Crowntail Betta
Learn About the Lovely Crowntail Betta
The Crowntail Betta is so named because it has an elaborate, striking tail that makes it stand out, even from other bettas. It has a shape to its tail like a teardrop, and its tail is split, making the fish look almost as though it has two tails. The Crowntail is one of the types of Siamese Fighting Fish, and they have been bred for many years to enhance the variety of colors and the fins of the males. This has also served to make them more combative than they previously were.
Be sure to only keep one male Crowntail Betta in each tank, to avoid serious injury. Females can be housed in tanks together. They can occasionally be as bright in color as the males, but they don’t normally have the long fins that are seen on males.
Crowntail Bettas have gills, but they are also equipped with an organ that enables them to breathe air. They thus need to be able to access the surface of the water in the tank they are housed in. This betta also needs a stable and warm temperature, close to 80 degrees, and they do best in low lighting and a larger aquarium that is densely planted.
The female of this species lays the eggs and then they are guarded in a bubble nest that the male built for them. The fry should begin to hatch in 24 to 36 hours, and they should be fed small portions of food, due to their size. Powdered or crushed food works well for them. They will also eat the yolks of hard boiled eggs, as long as they are finely chopped. Since the Crowntail Betta is a carnivore, it will eat freeze dried flakes and live food.
This species is a popular betta, second possibly only to the veil tail bettas. When you go to a pet store that has any selection of bettas, the Crowntail is usually the most populous on display.
Crowntails have small projections on their fins and their tail. This is how the species got its name, because the projections resemble a crown’s points. Like most fighting fish, these fish require warm, clean water and a protein high in protein. Pellets should be fed on a daily basis, and live foods are also tasty for these fish.
Make sure you never use chlorinated water for Crowntail Bettas. This could kill the fish. The optimum temperature is about 80 degrees. They will prosper best when fed brine shrimp, daphnia and bloodworms. Be sure to keep their water clean, so they will stay healthy. The Crowntail can be more finicky about its food than other bettas, so if your fish won’t eat one type of food, discontinue its use, and try another type. As with all bettas, avoid overfeeding, so their water won’t get cloudy.