Betta splendens is often referred to as Fighting Fish or “Siamese” Fighting Fish, since it has been bred over the years to be both colorful and combative, especially towards other males. As such, only one male Betta should be kept in an aquarium. However, smaller, shorter-finned – though often equally as colorful – females may be housed together with caution. The Betta should be housed with peaceful fish that will not nip at the Betta’s glorious, flowing fins.

An ideal environment for the Betta is a well-filtered aquarium that holds a steady temperature of between 75° and 86°F. Though the Betta is often sold in small bowls in department stores, for best care, Betta splendens should be kept singly in aquariums of at least 3 gallons. It also prefers a variety of hiding places amongst the foliage of freshwater plants.

The Betta can be bred in the home aquarium. For breeding purposes, males and females can be temporarily housed together. Once laid by the female, the eggs are placed inside a bubblenest and tended by the male Betta. Fry appear in about 24 hours and must be fed very small food initially, such as crushed or powdered flakes and newly hatched brine shrimp. Fry will also take finely chopped hard-boiled egg yolk.

Provide the Betta with a carnivore diet consisting of a quality flake food, frozen or freeze dried bloodworms and brine shrimp.

Betta – Male
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An ideal environment for the Female Betta is an aquarium that holds a steady temperature and does not contain tank mates that may nip at their fins. Provide an aquarium of at least 10 gallons if housed with a male Betta in order to reduce aggression.

Once laid by the female, the eggs are tended by the male in a bubble nest. Fry appear in about 24 hours and must be fed very small food initially, such as crushed or powdered flakes and newly hatched brine shrimp. Fry will also take finely chopped hard-boiled egg yolk.

A carnivore, the Betta will eat all types of live food as well as freeze-dried flakes and frozen foods.

Betta – Female
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An ideal environment for the Betta is an aquarium that holds a steady temperature and does not contain tank mates that may nip at their long fins. Do not house more than one male in the same aquarium, as they will fight.

Once laid by the female, the eggs are tended by the male in a bubble nest. Fry appear in about 24 hours and must be fed very small food initially, such as crushed or powdered flakes and newly hatched brine shrimp. Fry will also take finely chopped hard-boiled egg yolk.

A carnivore, the Twin Tail Betta will eat all types of live food as well as freeze-dried flakes and frozen foods.

Twin Tail Betta
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An ideal environment for the Betta is an aquarium that holds a steady temperature and does not contain tank mates that may nip at their long fins. Do not house more than one male in the same aquarium, as they will fight.

Once laid by the female, the eggs are tended by the male in a bubble nest. Fry appear in about 24 hours and must be fed very small food initially, such as crushed or powdered flakes and newly hatched brine shrimp. Fry will also take finely chopped hard-boiled egg yolk.

A carnivore, the Crown Tail Betta will eat all types of live food as well as freeze-dried flakes and frozen foods.

Crown Tail Betta
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The Tinfoil Barb is a very hardy fish and compared to other barbs, quite docile in nature. This peaceful demeanor and glittery body make the Tinfoil Barb an attractive addition to the large community aquarium. As a schooling fish, the Tinfoil Barb should be kept in a group of at least 6 or more individuals with other non-aggressive large fish.

Wild Tinfoil Barbs inhabit large, fast flowing rivers of Southeast Asia. The home aquarium should best recreate the natural environment of the Tinfoil Barb by maintaining good filtration and strong water movement. Tinfoil Barbs can reach an adult size over a foot in length so it is essential to house this fish in a larger aquarium of at least 70 gallons in size. Also, the Tinfoil Barb is a known jumper so a tight-fitting canopy or hood is required to prevent injury.

The Tinfoil Barb will accept most prepared commercial fish foods including flakes, pellets, frozen, and freeze dried foods. The natural diet of the Tinfoil Barb consists largely of plant matter including algae so be sure to offer foods containing vegetable matter such as spirulina wafers or herbivore preparations.

Tinfoil Red Tail Barb
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Native to the blackwaters of Borneo, Indonesia, Snakeskin Barbs prefer soft, acidic aquarium water of the highest quality. A small school of this fish is a spectacular addition to any planted aquarium. Here, they will school in shaded areas, dart amongst plant stalks, and cruise the mid-level regions of your aquarium.

As in other barb species, female Snakeskin Barbs are fuller bodied than males. Successful breeding requires strict attention to water softness and acidity, best obtained via peat filtration. Classified as omnivores, Snakeskin Barbs benefit from varied diets of flake, pellet, and small frozen foods, such as mosquito larvae, daphnia, and brine shrimp.

Snakeskin Barb
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The Hexazon Barb prefers a well-planted tank of at least 30 gallons with soft, slightly acidic water. Rocks and driftwood can be added to the aquarium, but leave plenty of space for swimming. The Hexazon Barb is a schooling fish and will do best in a small group of 5 or more individuals. If given a large enough school, they will typically not bother any other fish in the aquarium.

It is best when trying to breed the Hexazon Barb to provide coarse gravel in the breeding tank and after the eggs have been laid, remove the parents. In most cases, 200 eggs will hatch after a little over one full day, and the fry should be fed baby brine shrimp until large enough to accept crushed flake food.

The Hexazon Barb needs to be fed a variety of foods including vegetable-based as well as meaty foods. Feed a quality flake food as well as freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex, and brine shrimp.

Hexazon Barb
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They do prefer a well-planted tank of at least 30 gallons with soft, slightly acidic water. Rocks and driftwood can be added to the aquarium, but leave plenty of space for swimming. The Scarlet Barb is a very active fish that may pester or even nip the fins of larger, slower moving fish.

It is best, when trying to breed the Odessa Barb, to house a number of Barbs in the same aquarium until they pair off. After a pair has developed, the female will lay her eggs and the male will follow behind to fertilize. The fry will be free-swimming after about 5 days. Feed the fry newly hatched brine shrimp until large enough to accept crushed flake food.

The Odessa Barb needs to be fed a variety of foods including vegetables as well as meaty foods. Feed a quality flake food as well as freeze dried, live, and frozen foods such as brine shrimp and bloodworms.

Odessa Barb
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They prefer a well-planted tank of at least 30 gallons with soft, slightly acidic water. Rocks and driftwood can be added to the aquarium, but leave plenty of space for swimming. The Green Tiger Barb is a very active fish that may pester or even nip the fins of larger, slower moving fish.

It is best, when trying to breed the Green Tiger Barb, to house a number of Barbs in the same aquarium until they pair off. After a pair has developed, the female will lay the eggs and the male will follow behind to fertilize. The fry will be free-swimming after about 5 days. Feed the fry newly hatched brine shrimp until large enough to accept crushed flake food.

The Green Tiger Barb needs to be fed a variety of foods including vegetables as well as meaty foods. Feed a quality flake food as well as live and frozen foods such as brine shrimp and bloodworms.

Green Tiger Barb
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They prefer a well-planted tank of at least 30 gallons with soft, slightly acidic water. Rocks and driftwood can be added to the aquarium, but leave plenty of space for swimming. The Rosy Barb is a schooling fish and enjoys being in numbers. If in a large enough school, they typically will not bother any other fish in the aquarium.

It is best, when trying to breed the Rosy Barb, to house two females with one male. Provide a coarse gravel in the breeding tank and after the eggs have been laid, remove the parents. The fry will hatch in approximately 3 days, at which time, they should be fed baby brine shrimp until large enough to accept crushed flake food.

The Rosy Barb needs to be fed a variety of foods including vegetables as well as meaty foods. Feed a quality flake food as well as live and frozen foods such as brine shrimp and bloodworms.

Rosy Barb
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