Being one of the most popular fish species in the world, Bettas are loved for their energetic behavior and bright vivid colors. Giant Betta Fish are Bettas larger in size than regular betta fish. They are also called Betta anabatoides and they are a peaceful species with males growing up to 5 inches in length.
It was in 1999 that some breeders set out to breed Giant Betta. They came up with a method of extensive selective breeding that is performed by picking the largest betta male and female available and then breeding them.
If you too are looking to breed a number of bettas, you should consider investing in a high-quality breeder tank like the 40 Gallon Breeder Tank.
This consistent breeding procedure tends to produce larger sizes of fish with each subsequent bred generation. Giant bettas have their own preferences and requirements. They thrive in salty and slightly acidic water with a low flow rate.
While they are quite easy to care for, they require water of good quality just like most other species of fish. In this guide, we learn more about the sizes of these fish and how to care for them.
How Long Do Giant Betta Fish Live?
Giant betta or King betta belong to the breed of betta splendens and they are small aquarium fish. Just like any other betta, the lifespan of a giant betta depends on various factors. The genetics, care and feeding of Giant Betta determine how long they live.
This species of fish generally live about 2-3 to up to 5 years, depending on how well they are cared for. The average lifespan of Giant Betta is 2-3 years. A giant betta living for up to 5 years means it has been cared for exceptionally well. Fish placed in small tanks usually have a shorter lifespan.
Adult male bettas are usually 3 inches long while females are 2.5 inches.
If you want your Betta to live longer, you should pay particular attention to their care. One of the most important tasks you perform regularly is cleaning their tank to keep them in good health. Keeping them in spacious tanks also considerably increases their lifespan.
The quality of food you give them is also important. Feed them with frozen, live and dried foods like shrimp and bloodworms.
How Do You Tell A Giant Betta Fish Is Ageing?
It is quite challenging to differentiate between aging and signs of diseases affecting Giant Betta. People often mistake a sick fish for an aging one. However, you can tell if your giant betta is aging by ruling out other possibilities.
Some signs of aging include dulling of colors, enlarged size and clamped fins. A sick betta would react slowly to stimuli. Moreover, if they are kept with other fish in the aquarium, they do sometimes tend to feed poorly.
Here are some of the signs that show your giant betta is aging. These signs should appear gradually over a period of 3-5 months. If you find these symptoms showing in a few weeks, they can be more as a result of an illness which can be caused by a number of different factors.
Signs that show your giant betta fish is aging
1. Taking Frequent Naps
Aging giant betta tends to sleep a lot. How much they sleep really depends on their age. But the older they get, the more often they take naps.
2. Fading Colors
Just like human hair fading with age, scales fade in color with the age of the fish. Your Betta’s scales which were once bright blue may gradually turn gray or brown leaving only a hint of their former color.
3. Making Bubble Nests
Healthy male bettas tend to make large bubble nests hoping to attract a female betta to mate with him. Not all bettas make so large nests and some may never make any bubble nests though they are healthy.
The sex drive of giant bettas also decreases with age. So if your fish used to make bubble nests and has slowed down making them all stopped altogether, there is a high chance this is a result of ageing.
4. Missed Food
The vision of giant bettas deteriorates with age and this can affect the diet of the betta fish due to difficulty in locating food.
Read more: How does king betta compares to giant betta
5. Ragged Fins
If your betta had beautiful fins in the beginning and they are now curled and ragged, it means your fish is aging. Old betta fins tend to curl or twist over time.
6. Giant Betta Tank Mates
Giant Betta is known to be a solitary fish. However, there is no reason your betta should be alone as long as you make sure it is comfortable and the tank mates are compatible.
Here are some of the ideal giant betta tank mates.
Rummy Nose Tetra
This beautiful fish has a red face and it is peaceful in nature. Its smaller size makes it a great tank mate for the giant betta.
The Cardinal Tetra
Resembling the neon tetra in some ways, this fish feeds on standard food and can live well with a betta. The attractive blue and red colors of this fish make it look beautiful.
Silver Tip Tetra
A standard tetra species with simple yet pretty colors, silver tip tetra is no different from other tetras. Their visual characteristics are very much similar to others.
Galaxy Rasbora
This one-inch fish features a dark purple body and tiny yellow-white dots on the top of its body. Such features give it the appearance of a Galaxy and make it ideal for your aquarium containing giant betta.
Purple Harlequin Rasbora
With a beautiful purple color, this fish is greatly popular among aquarists. It is regarded as one of the most stunning fish species.
Fire Rasbora
This rasbora is 1.5 inches in length and is quite beautiful. However, it tends to bully bettas in the tank and should be treated if it gets stressed.
Mollies
Large 4-inch size fish can co-exist with giant bettas, giving a great-looking tank. However, they need ample space to avoid any competition with your bettas.
Guppy
Only the females of Guppy are compatible with giant bettas. Males may not suit because they use their colored fins to attract their mates. The betta may not like this and kill them.
Zebra Snails
These species are 1-inch in size and make an excellent choice for giant betta tank mates. The snail has a low reproduction and keeps the tank clean.
Dwarf Tropical Frogs
They also look beautiful and are peaceful. Their size is about 2.5 inches and they can easily co-exist with giant bettas.
Otocinclus
Beautiful and effective, these algae-eating fish have an average size of 2 inches. They make a great tank mate option for the giant betta.
Goldstrip Corydora
These 3-inch fish are quite beautiful and expensive too. They make excellent companions for the giant betta.
See also: Best betta fish tank mates
Giant Betta Care
Caring for your giant betta means knowing what keeps them healthy and happy. It also means you should know what causes diseases and stress so that you can avoid them.
If proper care is given, your Betta anabatoides can live longer up to 10 years though its average lifespan is 2-5 years. Bettas are intelligent and beautiful species and they deserve proper care.
Tank & Environment
The minimum recommended tank size for a giant betta is 5 gallons. Larger tanks would need less frequent water changes and are easier to maintain.
Never fill the tank to the full as your betta may need to access the surface to gulp air. This is why they don’t need air pumps. You should also ensure you have a lid on the tank as the species can jump and leap out.
During the day, giant betta needs natural or artificial light and darkness during the night to sleep. Avoid direct sunlight entering the tank as it can increase the temperature of the water. You can use artificial lighting to be able to provide great day and night lighting.
To provide them company, add community fish in bigger tanks with a lot of space to hide. Enhanced space would make sure the betta does not get aggressive. Avoid putting two males in the same tank or they will kill each other. Moreover, males should not be kept with females unless for breeding.
Males can show aggressive behaviour towards females as well. However, females can live together in a group but the tank size should be big. You can get 1 gallon per inch of fish which means five female giant bettas of 3 inches each means 15 gallons or more capacity tank.
See also: How to maintain betta tank clean
Water Quality
Giant betta need warm waters to thrive. Make sure the water never drops below 65 degrees or raises above 82 degrees. Try to maintain a range of 76-81 degrees F. This temperature range keeps the bettas the happiest and most active.
Get a thermometer to record the temperature inside the tank. If needed, get a small heater. Bettas are sensitive to temperature changes. they adapt slowly to changing conditions. Sudden changes can stress them and result in adverse health consequences.
Water should be free of any chemicals and heavy metals. Avoid using distilled water because it has no essential minerals needed for fish growth. Your giant betta needs slightly acidic water in the range of 6.5 to 7.5 pH. You can buy a pH kit to maintain a healthy range of water.
Learn also: how to warm up betta water.
Cleaning
Keeping your giant betta’s tank clean is essential to their health. Smaller the tank, the more frequent it will need cleaning. Tanks smaller than 5 gallons need frequent water changes to make sure your fish does not get exposed to dangerous levels of ammonia.
Only use approved materials and decorations in the tank. Use a cleaning wand to remove algae on a regular basis. Never use a bar of soap to clean the tank or its components.
All the equipment should be cleaned by rinsing. You can also use a mixture of bleach and water to rinse the tank and components.
Filters
Though not mandatory, filters should be used for larger tanks. They support the growth of healthy bacteria and remove harmful ones. They are really useful when caring for your Betta anabatoides.
Although Betta is a good swimmer, a strong current can stress her. So select a filter that comes with adjustable settings.
Plants and Decorations
An important part of betta anabatoides care is mimicking their natural habitat to ensure they are not stressed. They like to have lots of places to hide so you can have live plants or artificial plants inside the tank. Try to get silk leaves and plants to avoid damaging the fins.
Food and Feeding
A part of this betta fish care is regular feeding. Being carnivores, betta fish like meat and have their own specific food requirements. Those living in the wild feed on insects and their larvae. It is important to replicate the natural feeding environment to keep your fish healthy and happy.
You can get betta fish in various forms like live, flakes, pellets and freeze-dried items. They need protein-rich food and should not be fed other tropical fish. Your betta anabatoides can be picky eaters. You can try different foods to find the right one if they refuse.
Some of the favourites of your betta include freeze-dried brine shrimp and bloodworms. Breeders often prefer live foods and avoid manufactured flakes. Remember not to overfeed your giant betta or they can get constipation, bloating and other problems.
Ensure a regular feeding schedule and don’t worry if the fish doesn’t eat. They can refuse to eat when stressed. But bettas tend to go up to 14 days without food before they die.
If you are feeding it once a day, 3-4 pellets are enough. If you go out for a few days, let the fish go without food rather than adding extra to the tank.
See also: How to know when a betta fish is pregnant
Breeding
Being a mouthbrooding species, the giant betta male broods the eggs after the female lays them. The female plays no more role in raising the babies. These species are not the easiest bettas to breed because of their size.
Reference
Aqueon: Betta Care Sheet
ResearchGate: Redescription Of Betta Anabatoides Bleeker, And A New Species Of Betta From West Kalimantan, Borneo (Teleostei: Osphronemidae)