” How long do betta fish live ?” is a fairly common question. Betta fish live, the average lifespan of a betta fish is about 3 years. Betta fish are common and are ideal for both starters and experienced hobbyists.
The betta fish tails and colors vary, right from Crowntail Betta to the Veiltail Betta. Most farmers will look for male betta because they are easily attached to the fishlets.
When buying betta fish, take all precautions to ensure you buy healthy stock. Do not buy pale fish, this is a sign of disease. Take care again not to buy bettas with ragged fins. Check out the eyes. They have to be clear and not bulging.
So, before buying bettas for keeping at home as a pet, make sure you check any signs of disease. To determine whether the fish is healthy when you touch the glass, it becomes active quickly responding and making movements, and getting playful. It should display some sense of hyperactivity.
The Lifespan of a Betta Fish
Betta fish life span depends on how you take care of your fish, although factors such as the genetics of the fish may come into play. It may be in captivity or in the wild.
When you keep betta fish in captivity, so long as you take good care of it, can live an average of 3 years. You should note that not all of them can live the same number of years.
Male betta fish are sold in pet stores at the age of one year after having fully developed their fins and colors. Female betta fish can be bought at the age of 6 months. Despite the fact that the female betta fish grows or matures faster, most fish farmers prefer keeping male betta fish because of their shiny and attractive colors.
Since the captive betta fish habitat are bought at the age range of 6 months- 1 year, probably, they can live up to 2-2 and a half years. Alternatively, betta fish’s life span may go up to 4 or 5 years provided that they are kept in large tanks and well cared for.
You may also keep your betta fish in the wild. In the wild habitat, bettas live in shallow freshwaters such as ponds, streams, rice paddies, and canals. These fish originated from Cambodia and Thailand, though are presently popular in Singapore regions, Brazil and Malaysia.
Betta fish’s life span in the wild habitat is short as compared to those in captivity. The reason is that wild water is never regulated thus, water may overflow, easily polluted either by human beings or other land and sea animals. Polluted and unregulated water damages food sources and plants. Thus, the life span of the fish is reduced in the wild habitat.
Male bettas are hostile, always fight and regular fighting automatically shortens their survival. Since these fish live in ponds or canals, they do share the aquarium, unlike captive fish which are kept separately. The wild bettas are known as,” Siamese Fighting Fish” because of their frequent fight and easily comes to get attached to any fish that comes along with them.
There are things you can do to improve the lives of a betta fish. You can feed them well. This doesn’t mean that you overfeed them because overfeeding may lead to a disease known as hepatic lipidosis. You also need to keep the tank water clean by regularly replacing the water, especially if the tank is not aerated.
The Ideal Temperature for Betta Fish Water
The betta fish needs an ideal temperature range of 78-80°F which is the most optimal. The fish can also survive in the temperature range of between 78-86°F (22-30°C) although they can’t be comfortable.
Betta fish living in tropical areas still demand warm water habitats that they are addicted to. To keep the betta fish at an optimal or ideal temperature, you first need to have a fish tank heater useful to make the aquarium water warm. Secondly, the thermometer will be efficient in measuring the temperature for the optimal one.
The bettas are usually sensitive to tremendous temperature changes, low to high or high to low. The temperature changes have to be adjusted slowly taking some days to reach the minimum temperature required. This gives your fish better survival without stress. When you change the gallon of water, therefore, keep in mind that the replaced water is the same temperature as the initial one.
Fish that can live with bettas
Betta Fish, commonly known as the ” Siamese Fighting Fish” are harsh. They love fighting as their nature, especially the male ones. For that reason, you’ll find that most fish farmers keep them differently in captivity.
Despite their nature, they are meant to live at peace with other fish. Compatible fish for bettas include Cloud Minnows, Neon Tetra, Ember Tetra, and Harlequin Rasbora. Other fish that can live with betta include; Cherry shrimp and Zebra Snails live peacefully with betta fish.
Cherry Shrimps are good companions for betas because they are not noticeable and good for hiding. Cherry Shrimps are also valuable because they breed rapidly and have hard shells.
Nerite snails are also compatible with the betta fish in a way that they are able to eat the algae too, are tiny, and rarely reproduce like other freshwater classes.
You may also be interested in our review on Amazing Koi Fish Life Span.
References
WebMD: How Long Do Betta Fish Live As Pets?- https://pets.webmd.com/how-long-do-betta-fish-live#1
Adelphi.edu: Betta Fish Care- https://home.adelphi.edu/~ve21375/Betta%20Fish%20Food.html