How Long Do Betta Fish Live and Other Common Questions
Are you considering adding a betta fish to your household? If so, you may have questions about these beautiful fish and their care. Today, I’m going to answer some of the more common questions including ‘How long do betta fish live?’
There is no denying the beauty of a betta fish with their bright colours and large, flowing fins.
Unfortunately, many pet stores market them as ‘starter fish’ and fail to provide the information needed to care for them appropriately.
Often, new betta fish owners leave with more questions than answers.
While these fish are a great addition to your home as a fish enthusiast, the first step to raising healthy, happy fish is to learn the basics.
This includes the ideal habitat, what to feed your fish, and details about the species.
Today, we’re going to dig into some of the most common questions that I receive from potential betta fish owners, such as ‘how long do betta fish live’ and ‘can my betta fish live with other fish’.
Do you have a topic that you would like to see covered?
Feel free to reach out using my Contact Page or drop your questions in the comment section below!
What Colours of Betta Fish Exist?
There are approximately 70 different species of betta fish, each with their own unique characteristics.
That being said, most betta fish that you will find in your neighbourhood pet store are Betta Splendens (aka Siamese Fighting Fish).
Bettas are available in a wide variety of colours including solid, multicoloured, variegated, marbled and more.
Potential colours including blue, green, red, purple, orange, yellow, brown and black.
In addition to different colours, there are also a variety of different fin styles and types.
There are hundreds (even thousands) of different combinations, meaning that no two betta fish are the same.
How Long Do Betta Fish Live?
There are varying answers to this question, depending on who you ask.
However, in combining the answers that I have received, betta fish can live approximately 3-5 years.
This isn’t to say that a betta fish can’t live longer, my last male betta fish (Eduardo) lived to be approximately 6 years old. There are always exceptions!
Related: ‘5 Tips to Set Up the Best Fish Tank for Your Child(ren)‘
You need to take into consideration the age of your fish when you bring them home.
Most female betta fish are sold around 6 months of age.
Meanwhile, the males often aren’t sold until 10-12 months in order to give them time to develop bright, bold colours and long fins.
If your fish only lives 1-2 years with you, this isn’t necessarily a reflection of poor care – they may have been a year old before even coming into your home.
Can My Betta Fish Live with Other Fish?
The first consideration will be the size of tank that your betta fish is living in.
Ideally, your betta tank should have a tank that is AT LEAST 2.5 gallons in size, with 4-5 gallons being the minimum size suggested by most specialists.
Therefore, if your tank is 5 gallons in size or less, you should NOT add any other fish to the tank.
If your tank is larger than 5 gallons, you may be able to introduce betta fish to a community.
Avoid putting 2 male betta fish in the same tank or partnering them with any fish that exhibit aggressive tendencies.
In a larger tank, betta fish can usually live with other peaceful, community-minded fish.
That being said, you need to pay attention as there are never any guarantees when it comes to introducing territorial fish like betta fish.
The introduction process should be done slowly with careful supervision.
Some potential options for good tank mates include:
- Female Guppies
- Cory Catfish
- Platies
- Neon Tetras
- Ember Tetras
- African Dwarf Frogs
- Ghost Shrimp
Can My Betta Fish Live in A Vase or Small Fishbowl?
This is one of the biggest mistakes that are made in the proper care of a betta fish.
A long-standing misconception regarding betta fish is that they will thrive in a very small living environment.
Commercial betta tanks are often tiny, at 1 gallon or less in size.
Unfortunately, these small tank sizes (or vases) do not provide the habitat that your betta needs in order to live a long, happy life.
Related: ‘What Is the Best Pet for Apartment Living?‘
As mentioned above, the absolute minimum size recommended for proper betta care is 2.5 gallons.
In addition to the larger tank, your betta tank should provide proper filtration as well as a small heater in order to maintain ideal temperatures.
Your tank should be kept between 78-80 degrees Fahrenheit (25.5 – 26.5 degrees Celsius).
What Do Betta Fish Eat?
Betta fish are carnivores, meaning that they require a diet rich in animal protein.
This can easily be accomplished through the purchase of pellets or flake food that has been specifically formulated for betta fish.
However, for optimal health and happiness, you want to supplement their diet with fresh, freeze-dried, or frozen foods.
Betta fish like to eat:
- Blood Worms
- Brine Shrimp
- Mysis Shrimp
- Daphnia
Your betta fish has a small stomach and should only be fed small amounts of food, twice a day.
Rotate between the options above but avoid overfeeding.
There you have it, the answer to ‘how long do betta fish live’ and other questions that I am regularly asked regarding betta fish care.
The secret to a happy, healthy betta fish starts with knowledge!
Did I miss answering a question that you believe is important? Drop your questions in the comments below!
Experienced betta owners: feel free to share your tips, tricks, and advice.
This is such great information, I know absolutely nothing about fish so this is all new to me, it’s a shame they’re often not provided with the best living setup and stores don’t provide the necessary information. It seems crazy to me that they can be one before you buy them x
Sophie
It’s sad, too many bettas are out there living in subpar situations for no other reason than misinformation from the people that we assume will help us make good choices – pet store employees, brands manufacturing products for betta fish, etc.
There’s no denying how beautiful Betta fish look but I’m sure many fish owners are not aware of the information you have shared here. Referring to them as ‘starter fish’ and not providing some knowledge on space needed, compatibility with other fish etc, is just wrong and quite short-sighted. So great that your fish lasted 6 years. Goes to show that you properly care for your pets and why people follow this blog as a source of great information and advice.
I wish our society would prioritize sharing necessary information about the proper care of fish in the same way that we do dogs and cats. They may not interact with us the same, but they do still deserve to be given a good life.
so beautiful! When I was thinking of getting a fish (I ended up getting a spider) I was seeing betta as my pet. so beautiful!
I love watching betta fish. They look so elegant moving through the fish tank with their flowing fins.
Great info! Too many people having these fish in tiny vases for the aesthetic, when it’d be like us living in a cupboard! Fish need space!!!
Exactly! A fish needs space to swim around, things to explore, etc. They get bored in the same way that we do, and it can have a negative impact on their mental health. Plus, their growth is often stunted in smaller spaces.
As a child I had a small tank fish, with some gold and black fishes, but nothing so stunning like Betta fish. I think nobody would like to live in a small cramped little space. I can’t get over how beautiful this fish looks !
Right? I wouldn’t want to spend my whole life in such a small space.
This was really informative. Not heard of this type of fish before xx
They are beautiful fish! I am looking into getting everything I need to have one in my home office. Unfortunately, I sold the fish tank while we were living in our last house and were a little pressed for space. But it’s a fun chance to start over!
My mom had a beta fish on our kitchen table when I was little. I heard that they were fighters if you put two together!
Two male bettas cannot be put in the same tank as they will fight, often to the death. They also can’t get along with other more aggressive types of fish for the same reason. They are very territorial and aren’t afraid to fight to defend what they believe is ‘theirs’.
Wow! I never knew most of the things written in here when it comes to proper fish care. I remember having a pet gold fish as a kid but don’t remember being taught how to properly take care of it. I was just told to drop fish pellets in the aquarium and that’s it. There’s really so much more in taking care of fish especially tank space! I’m still choosing between a rabbit, hamster, parrot for a pet but seeing the blue betta fish now made it twice harder for me to decide. I would love a blue or yellow betta fish!
Betta fish are definitely beautiful pets! As for picking a pet, just be sure to do your research and consider commitments. For example, parrots are generally a much longer-term commitment than the other pets on your list.
It’s such a beautiful fish. We have a big fish tank at home with loads of fish, however, many people when they get a fish don’t know that having fish for a pet is a very demanding job as well. Most of them think that feeding is just enough. I like your post very much as give a lot of information.
Yes, fish are often written off as easy pets that require no care. However, there’s more to it than that.
I have two 50 gallon freshwater aquariums that I love! One is filled with African cichlids and the other has some silver dollars (they really are the goats of the aquatic world). They eat everything! I’ve always wanted to try my hand at betta fish, but didn’t know much about them. Your post is super helpful, and now I really want one!
They are such beautiful fish, but definitely a little finicky. Be very aware of what other fish you may be introducing them to in order to avoid any unnecessary issues.
My daughter absolutely loves betta fish! She loves these pictures
Aren’t they beautiful? I miss having a betta fish at home. We’re looking at hopefully bringing one into the home again.
I had a pet Betta fish named Oscar who was black with red fins. I adored him as a child. He was one of my first pets that taught me responsibility. He was so fun! I have another pet story though.
I was cleaning out his tank which wasn’t too big because he was by himself. Silly me being a kid I dipped him out with a net and he flopped down the drain! (Why was I even near the drain with a fish?) I was horrified of course and I had my brother come and try to get him out. He took off the elbow of the sink drain and he was in there thank goodness!! I took care of him for another few years after that and he lived happy and healthy.
Oh no! I actually shared a TikTok video a while ago of someone that faced the same situation! Their story ended positively like yours, with the fish being recovered safely upon taking apart the plumbing, but talk about giving you a scare lol
My best friend was little had a fish and she named it Rosie after me haha! I’ve never had a fish because her one really scared me, it was only a goldfish! I think that it’s important for people to read a blog post like this before purchasing household pets!
Rosie
Haha, your little namesake! There are so many myths out there and the ones that really pay for the misinformation are the fish themselves.
These Betta Fish are beautiful! I’ve only ever had ordinary plain goldfish before, so I would have a lot to learn if I kept tropical fish. I had a goldfish that lived about 11 years. This is a really useful resource for learning about Betta Fish!
I absolutely love the beauty of a betta fish!
Lived 11 years? That’s impressive! Goes to show that your fish was well cared for.