Pink betta fish are popular aquarium fish and active swimmers, making them a great choice for beginner or experienced pet owners alike.
While they’re generally easy to care for, there are some important tips to follow to ensure your betta has the best life possible while in your care, so that you can enjoy watching him swim around his tank as much as he’ll enjoy living in it!
Many people are surprised to learn that there are many types of betta fish, with the most common being the Siamese Fighting Fish. Of these, the beautiful pink betta fish is one of the most eye-catching and beloved. Their bright pink color and long, flowing fins draw many aquarists to them, but keeping them can be difficult if you don’t know what you’re doing.
If you’re thinking about getting into betta fish keeping as a hobby, you might be excited to hear that not all of the varieties look exactly the same, or even have the same needs when it comes to housing and care requirements, so it can be a little confusing at first.
Here we’ll look at the needs of pink betta fish in particular, and how to ensure you provide them with everything they need to thrive and live happy lives in your care.
Origin and description
The pink betta fish (Betta splendens) is a freshwater, tropical fish that is native to Southeast Asia. With its brilliant pink coloration, the betta has become one of the most popular pet fish in the world. There are over 200 breeds of the species available for purchase, with many coming from Thailand or Indonesia.
One of the most common colors is called blue crowntail betta. Females are typically more colorful than males. They are usually between two and three inches long when fully grown, but can grow up to four inches in some cases.
They also have an average lifespan of about two years, but can live up to five years under certain conditions. In captivity, they will eat flakes, pellets, freeze-dried bloodworms, brine shrimp eggs, and microworms.
Species profile
Pink Betta fish, also called the Siamese Fighting fish, is a freshwater species native to Southeast Asia. The pink betta has grown in popularity over the last few years because of its beautiful colors and interesting personality.
With proper care, they can live up to five years.
In your local pet store, you are unlikely to find a pink Betta – they are exceedingly rare and difficult to find. In some varieties of Betta, like Albinos and Cellophanes, the skin has no pigment, meaning they appear almost translucent.
Pink Bettas are also extremely rare and difficult to find.
It is not uncommon to find pink Bettas of any morph, but they are very rare. They can be found in many popular morphs, such as crowntail, veiltail, and marble morphs.
Scientific name
The scientific name of the pink betta fish is Betta splendens
How much do betta fish cost?
Most Betta breeders charge between $5 and $20 for the most common colors and morphs, with an average cost of around $10. Pink Bettas are so rare and hard to find that estimating their cost is difficult, but they will certainly be expensive, costing around hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.
Typical behavior and temperament
The Betta Fish has been characterized as being a relatively aggressive type of fish. Certain morphing variations are more violent than others, and males tend to be more aggressive than females. To ensure the safety of all fish, it’s important never to instigate their aggression.
Male Betta Fish need to be housed on their own or in an all-female group in order to reproduce. You should never keep two male betta fish together in the same tank, and you should never keep a male Betta Fish with another fish type.
In many ways, females are less aggressive. It’s perfectly fine to keep only one female Betta fish. The best way to get more than one is to group five females together. They tend to be less aggressive in groups of five.
In addition to aggression, Betta Fish are highly intelligent and need a lot of space to live. Despite their preference for water with lots of foliage, Betta fish are good jumpers as well.
Appearance and varieties
There are many gorgeous colors and morphs of pink Betta fish. Light pink to hot pink fins are found in males. Additionally, some Pink Betta fish display varying shades of pink on their bodies simultaneously.
As with all other Betta fish, Pink Betta fish have a special type of fin that makes them look more impressive and helps them find food.
Despite being rare, they are just as easy to find and buy in local shops. They are just much more expensive than other types of betta.
When you are unable to find a Pink Betta fish, find another color instead at a different pet store. Blue Bettas, Mustard Bettas, and Bicolored Bettas are among the most popular Betta fish types.
Pink betta fish care
Bettas are fairly easy to care for, but they require a little more effort than a goldfish. The first step is to make sure your tank or bowl is clean, as dirty water can cause the fish to get sick and die.
The second step is to change the water once per week. You should also feed them every day so that their digestive system stays healthy and strong. It’s also important to give them some plants in their habitat so that they have a place to hide from predators in case you don’t have any other hiding spots for them.
Bettas need at least 2 inches of water depth, so make sure you’re measuring before you buy!
Habitat, tank conditions & setup
There is a lack of oxygen in the shallow water in which Betta fish live in the wild. Rice patties, mud, and streams are common places where they live. The water’s surface area may not be large, but it holds a huge amount of water.
Tank size
It is recommended that you keep a pink betta fish in a tank no smaller than 2.5 gallons. It is important to ensure that the tank has a tight-fitting lid, as these fish are notoriously prone to jumping out of tanks.
A water filter or filtration system is also essential for maintaining healthy water conditions. The type of filter you use will depend on the size of your tank. For small tanks, an internal power filter or sponge filter should be sufficient.
For larger tanks, an external canister filter with a bio-wheel may be necessary to remove debris from the water column and prevent it from collecting on the bottom. In addition, gravel substrate is not recommended because if swallowed it could cause severe intestinal blockages.
Some live plants can help provide cover, but they are not absolutely necessary.
It’s important to note that due to their bright colors and often aggressive nature, male pink betta fish should never be kept together with other males in a community aquarium setting.
Water quality and conditions
A major mistake people make when it comes to better fish ownership is to leave the Betta Fish tank at room temperature, which is well below the ideal temperature for Bettas.
It is recommended that Betta Fish be kept in tropical water between 76 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit, with a pH range of 6.5 to 7.5, with zero amount of ammonia, and no more than 40 ppm of nitrate.
It is recommended that the nitrite level be zero ppm.
It’s essential that you measure the water with a thermometer and monitor water parameters with a water tester, condition and dechlorinate the water, and that you put your Betta fish in water that is the right temperature and has the right conditions.
Substrate
The substrate for a betta fish is typically gravel, sand, or pebbles. As long as the substrate has some form of water movement to avoid stagnant water conditions it should be fine. Do not use live plants in a tank with a betta fish because they can release toxins that are harmful to the fish. The one exception is java moss which will provide cover for the betta from aggressive tank mates.
Plants
In their natural habitat, Bettas require plants and places to hide for safety. When a Betta Fish feels stressed or sleeping, it can burrow inside the plants for relief.
You should add live plants to the water, as they help clean it and prevent your tank from needing to be cleaned as often.
The silk should be used if you need artificial plans. In addition, avoid using hides or decorations that have sharp edges in the tank to avoid injuring the Betta Fish’s sensitive fins.
Lighting
Because a betta’s circadian rhythm is very similar to our own, the fish will sleep during the night, and awake during the day. Allow Bettas to have some sunlight from the windows, but never place their tanks directly next to them because this will overheat the water to dangerous levels of temperatures.
As fish should not be placed near any windows, which could pose a threat to the tank’s stability, artificial lighting may be preferable, enabling you to have control of when the fish has access to light without increasing the temperature.
If your Betta Fish are placed in a way that allows them access to natural light without increasing their temperature, you might not need to do this.
Filtration
The first step in caring for your fish is to make sure that the tank has a filtration system. Filters work by capturing the small particles of dirt, uneaten food, and waste that builds up in the water.
The more powerful the filter, the better it will remove these particles from your aquarium water. If you have live plants or corals in the tank, you will need a special kind of filter called an under gravel filter which helps prevent harmful chemicals like nitrates and phosphates from reaching them.
There are also canister filters, sponge filters, waterfall filters, powerheads with spray bars, etc., so you might want to do some research on what would be best for your particular setup.
Pink betta fish diet
Pink Betta fish do not require much care when it comes to feeding. In almost every store that sells fish food, you can find specialty Betta Fish food. Daily feeding of two to four pellets is recommended for Betta fish. Betta fish should not be fed with any other tropical fish food. Due to their unique protein requirements, Bettas require food that is specifically designed for them.
Breeding Pink Betta fish
Pink Betta fish breeding can be challenging because of their aggressive nature. To introduce both the female and male, a neutral tank should be used. Females must not be placed inside males’ tanks because males will attack them.
The males are exemplary fathers and should be allowed to watch over the eggs in your tank without adding any substrate.
Are Pink Betta fish good tank mates?
Pink Betta fish are not suitable tank mates. Rather than keeping Betta fish together, you should keep them apart. Due to their territorial nature and aggression, male Betta fish need to be housed alone. Unless you are intentionally breeding your Betta fish with a female, male Betta fish should only be housed alone.
It is recommended that you get a female Pink Betta fish if you wish to have more than one Betta in your tank. Females can live peacefully in a group of five or more, although they aren’t as beautiful as males.
Keeping your Pink Betta fish healthy
In order to keep your Betta Fish happy and healthy, be sure to provide them with proper conditions and regularly clean their tank. If you have a non-filtered tank, you will have to change the water every week. Using water cycling will prevent the water quality from rapidly deteriorating.
Keep the tank interior and decoration completely dry and don’t use soap in cleaning because the residue may be lethal to the fish once it’s put back inside the water. This job can be accomplished with bleach, hot water, white vinegar, and a cleaning wand.
Are Pink Betta fish suitable for your aquarium?
From what you can see, it would be safe to say that betta fish need much more attention and consideration than is generally the case. Pink Betta fish requires a large tank with specific water conditions. If you’re prepared to give it the attention it needs, it can make a wonderful addition to your home.
Pink Betta fish are also not suitable for aquariums with other fish already present. Bettas are carnivorous fish and very aggressive, so the interaction may result in the death of other fish.