Last updated on July 3rd, 2022 at 09:44 pm
Spade tail betta fish are one of the most beautiful fish you can keep in your home aquarium. Their unique tail makes them stand out from all other varieties, as well as their bright and vibrant coloration. As beautiful as they are, however, there are certain steps you must take to ensure that your spade tail betta fish stays healthy and happy!
They are one of the most beautiful and commonly kept tropical fish in the world, so they definitely deserve some extra attention when it comes to their care and feeding. Here’s how to make sure that your spade tail betta fish have the good conditions it deserves in your aquarium!
Origin and descriptions
The spade tail betta fish is a colorful tropical fish. The tail of these types of fish is oval-shaped and they have a long, straight, and compressed fin. This type of fish has elongated fins, with males having longer fins than females do. Both genders can reach lengths up to 3 inches (8 centimeters), depending on their growth rates and the environments in which they live.
Because it has a spade-like caudal fin, the betta is named spade betta. The tail base is broad but narrows smoothly.
Basically, it looks like a round-tailed betta, but the main difference is that the caudal fin is pointed instead of round.
Species profile
Spade tail betta fish belong to the family of fishes known as gouramis (Osphronemidae). These are freshwater tropical fish that originated from Southeast Asia and China.
Spade tail betta fish are one of many types of betta fish. Other species include double tail, crowntail, veiltail, and halfmoon. Male spade tails have elongated fins that they use to court females (and frighten other males). The spades in their name refer to these fan-like fins. Proper spade tail betta fish care is critical for a successful outcome with your new pet.
Habitat
In Southeast Asia, the Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens), or betta as it is commonly called, is a freshwater fish that inhabit rivers of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Spade tail betta fish size
This fish species can grow up to 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) in length.
Tank size
Due to their small size, spade tail betta fish can be housed in a fish tank of around 10 gallons (38 liters).
Tank requirements
Spade tail betta fish are freshwater species found in Southeast Asia. Because they’re a tropical species, they need room to swim and will do best in 10-gallon tanks or larger. They require an aquarium heater to maintain water temperatures between 75°F and 80°F.
They also prefer filtered water with low levels of dissolved solids (hardness) because it reduces their susceptibility to disease; if you don’t have a filtration system, use bottled spring water for your tank.
A good rule of thumb is that if your tap water comes out of a faucet at room temperature, it should be fine for spade tails. If you live in an area where tap water is hard, consider investing in reverse osmosis filters for both drinking and aquarium use.
Spade tail betta fish tank mates
A spade tail betta will live with almost any other peaceful fish, and it’s also safe to house two spade tails together. However, avoid putting it in an aquarium with larger fish that might intimidate or outcompete it for food.
Also avoid keeping a Betta with slow-moving, long-finned fish like guppies and angelfish—these may be eaten by their more aggressive tankmate. (Read our full guide on betta fish tank mates)
Breeding
If you’re considering breeding your betta fish, realize that there are special considerations. Bettas get a bad rap for being aggressive fighters. While they’re still not considered friendly, if you have multiple tanks and take precautions, it’s possible to breed bettas with success. The first step is to separate your male from any other fish in his tank.
The last thing you want is for him to injure another male or female before he has a chance to mate. When he’s ready, move him into his own tank with one or two females of similar size. This allows them more room than would be available in a smaller tank and reduces stress on all parties involved.
After mating, remove both males. You can leave females in until they lay eggs (about 10 days) and then remove them as well. Eggs will hatch within 3-4 days and should be fed live food—bloodworms are ideal—until they reach 1/2 inch long. At that point, switch to brine shrimp nauplii until fry becomes free swimming at 2-3 weeks old.
Are they aggressive or peaceful?
Betta fish are known to display overly aggressive and territorial behavior, care should be taken when adding tankmates.
Spade tail betta fish Care
There are many factors to consider when deciding how best to care for your betta fish. Most notably, they require a lot of attention and supervision—spending time swimming around their small tank—if they’re to remain healthy. While they’re quite hardy and can survive without too much effort on your part, there are a few things you should know before getting started with your new pet
What they eat
These colorful, attractive fish are omnivores, so they eat both animal and plant matter. They particularly like foods high in protein, such as brine shrimp or bloodworms. You can also feed them fresh fruit and vegetables, including zucchini, peas, sweet potatoes, and spinach.
Just ensure that any food you give your betta is safe for human consumption; with a few exceptions (such as lettuce), most fruits and vegetables are OK to feed your fish with no adverse effects.
Lifespan
When properly cared for, spade tail betta fish can live for 3-5 years.
Parasites and diseases
While spade tail betta fish are not as susceptible to disease and illness as other species, they can get sick. Sick bettas develop symptoms such as clamped fins, labored breathing, white spots on their scales or skin, and abnormal behavior. If you notice any of these symptoms in your betta fish, it’s important to act quickly by isolating them in a small hospital tank with minimal filtration and taking them to a veterinarian for treatment.
Bettas are also prone to parasites, which will appear as tiny moving dots under your fish’s skin. To prevent disease and parasites from infecting your pet, keep its water clean by changing it regularly (every two weeks) and use aquarium salt in its water at a rate of one teaspoon per gallon.
Bettas should also be fed live foods (such as brine shrimp) instead of flake food because they contain nutrients that improve overall health.
Do they make good pets?
Though betta fish are sometimes portrayed as difficult to care for and spoiled by pet owners, they can make excellent pets. The key is treating them like any other pet. You’ll need to put in the time and effort to keep your betta healthy and happy.
Bettas tend to be territorial, so putting two males together will likely result in one killing the other or both being killed. Females usually get along fine with each other; however, it’s important that you don’t introduce multiple females into one tank at once. Otherwise, they may fight over territory and injure themselves trying to escape each other’s grasp.
