males and have a rounder body shape with larger fins than their slender counterparts (Females also tend to live longer lives).
Males have slimmer bodies that are longer than they are wide. Their fins are pointed at both ends, whereas female betta fish have rounded tails.
Their gills are smaller than those of females and may even be covered by their scales. In addition to these anatomical differences, there’s one behavioral trait that separates male from female bettas: aggression.
While female betta fish are generally calmer than males, females can still become aggressive when protecting their eggs or young. Male bettas, on the other hand, are notorious for being aggressive and territorial toward other male bettas as well as other species of fish.
Can betta fish bite you?
It’s certainly possible for a betta fish to bite you. But male betta fish are more likely to nip at your finger than actually take a good chomp. This is because your approaching hands are viewed as a potential threat. That said, you still need to be careful when handling a betta. Some males will bite right through their own fins, so don’t put your hand in close enough for them to mistake it for food.
Do betta fish know their owners?
Betta fish have some amazing survival instincts and can even recognize their owner. They will become familiar with your face, know when you are near and will swim over to greet you when they see you. This is a sign that your betta knows who you are!
Do bettas like light?
Yes, although they don’t like anything that is too intense, but they need light to be happy. That said, you have to realize that your betta will probably spend most of his time either in a tank or in a bowl. And if that’s all they get, they’ll live—but they won’t be thriving. As with many things in life, moderation is key: Bettas need light, but they don’t need it constantly.
How do you know a betta fish is happy?
Since they love swimming, you should know a betta fish is happy when it is swimming around, exploring its environment, and interacts with you. A happy betta fish will swim toward you when you tap on its tank and come over to investigate any movement in its aquarium. In contrast, a neglected or unhappy betta fish will act more like a goldfish; hiding all day and coming out only at night.
Also, if you’re familiar with their body language and behavior, you can certainly tell whether they are happy or not. If a betta fish is happy he should be active and curious. He might even swim up to you as if to say hello! A happy betta will also display certain behaviors that other fish do not, including flared gills, wiggling fins, and unique swimming patterns.
When you notice your betta fish acting abnormally, such as lying listlessly at the bottom of its tank, not eating, or showing other signs of illness, consult your veterinarian immediately. It’s possible that your pet may have contracted an illness that can be treated if caught early enough. If left untreated for too long, some illnesses can prove fatal for your betta fish so it’s important to get him checked out as soon as possible.