How to Sex a Betta Fish

Betta fish are very popular pets, with their bright colors and big, flowing tails and fins. Betta fish are great for kids and college students who want an "easy to care for" fish in a smaller aquarium. If you get a betta fish, you may be wondering how to sex it. Sexing fishes can be difficult, but luckily, betta fish are easy to sex with the following information.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Look at the fish. Male betta fish are brightly colored with long, flowing tails and fins. Female betta fish are smaller, less brightly colored and don't very long tails and fins. However, having a split tail is not a sex indicator and both betta fish sexes can have this.

2. Buy your fish from a pet store. Due to the beauty of male betta fishes, males are the fishes sold in a pet store. If you want a female betta fish for breeding purposes, talk to your pet store to see if they can order one for you. Be cautious about putting male and female betta fish together though, since they will fight, often to the death.

3. Find out how old your betta fish is, if possible. Young male betta fish may be mistaken for females since they're smaller and less colorfuul than adult male betta fish. Talk to the pet store or get a betta fish from a betta fish farmer.

Resources

• Go to Aquatic Community for more information.
• For more information, read Betta: Your Happy Healthy Pet by John H. Tullock