Crowntail Betta 101: Care, Lifespan, Food, Facts & Compatibility

Bettas are always lovely aquatic pets to keep inside the larger tank as well as smaller tanks. Bettas have a wide variety of species, even though they are mostly the same. But they differ in many characteristics. Hence, it is essential that you know your type carefully before owning them.

If you wish to own a Crowntail Betta, do not go anywhere because today we will discuss everything you need to know about them. They are beautiful freshwater fish that appeals to a wide range of aquarists.

They’re a lot of fun to watch because of their beautiful colors and floating fins. However, if you wish to own one, you should be mindful that they come with their own set of challenges that you must be prepared to meet. Crowntail Bettas are among the most popular types of fishes to keep.

 

Who Should get a Crowntail Betta?

Crowntail Betta is not that hard to maintain. Hence it is a suitable pet for experts as well as beginners. However, due to the breeding process’s complexity, it is advised that beginners should avoid breeding Bettas.

They require little care, and you just need to follow and maintain a few things in order to keep them healthy and happy. We will be discussing more this further below our complete guide of the Crowntail Betta.

History of Crowntail Betta

Crowntail Bettas were first bred in 1997 by Ahmad Yusuf from Indonesia. You can track down their ancestor back in many south Asian countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. They are known as “Cupang Serit” in the International Betta Congress or, in short, IBC.

 

Looks

The looks and appearance of a fish is the first thing that any aquarium owner looks for. As I mentioned earlier, these fishes look a lot like regular Bettas. The body is thin and long and has a reasonably uniform appearance, which tightens to a point at the mouth.

They have a unique-shaped mouth which is known as a supra-terminal mouth that is upturned and hinged. Like most other fishes, the males have a longer fin than the female.

Their most appealing feature is the fins; the males come with the caudal fins, which are nearly thrice the size compared to their body. The fins spread out and seem to attach to the anal and dorsal fins. The separation between their fins is easily viewable, making them easy to find out among other breeds.

The gill plate is located just below the head. They are usually smooth and flush against the body.

But as Bettas are known for their aggressive behavior. Hence their gills can really burst out in color when they become angry or territorial.

As compared to other fish of this size, the anal fin is very large, which further adds to the beautification. The dorsal fin is less wide and usually set higher on the back to increase the tailfin’s mass.

Average Lifespan of Crowntail Betta

As like all other fishes breed, it isn’t to say how long they will live. When it comes to longevity, there are no promises. They can survive a little longer if given good treatment or die young from illness or stress.

On average, Crowntail Betta’s life expectancy is just around a few years. These aren’t the longest-living fish breed. If you want your fish to survive as long as possible, the level of treatment and care you give is critical, so be careful and committed.

Personality Traits

Crowntail Bettas, just like regular Bettas, are one of the most aggressive fish for your aquarium. Even though the domesticated Betta fish are less aggressive than their wild relatives, you can find aggressive nature in almost every Betta fish type.

They are known as Siamese Battle Fish in their native countries of Thailand, Malaysia, and elsewhere for a cause! Their brawls can be brutal. They usually breed Bettas specifically for fighting. Due to their aggressive nature, the Crowntail Betta does not usually get along with other fish. It can be very territorial, and they tend to want to be left alone most of the time.

You can, however, keep them with other fishes, but you have to match their personality first. Bettas cannot stay with every fish type in the aquarium. On the contrary male Bettas are wilder and more aggressive in nature compared to female Bettas.

Size of Crowntail Bettas

The average size of the Crowntail Bettas is not that big. They are moderately sized fishes. The standard sizes of them are about 2.5 inches from the nose to the tip of the tail. You can also get some Bettas up to 3 inches in length, yet those occasions are uncommon.

Their long, floating fins account for the majority of their length. The fish’s body is comparatively thin. As a result, even though their bodies are the same size, females look smaller than males.

Colors of a Crowntail Betta

Crowntail Betta arrives in a wide scope of shadings, now and then introducing plenty of tones in a small body. The most well-known tones for these fish are dull shades of red and blue. Green, pink, blue, black, turquoise, pastel, orange, and other shades have arisen from captive breeding.

They are seen both in solid tones and in also multicolor and design tones. However, They only show vivid colors in the wild when they are upset. But now, for selective breeding inside captivity, they transformed into multiple color tones.

Males have longer, floating fins and are more vibrantly colored than females. Females are typically less vivid and shorter in comparison to males.

Food Habit

Like any other fish species, maintaining a proper food habit for Crowntail Betta is really important. One of the most critical aspects of this species’ treatment is providing a balanced diet, but this isn’t always simple. These fish can be picky about what they eat.

They are carnivorous fish that need a high-protein diet to survive. Since they have tiny stomachs, you can regularly feed them in small doses, like two to three times daily. Furthermore, they have shallow guts that can quickly fill up.

If you feed them too much, they can suffer from different problems like it seems like their heads are bursting at the seams with eyes.  Also, their body becomes bloated. Furthermore, it can cause an inappropriate nitrogen cycle, making the Crowntail fish sick and eventually causing constipation, a big Betta killer. This animal is prone to constipation and overeating due to its voracious appetite.

You can try to give your Betta no more than 2 minutes’ worth of food in each feeding session. So, if your Betta takes more than 2 minutes to eat, you’re overfeeding them. Remove some food that your Betta hasn’t consumed in the last two minutes.

For their diet, you should use a combination of both frozen and live foods. The foods can include bloodworms, white worms, mosquito larvae, brine shrimp, insect larvae, and many more. These fishes love bloodworms more than anything else.

You do not want to give the same type of food every day. Try to mix and match different options now and again to keep your fish interested in their meals. A little bit of diversity will keep them interested in meals; dry pellets are also a good option.

What to feed your Crowntail Betta

Down below, we have shortlisted different types of foods for you all out there, so you do not need to experiment by wasting money on different food types for your Crowntail Bettas.

Live Food

• Mosquito larvae
• White worms Per 3-4 days, refill one-third of the water in your tank. The fish’s ecosystem’s ecological equilibrium will be disturbed if the whole water supply is replaced at once. They will react to the pH level and temperature of the water with a gradual transition.
• Insect larvae
• Wingless fruit flies

Frozen Food

• Black worms
• Brine shrimp
• Blood worms
• Black mosquito larvae

Dry Food

• Betta pellets

Use frozen foods as occasional snacks and treat, do not use them as full-time meals to ensure your Bettas’ better health. Live foods and dry foods are a good choice for full-time daily meals.

 

 

Crowntail Betta Breeding

As you might already know, it is not easy to breed Betta due to their aggressive nature and fighting temperament. You may breed Crowntail Bettas, but you’ll need a large tank to do so successfully. The unique spawning mechanism cannot take place in a small aquarium.

You need to check for a cluster of bubbles because this indicates that your Betta is ready for breeding. The breeding process can be quite challenging for a beginner fish keeper. Males will blast bubbles that rise to the surface after conditioning the fish with high-protein foods. On the surface, they form small bubble clusters. It’s either close to the tank’s corners or under floating plants.

The fish will execute their mating rite if the female is open to reproduction. The male fertilizes her eggs as she drops them into the sea. Now you need to wait for the eggs to hatch, which usually takes two days. The baby fish will then live on the egg sac until they are able to swim independently. After that, you should try dried food or infusoria.

However, keep in mind that you need to remove the adult Bettas out of the tank as soon as eggs get hatched. If you keep the adults in the tank with the babies, they will become meals for the adults in no time.

Care for your Crowntail Betta

As I mentioned earlier, you need proper care for Crowntail Bettas so that they can survive for a more extended period. You need to look at and maintain many vital factors to ensure appropriate care of your Bettas. Down below, I will discuss all of them in full detail.

I have designed these points in such a way that even an amateur fish keeper can keep Bettas easily without trouble. The trick, as with any fish, is to understand everything you can about their needs. Your fishes will excel as you follow and maintain their essential requirements.

Size of the tank

Tank size is one of the most crucial factors while thinking of getting a Crowntail Betta. Even though Bettas are smaller fish, but you need a moderately sized tank so they can move freely. If you wish to keep your Betta alone, then I recommend you to use a 10-gallon tank at least.

Many people suggest that Bettas can survive easily in bowls and vases; no, do not do that. If you love your fishes and want them to live happily for long, do not do that ever.

There is a common misconception that five gallons of water are sufficient for a Betta. Though they would eventually suffice in certain circumstances, you should always consider investing in something in the ten to the twenty-gallon range. Bettas in smaller tanks can become dissatisfied as a result of constantly crashing into the window.

In case you want to keep more fishes with your Crowntail Betta, we suggest you get at least a 20-gallon tank. However, do keep in mind that you like to stay alone. They are naturally territorial, and to keep them comfortable, the territory must be well adapted.

Additionally, Larger tanks will allow you to install the kind of vegetation that will appeal to them the most.

Other things to add to the tank.

You need to add much natural vegetation and accessories to keep your Crowntail Betta happy inside the tank. First and foremost, get a suitable lid for your tank because these fishes tend to jump a lot and get out of the aquarium.

One fun fact about Bettas is that they can take oxygen from the air as well as the water. So, you won’t be needing any aeration systems in your aquarium. In addition, this will protect your Betta’s lovely caudal fins from being harmed by heavy tank currents.

It is better not to add any types of décor with sharp edges as this can damage the delicate fins of this species. Don’t overdo your tank with decorations; make sure that your Betta has enough space to move around freely.

Begin by laying down plain gravel or fine sand substrate. If you like, you can even leave the aquarium’s bottom bare as they can live happily in both conditions. After that, throw in any hiding spots. Furthermore, you can use artificial caves and plants to provide protection. Floating plants are helpful because they serve to shield the sun and have a nesting surface.

Water and other optimal conditions

After setting up your tank and accessories, you need to set up your aquarium’s internal environment. They originate from South East Asia. Hence, they like that type of condition for living. Crowntail Bettas are freshwater species, so maintain the freshwater conditions.

The first step is to ensure that the pH levels are optimal. This varies between 6.4 and 7.0. Anything less or more than that can be very harmful to your Betta. I’m for a water hardness of two to five carbonate hardness, which has measurement in units of dKh. The water temperature should be between 76- and 80-degrees Fahrenheit.

Once more, any variation to this can bring about pressure and different issues for your Crowntail. It can cause serious harm to their digestion, which can eventually lead to other medical problems. Watch out for these tank conditions consistently.

Floating Plants

Floating plants are an excellent addition to every aquarium. This is due to Crowntails’ fondness for using them in the construction of so-called bubble nests. The bubble nests are very important for their breeding process.

Lighting

Dimming the tank illumination is still preferable.  They dislike being in direct sunlight. This will put a lot of pressure on them, resulting in several health problems. It’s much cooler if you can set a timer to ensure that the light remains on for 12 hours and then turns off for the rest of the day.

Filtration system

Even though you do not need an aeration system, you can get a good quality nitrogen filter because it will aid in developing healthy microbes and help maintain a safe nitrate and ammonia level in the aquarium. Powerful currents in the water can harm the Betta’s fins, so control the airflow to be gentle.

Sometimes you need to mix and match the conditions to find the best condition that suits your Crowntail Betta. Trial and error are the way to go before keeping any fish in your aquarium.

Cleaning and replacement

Just as you clean the aquarium with all other fishes, you need to clean your Crowntail Betta tank also. Cleaning the ornaments in your tank with soap or disinfectants is toxic to the Bettas. You should use a turkey baster to remove raw materials and other debris from the aquarium’s bottom. To vacuum, just use lukewarm water.

For replacing water, just follow the same steps as you would do with any other species in your aquarium.

Per 3-4 days, refill one-third of the water in your tank. The fish’s ecosystem’s ecological equilibrium will be disturbed if the whole water supply is replaced at once. They will react to the pH level and temperature of the water with a gradual transition.

 

 

Compatibility and Tankmates

As I mentioned earlier, Bettas tend to live alone. The same goes for Crowntail Bettas. However, if you can find fish to match their aggressive nature, they can easily fit other fishes. Here we will be discussing all the fishes that can be compatible with Crowntail Bettas.

These fish like to be left alone. They need a substantial amount of room and can be offensive against some other fish, even other Crowntails, that come into their personal room. It’s important not to overload the tank.

So, the most crucial point to remember is not to overcrowd the aquarium when you are keeping other fishes with them. Most aquarists keep these fish alone to maintain a strategic distance from any animosity. Be that as it may, there are a couple of appropriate tank mate alternatives in the event that you need to have an exuberant tank.

They have a terrible habit of fighting any fish which has the same behavior traits as themselves; aggressive, larger than Bettas, dominant and territorial. Hence the suitable tank mates for them are bottom dwellers who are peaceful and quiet. This will help you avoid any type of fighting inside the aquarium, as Crowntail Bettas likes to live in the tank’s upper or middle portion.

Male-Female compatibility

You should only keep making and female Bettas together for breeding, and soon as your breeding purpose is done, separate them. Even though male Bettas can show less aggression towards the female, still they can attack the female.

Male Male compatibility

No, absolutely not you cannot keep two male Bettas together at any cost. You cannot even keep them together in separate tanks where they can see each other. It is often seen that when two male Bettas are kept in an independent tank, and they can see each other. They will try to attack each other from behind the glass.

Female-Female Compatibility

Unlike Male Bettas, female Crowntail Bettas can live together. But, if you wish to keep two females together, you must have a large aquarium and enough hiding space for both of them.

 

Options of Tank Mate

So, the most crucial point to remember is not to overcrowd the aquarium when you are keeping other fishes with them. Most aquarists keep these fish alone to maintain a strategic distance from any animosity. Be that as it may, there are a couple of appropriate tank mate alternatives in the event that you need to have an exuberant tank. Try to get at least a 20-gallon tank.

• Guppies

They are bred as food in overcrowded tanks and are one of the most well-known tropical fish. Poeciliidae is their genus name. They can be easily kept with Crowntail Bettas.

• Frogs

These marine frogs spend most of their time submerged, unlike regular frogs. However, they do come to the surface, and that is for breathing. If you keep them in an aquarium, make sure the tank has a little cave that will help them float to the water’s surface.

• Shrimps

You can keep two types of shrimps; ghost shrimps which can stay camouflaged and adapts themselves very well with Bettas. There is also Red Cherry shrimp which is also known for its calm non-aggressive nature.

• Neon-Tetras

These four types of fishes go very well with Bettas due to their calm and quiet nature. So I recommend you only to keep these types of fishes with your Crowntail and make sure that the tank is big and contains enough space for your Crowntail Betta.

 

Diseases

Bettas also suffer from the same types of diseases as other freshwater fishes’ species when it comes to diseases.

They can develop Ich if they are stressed or subjected to a sick fish. Ich is a condition that causes white spots to appear all over the body and is extremely infectious. It can be a really serious disease but don’t worry; you can treat it easily using over-the-counter drugs.

As I have told before, Bettas can develop constipation easily, and you can easily detect it seeing their swollen belly. You just need to keep your Crowntail fish without food for a few days, and the problem should solve out.

Parasitic infections, bacterial infections, and fungal infections are really common in Bettas. Fin rot is also a problem for Crowntail Betta fish. This is a one-of-a-kind infection that causes the fins to deteriorate over time. The tips of the fins may turn grey before completely sloughing off. You can treat this with regular medicines.

 

Tips for Keeping Crowntail Betta

In this section, you will see many important tips which you will need to check out for perfectly keeping Crowntail Bettas. If you are searching for a serene fish for your aquarium, then Crowntail Betta isn’t for you.

If you want to keep the same form of a particular fish together in your aquarium, then this may not be the best option. However, you can keep female Bettas together. But, they are not as brightly colored as male Bettas.

• When males are attacked, their fins flare.
• The lighter a male Betta in color is, the better and healthier he will be. However, with female Bettas, this differs as they have monochromic colors.
• They are a smart species capable of studying and doing tricks.
• Crowntail Betta is available in 25 different colors.
• Females will show an egg spot on their bodies, and this will show that they are ready to mate.

Conclusion

If you are looking into getting a Crowntail Betta, then this guide was meant for you. We have discussed every kooks and crook you need to know about Crowntail Bettas. They are aggressive in nature. Hence, you need to maintain and follow a few important things to keep them properly.

Our guide covered almost everything for you, so we suggest you read this guide properly and then get your own Crowntail Betta. We have written the guide in such a way that If you read this guide carefully, you won’t need to go through any other article to find information related to Betta.

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