Male Blue Fighter 6cm

Male Blue Fighter

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

Blue fighter fish as their name suggests have varying shades of blue from head to tail. From the mouth to just behind the pectoral fins, these fish tend to have a deep navy blue colour that almost looks like it's black, this, however, leads into a dark ocean blue towards the tail. The scales of a betta fish are especially pronounced and have the classic fish net patterning as the scales overlap each other. The fins however tend to be the lightest of blues on the body but will have streaks of dark blue and even tinges of purple or red. In a light aquarium setting and especially against plants, these blue betta fish will stand out amazingly. 

Betta in general has 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 male fighters are aggressive to other males and potentially aggressive in tight environments, in a standard 40L (10-gallon) aquarium they can be kept with other community fish. 

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 continuing the male and female to breed and rising the fry. Bettas are naturally found in the waterways of Southeast Asia.  

Tank Recommendations for your Male Blue Fighter

Blue betta maxes out at around the 5 - 6 cm mark and is a surprisingly active and flashy fish which is why they would be great in a nano aquarium with a minimum volume of 40 liters. They will however be great centrepiece fish in a larger peaceful aquarium with slow-moving fish. The substrate of the aquarium is not too much of a concern however blue fighters will love a well-planted aquarium. This allows them to contrast amazingly against the bright plants but also gives them a place of refuge to hide as well. 

Suitable Tank Buddies

Blue fighters are a relatively peaceful fish and actually often get bullied by other tank mated 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.

Rarely Compatible 

Shrimp, other male betta, tiger barbs, and larger species such as Uaru will certainly outcompete the slower betta. 

Feeding your Blue Fighter

Blue 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.