Female Crowntail Betta 3.5cm

Female Crowntail Betta

There isn’t a fish more globally recognised than the classic fighter fish. They have been in the aquarium industry since the late 1800s, which shows how incredibly popular they are. Of the hundreds of colour and genetic variations now available in the aquarium hobby, the most readily available is the crown tail betta.

This betta strain earns the name crown tail from the unique crown-like formation that its fins have, this genetic trait is present on all of the fins except the pectoral which gives a lion mane aesthetic. Whilst this used to only really be present in male bettas, through the years of breeding female bettas look just as amazing and it makes these fish amazing for displays in a small desktop aquarium and ticks all the boxes that a beginner aquarist may want.

Aside from their stunning fin structure, the colours of this fish are almost like a random selection from a rainbow. They can range in blues, reds, blacks, whites, yellows and the list continues, it can often be a pleasantly painful experience trying to select a colour from this array which is why these females are assorted options offered by the Livefish team is sort of like a betta lucky dip.

Betta in general have developed a few false reputations, the first being that they can thrive in incredibly small environments like vases and jugs which is not true. Much like any aquarium fish they need proper filtration and a spacious environment relative to their max size of 5 - 6 cm. The second common misconception is that they are aquarium terrors which will kill every fish in sight. Though bettas are aggressive to one another, in females this aggression is much less to the point where multiple females can be kept in the same tank.

This is generally not recommended due to the risk of aggression but it can be done successfully. They are also hardy tropical fish that can be kept in temperatures between 24-28 and also make for a fun breeding project due to the challenge of conditioning the male and female to breed and raise the fry. Betta fish are naturally found in the waterways of Southeast Asia.

Tank Recommendations for your Female Crowntail Betta
Crown tail bettas max out at around the 5 - 6 cm mark and are surprisingly active and flashy fish which is why they would be great in a nano aquarium with a minimum volume of 35 litres. They will however be great centrepiece fish in larger peaceful aquariums with slow-moving fish. The substrate of the aquarium is not too much of a concern however crown tail fighters will love a well-planted aquarium. This allows them to contrast amazingly against the bright plants and gives them a place of refuge to hide.

Suitable Tank Buddies
Crowntail fighters are relatively peaceful fish and often get bullied by other tank mates which nip at their trailing fins. Their slow nature also means they can get easily outcompeted during feeding time which is why care should be taken when selecting tank mates.

Usually Compatible
Small tetras such as neon, ember, rummy nose, and similar species.

Sometime Compatible
dwarf cichlids such as Bolivian rams, or apistogramma which may show aggression, or fast-moving species such as giant danios, torpedo barbs, or Congo tetras which might outcompete for food. Other female bettas can be considered however it is best to always try to keep a group of 6-10+

Rarely Compatible
Shrimp, tiger barbs, and larger cichlids will certainly outcompete the slower betta.

Feeding your Female Crowntail Betta
Crowntail fighter fish are incredibly easy to feed. They take to a wide range of foods and should have a varied diet for optimal health, going them a range of flake, pellets, frozen, and live foods will not only make them thrive but also show off amazing colours. Because of their mostly top-dwelling nature, they should be given foods that readily float for them to eat easily.