This was a very long question. Took some time. Of course, don’t let them starve like that if you want to improve their lifespan. These stores will sell male bettas when they are approximately one year old, and female bettas when they are roughly six months old. How Long Do Betta Fish Live? I have 6 Bettas 5 gallon tanks. In such a small habitat, their life span is usually reduced. However, in general, smaller fish have a shorter lifespan than larger fish, and fish that lay eggs live longer than those that give birth to live young. Do right by them, and they’ll be around for you to enjoy for quite a while! Bettas should do well for over 3 years. They eat but one especially is sick. This is the second most important piece of the puzzle if you want to maximize the lifespan of a betta fish. Thats a perfectly normal lifespan. and any recommendations to what I should do? If possible, purchase a betta from a local or online breeder like Aquabid instead of a pet or big box store. In the wild, native to areas like Cambodia and Thailand, the betta inhabits rice paddies and still watered canals. !… at least in some pet shop displays, they can see each other… but!!! !… get it? !… never ever!! Is it a very bright color? You may also choose to feed your betta dried bloodworms or brine shrimp. The biggest dietary risk to bettas is overfeeding. Betta fish are extremely popular, so it’s only natural that new and potential owners want to know how long their fish will be around. Dealing with Velvet Shine a flashlight on your fish. For example, there’s no guarantee that they will be living in water conditions that are suitable for maximizing their lifespan. Some betta fish are more resilient than others though. Buying a young betta is important if you want to have them throughout most or all of their life too. However, it is not uncommon for well cared for bettas in an aquarium to live to 5+ years with scatter reports of them living to nearly 10 years. How long a betta fish will live depends on a variety of factors though. Lifespan In the wild. Also, just because pet stores sell small tanks and bowls (e.g. This may seem shorter than that of Bettas in captivity because the competition in the wild makes things less certain for Betta fish. Happy and Healthy Bettas for Extending Your Betta’s Lifespan. Georgia (who was already bigger) has grown to about twice the size of Skye and I’m worried if I add another fish Skye may become a target. I was going to use tap water with a conditioner but then I bought the heater (Bettatherm Mini Size Betta Bowl Heater) and it says use Only with Betta Water. Can a Betta fish live in a jar? If you're wondering how long you can expect your beloved Betta to be with you and what affects Betta fish lifespan, this article will help. A healthy diet can also improve the color of this fish. !… no a beta doesn’t want to be kept in a cup alone!! All comments are moderated and will not be visible until they are approved. Beta get bored seeing the same guy next door… so rotate your beta if you have more then one… it’s something new, that will excite them, and get them to want to display once again… these fish enjoy displaying… the pet betas you see, would be so terribly board out of their minds with no one to display to, I think they would go insane to be honest… it’s basic observation people… don’t think that we are the only intelligent beings on this planet… some of the smallest beings can be just as intelligent… let your beta have any many exciting, new experiences… amusements, adventures(from the tank)… change their toys, change around the caves, and plants, and plastic caves, etc. Are you in agreeance? If you feel something is missing above, or have further questions about how long a betta fish can live for, or how to improve their life span, please leave a comment below. Good care and a healthy diet can prolong the lifespan of your Betta. I have a small algae eater called an otto sucker catfish. Many stores don’t sell the Bettas till they are 6-10 months of age so that they will have the long, flowing fins and strong, rich colors that would attract buyers. Due to their short lifespan, breeding starts within a … The Betta fish in the wild has an average lifespan of 2 years. A betta fish’s lifespan will almost always be significantly reduced if you house them in unfiltered and unheated bowls. Very informative thank you. They can be easy to care for, and, under the right circumstances, they can live for several years. Based on what I know of, a betta fish's lifespan is 4-5 years in captivity. Is there a way to use an automatic Betta feeder where both fish can be fed daily? While betta pellets are a great start, you should also be incorporating freeze-dried, frozen, or live bloodworms and brine shrimp to really get all of the nutrients they need. Sure, you can simply find the average betta fish lifespan below and be on your way. Thanks! The lovely and experienced fish keepers at my LFS advised that any filter would be too strong for that amount of water, so just to make sure his water changes are good. Often times a new hobbyist doesn't know about the nitrogen cycle, water changes, proper tank setup and the foods they should be feeding them which causes disease issues and shortened lifespans. Can I just change out to treated tap water or is there a process? Do Betta Fish live longer in captivity or in the wild? Make sure your tank has a top on it too because betta fish are jumpers and often leap right out of a bowl leading to their death. It’s always tough for me to answer this type of question but I will give you some general advice so you can make and educated decision and plan of action. There are a number of reasons for this but they all have to do with the additional stressors and difficulties that they will face. Good care and a healthy diet can prolong the lifespan of your Betta. But now I guess comfortable has a leaf that it lays on a lot of the day. When I purchased my girls, the store only had 2 baby girls so I got them and put them in their 10 gal tank together and it’s been about 3 or 4 weeks and they are doing amazing together! Of course, one factor is how old your betta fish was when you bought it. Moreover, you are provided with the best tips for enhancing the lifespan of this vivacious fish. Alternatively, you can slowly just do water changes, say 25-50% removal of the current tank water and add back in the new conditioned tap water. Betta Fish: Care Guide, Lifespan, Facts And Compatibility. If you love your pet Betta fish and want to increase its lifespan then look at the nutritional need of your little buddy. It’s nothing more than spring water really, maybe with some added stress coating for bettas depending on the brand. The way you take care of your betta, along with water conditions and the density of fish, is the critical factor in determining how long do betta fish live. The average lifespan of Betta fish, or betta splendens, is 2 to 4 years in captivity, for both males and females. The Siamese fighting fish lifespan depends on several factors. There are instances of a betta surviving for 9 years. I have two Bettas and a divided 2.5 gallon tank. Make sure you water is clean, try performing a 25% water change daily for 4-7 days and see if things improve. However, on average they’re going to live for about 3 years. Especially if you bought them from a shop that keeps them in plastic cups. In captivity, you need to replicate their environment as much as possible, and that means nutrition too. This means you should never have them share a tank with fish that aren’t a good match. Fishkeepers should maintain a high level of care, as this will ensure the longest and happiest life for the fish. So if your fish only lives a year or two after you purchase it, dont assume youve been a bad owner. However, stick to foods high in meats, fish, and shrimp. Bryan is the founder of bettafish.org and has been keeping and caring for betta fish for 10 years. Another factor that affects males, in particular, is their highly aggressive and territorial natures.In fact, they were nicknamed ‘Siamese Fighting Fish’ for this reason. Like any animal, the lifespan of a betta fish can be drastically impacted by the quality of its living conditions. We’re not going to get into the exact parameters you need to be aware of in this post. I have another female, Ruby, who has been in a 3 gallon tank alone with her snail for about a year or so and thought about adding her to the sorority tank, but I’m a little leary of how that may turn out. Again it’s only a 10-gal, but it’s heavily decorated with plants, a lounger, a cave, and a shell. I have had him 2 years, got him out of a centerpiece from a wedding. So, he will find this interesting, and allow him to feel like he’s exploring some place new… it’s simply just think about what you would consider interesting, and exciting if you were a beta fish!!! Another great way to increase the number of years a betta fish lives is by keeping them in a proper tank. Yes, in most cases bettas do live longer in captivity. 35. I use a spare turkey baster which makes it easy to suck up excess debris off the substrate. I raised his water temp to 80 degrees, stopped feeding him fish pellets, now feeding him peas. It should come as no surprise that purchasing a healthy fish from a reputable supplier will... Focus On The Water Quality. But as a kid, I didn’t know how to take care of mine for the first time, second, third or others, and I never had one live past about three months. Keep Males Separate. Pet stores display betta fish in plastic cups because of their aggression and territorial nature. I’m not really able to spend a lot of money on them. I have had Bettas in the past, but this one seems obsessed with a seashell (properly cleaned and aquarium safe) – he displays in front of it and puffs up. I have had Brawny for about 2 years and want to have him around for a lot longer. You should take note though that the Betta fish you see being sold in fish stores are usually from breeders. If my pH is high and nitrates but other tests good what do I do ? This means if your male betta lives for three years, you’ll probably have it for around two (males are sold later than females). Your tasks for a betta with a long life starts before you even buy your fish. To keep a fish tank running for a decade or longer, you’ll have to keep replacing fish that die out naturally. When a betta fish purchased at a pet store, it is usually fully mature. This is my first experience with bettas, I have only raised cichlids — I am sooooo impressed with these fish! In the wild, Betta fish are carnivores and will eat any kind of insect. A healthy individual in a clean tank usually lives for around three years. After all I can’t fit in their bowls…lol, Make your beta’s days eventful, adventuress, fun, and you will laugh, and love your little beta boy even more then you thought you could, just cause he’s a fish, doesn’t mean there isn’t a bond of affection you can build with your little beta buddy… : ), Mine look forward to being with me, as much as I am with them… print different backgrounds to tape to the tank each day… etc… there are so many simple, easy things you can create, just use your imagination… your beta will love you for it!… : ). The betta fish lifespan is between 2-5 years. I just want to say I cannot believe I have had my Betta named Red Bull for 9 years I repeat 9 years!! With the right genetics, environment, and care from the onset of a betta’s life, they can live up to 6 or 7 years or more. I just got a beautiful male Betta for my toddlers to watch. They are extremely hardy fish and will survive conditions that would kill other specie. The Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens), also known as the betta, is a freshwater fish native to Thailand (formerly Siam) and present in neighboring Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, and Vietnam.While colloquially known and marketed in the global aquarium trade as the "betta", it is one of 73 species in the genus Betta. The giant betta (Betta anabantoides) is a type of freshwater ray-finned fish in the Macropodusinae subfamily, part of the gourami family.It is native to southern Kalimantan, the Borneo region of Indonesia. How long a Betta fish can go without food depends on various factors, such as the fish’s age and overall health. I would get at least two more baby bettas who are roughly the same size as GA and Skye in varying colors if possible and introduce them sooner rather than later. First one had a lot of personality. !He has lived in a 1/2 gallon size fish bowl!I feed him when I remember every 3 or 4 days My kitties drink out of his home and never try to eat him.I have 4 by the way He has 2 small peace Lilly plants that float and grow in his environment and he has grown some sort of flower shape on his tail fin and like a turkey waddle under his chin .He is active and in great shape and beautiful and amazing and I love him and I have moved him in winter and summer jiggling around in my truck when I moved several times .I think he is 1 in a million Love your Betta.Laurie Feb 10 2019, Excellent article, very helpful.