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Encyclopedia / Gouramis & Bettas / Peaceful betta
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Variations

1 kinds · tap one for a closer look

Peaceful betta

Betta imbellis · Crescent betta, Crescent fighter, Betta imbellis, Penang betta

Less aggressive than Betta splendens; a pair or group of one male and females can live in a planted tank.

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6 cmBody length, without tail ✓
24–28 °CTemperature ✓
6–7.5pH ✓
40 LSmallest tank ✓
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Tank mates
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Not recommended
  • White cloud mountain minnow needs cool water and makes a lot of waste, while Peaceful betta is tropical.
  • They need different temperatures (24–28 °C vs 14–22 °C). No setting suits both.
Not recommended
  • Giant gourami eats animals up to about 10 cm. Peaceful betta only grows to 6 cm.
Not recommended
  • They need different temperatures (24–28 °C vs 10–22 °C). No setting suits both.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 24–25 °C.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: exactly 24 °C.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

345 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓1–10 dGH
Group size ✓2 or more
Temperament ?Semi-aggressive
Swims at ?Top
Care level ✓Moderate
Diet Carnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 3–5 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Less aggressive than Betta splendens; a pair or group of one male and females can live in a planted tank. Males still fight rivals.

Food

Frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia and small pellets.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Males are more colourful (blue-green iridescent scales, red crescent on the tail) and grow longer fins; females are duller and, when ready to spawn, turn paler with dark bars on the flanks.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Bubble-nester · Easy

Bubble nester: the male builds the nest, places the eggs in it and guards it alone; the female can usually stay in the tank.

Pairing

Place a conditioned female in the male's tank, then remove her after spawning.

Setup

20-40 L planted tank with floating plants, a bit of leaf litter and a gentle sponge filter.

What starts it

Live foods, warm water and floating cover.

Eggs

Egg count not found in sources. Eggs hatch in 24-48 hours; fry stay in the nest 3-4 more days until the yolk sac is used up.

Raising the fry

Infusoria, then newly hatched brine shrimp; the male guards the nest and fry for several days.

Common mistakes
  • Leaving the female with the male
  • Strong flow
  • Keeping two males together
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionMalay Peninsula, southern Thailand & Sumatra
HabitatShallow, weedy swamps and paddy fields
Native rangeAbout 700 km across
See it on the world map

The story of the peaceful betta

A wild betta from southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia and northern Sumatra (introduced in Singapore), also called the crescent betta for the red crescent on the male's tail. Its name means 'peaceful' in Latin. It belongs to the Betta splendens complex and has been hybridised with B. splendens and others for the trade.

Werner Ladiges described this betta in 1975. It is a close relative of the fighting fish and gets its name from being less aggressive than its famous cousin.

First described by Werner Ladiges in 1975. Named for 'Imbellis' means peaceful or unwarlike.

  • It belongs to the same species group as the Siamese fighting fish.
  • It can interbreed with Betta splendens.
  • Males build bubble nests at the surface.

Sources

14 facts checked with sources