This article was co-authored by Deanne Pawlisch, CVT, MA. Deanne Pawlisch is a Certified Veterinary Technician, who does corporate training for veterinary practices and has taught at the NAVTA-approved Veterinary Assistant Program at the Harper College in Illinois and in 2011 was elected to the board of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Foundation. Deanne has been a Board Member of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Foundation in San Antonio, Texas since 2011. She holds a BS in Anthropology from Loyola University and an MA in Anthropology from Northern Illinois University.
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Bettas, otherwise known as Siamese fighting fish, are known for their snazzy colors and flowing fins. Chances are, however, when you brought your betta home in a cup from a pet store, you had no idea how old it was. It is hard to determine exactly how old your betta is, but by using some common sense and observations of your fish, you might be able to make a very close estimate.
- 1Check your betta's size. Normal adult bettas are usually around 3 inches (7.6 cm) in length. Hold a measuring tape up to your fish's tank and see how long it is. If your betta is less than the average, your betta is most likely a juvenile.[1] X Research sourceIt can be hard to measure a betta exactly. In most cases, it will be enough to simply get an estimate by holding up a measuring tape against the glass. Be patient since most healthy bettas do not stay still often.
- 2Check your betta's fins. Adult bettas have nice and beautiful flowing fins. If your betta has this characteristic, this is a good sign that it is an adult. If it has tiny fins, then it is either a juvenile or a baby.[2] X Research sourceMake sure you know the sex of your betta. Female bettas never get long, flowing fins like the males do.Don't confuse normal wear with injuries from diseases.Crowntails naturally have 'torn'- looking fins.
Older betta's fins have typically undergone lots of wear and tear. They may have tiny tears or shredded ends.
- 3Assess the color of your betta. In general, young bettas are vibrant and middle-aged bettas are slightly faded. The color of the scales of an older betta will be slightly faded and muted.
Note: Bettas that are bred for pets come in a wide variety of colors. However, wild betta fish tend to be grey or dull colored, and only show flashes of color when fighting.[3] X Research source Advertisement
- 1Look for changes in your fish's body. You might notice that with every day, your betta seems to be getting paler or even with daily feeding your fish gets skinnier. These are signs of an aging betta.[4] X Research source
Tip: As a betta ages, its back may also begin to arch. An old betta's back is usually humped, while a younger betta's back is more straight. The hump is rounded, so don't confuse this for a sharp spinal problem.
- 2Pay attention to changes in energy. Your betta will flare with much less gusto than it used to when it get old. After so many years, many bettas lose the enthusiasm to flare.Also, while a healthy adult betta will swim around vigorously in its tank, old bettas will hide behind plants and décor and swim sluggishly.When feeding your betta, watch it to see how quickly it spots its food. Old bettas may swim slowly to their food and miss it a couple of times before spotting it.
- 3Look for cataracts on the betta's eyes. Old bettas tend to have "cataracts," which are filmy or hazy spots inside the eye. This is normal for old bettas, and will happen no matter how big the tank you have is or how clean you keep the water.
Tip: If the fishes' eyes are black and hard to see, that is a sign of a healthy adult betta.[5] X Research source Advertisement
Community Q&A
- QuestionMy betta is very active, but he often misses a lot of his food when eating. What does this mean?Deanne Pawlisch, CVT, MADeanne Pawlisch is a Certified Veterinary Technician, who does corporate training for veterinary practices and has taught at the NAVTA-approved Veterinary Assistant Program at the Harper College in Illinois and in 2011 was elected to the board of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Foundation. Deanne has been a Board Member of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Foundation in San Antonio, Texas since 2011. She holds a BS in Anthropology from Loyola University and an MA in Anthropology from Northern Illinois University.
Certified Veterinary TechnicianCertified Veterinary TechnicianExpert AnswerIf your betta is eating when you feed him but not consuming all of his food, you may be overfeeding him. Often bettas only require 2-3 pellets per feeding.
- QuestionI believe my betta was at least a year old when I got him, as he had fully formed fins and a slight arch in his back. He never made a bubble nest, though. What does this mean about his age?Deanne Pawlisch, CVT, MADeanne Pawlisch is a Certified Veterinary Technician, who does corporate training for veterinary practices and has taught at the NAVTA-approved Veterinary Assistant Program at the Harper College in Illinois and in 2011 was elected to the board of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Foundation. Deanne has been a Board Member of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Foundation in San Antonio, Texas since 2011. She holds a BS in Anthropology from Loyola University and an MA in Anthropology from Northern Illinois University.
Certified Veterinary TechnicianCertified Veterinary TechnicianExpert AnswerYou might be correct in your estimate of your betta’s age. Often, tank filtrations systems cause strong currents in your tank that can discourage your fish from making a bubble nest. Bubble nests are part of the breeding process, so if your fish is solitary, it may not build a bubble nest at all.
- QuestionHow can I fix my betta's deteriorating fins?Community AnswerTheir fins could be tearing on something sharp in the tank. Try removing decorations that could tear fins. It could also be because of gravel ripping at their fins, so you may want to consider an alternate base for your tank.
- QuestionYesterday I brought two new betta fish home and put them in very clean tanks, but they don't look happy at all; one of them won't stop doing circles around the tank, and the other one wont eat. What should I do?Community AnswerLet them settle in for a bit. The one doing circles is probably just exploring. Fish can take a bit of time to acclimate to a new environment.
- QuestionHow long does a female betta grow?Community AnswerA female betta should grow around the same size as a male. Since their fins aren't as long as a male's, they will appear shorter.
- QuestionMy betta fish doesn't look happy, but I have a little house and plants for him. Should I add another fish to the tank or make it bigger or what?Community AnswerSometimes your Betta won't look happy, but actually is! Is he swimming around the tank, eating, and acting responsive? If not, I would check the pH and make sure his water is pristine. If he is doing all the things a healthy betta does, he is probably okay.
- QuestionHow old do bettas have to be to breed?Community AnswerBetween 6-18 months. Any older is not ideal. Make sure your fish is full grown before breeding it. Also, introduce the pair slowly before letting them in the same space.
- QuestionMy son's betta was died for no apparent reason. He was fed, the water was always clean, and he seemed happy. Can you explain why?Community AnswerIt could've been a multitude of things, perhaps he had an ongoing illness no one knew of, he could have been overfed, the water in his aquarium could have had chlorine in it, or temperature and pH levels weren't in the right areas. Bettas are classified as a "tropical fish" and require a bit more care than most people realize. He could've also passed from old age as well.
- QuestionMy betta fish is a healthy male, but is starting to change color. It used to be blue, now it's turning violet. Why is this happening?Community AnswerYou might have a special kind of betta called a "marble betta" (lucky!), and it may change color again, so don't be alarmed.
- QuestionHow long does a betta live?Community AnswerBettas usually live 2 to 3 years, but some have been known to live over 6 years. It depends on the living conditions of the betta.
Tips
- If taken care of properly, bettas can live between 2 and 6 years.
- When you purchase a betta fish in a pet store, its age can be anywhere between 3 months to 12 months.
- Take note of the date when you purchase your betta fish. This will help you keep track of how old it is generally.
- You should never have two bettas in one tank, unless you are experienced at fish-keeping.
References
- ↑ http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Betta_splendens/#lifespan_longevity
- ↑ http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Betta_splendens/#lifespan_longevity
- ↑ http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/f2013/flackey_rich/adaptation.htm
- ↑ http://bettatalk.com/betta_diseases.htm
- ↑ http://bettatalk.com/betta_diseases.htm
About This Article
To tell how old a betta fish is, measure the fish and asses the size of its fins. Adult bettas will usually be around 3 inches long and have long, flowing fins, while juveniles will be smaller with shorter fins. Another way to tell age is by looking at the coloring of the betta. Bettas are vibrant and colorful when young and generally become duller and more faded as they age. You can tell if bettas are old by seeing if they have a humped body or cataracts in their eyes. To learn how to tell the sex of a betta, scroll down!