With striking colours, beautiful fins and plenty of personality, betta fish can make a wonderful addition to your home. They’re often an excellent choice for a dedicated freshwater aquarium, where one fish can become the star of the display.
At Top Fin Aquatics, we love helping customers choose a betta and create a suitable home for it. This guide covers the essentials—from heating and filtration to feeding and choosing tankmates.
What Is a Betta Fish?
The bettas commonly kept in home aquariums are Betta splendens, also known as Siamese fighting fish. They originate from tropical Southeast Asia and come in a wide variety of colours and fin shapes.
Our Betta collection includes options such as Painted Plakats, Yellow Picasso males and assorted long-fin males, depending on availability. Browse the current listings to see what’s available.
What Size Tank Does a Betta Need?
Our recommendation is a tank of at least 20 litres for one betta, with a larger aquarium offering more room for planting and exploring.
Choose a layout with open swimming space, sheltered areas and easy access to the surface. A secure lid is essential because bettas can jump. Leave an air gap beneath it so your fish can breathe at the surface.
Plants and smooth decorations provide places to rest and hide, helping your betta feel secure.
A simple betta setup checklist
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An aquarium of 20 litres or more.
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A suitable aquarium heater and thermometer.
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A gentle filter.
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A secure lid.
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Aquarium water conditioner.
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Water tests for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.
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Plants, shelter and smooth decorations.
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A suitable betta food.
Do Bettas Need a Heater in New Zealand?
Yes—plan for a heated aquarium. Bettas are tropical fish, and relying on room temperature can expose them to cold water and temperature swings.
For a typical home setup, aim for a stable 25–26°C, checked with a separate thermometer. Keep the aquarium away from draughts and direct sunlight, and select a heater suitable for its volume.
Explore our heating range or ask us to help you choose a heater for your tank.
Do Bettas Need a Filter?
Yes. Bettas need clean water just like other aquarium fish.
A suitable filter removes debris and provides a home for beneficial bacteria that process fish waste. Choose gentle or adjustable flow: your betta should be able to swim and rest comfortably without being pushed around. Long-fin varieties particularly benefit from calm areas.
Bettas can breathe air at the surface, but that ability doesn’t replace filtration or good aquarium maintenance.
Prepare the Aquarium Before Bringing Your Betta Home
A newly filled aquarium needs time to establish biological filtration. This process is called cycling.
We recommend fishless cycling before adding your betta. Use water tests to confirm the aquarium can process waste, rather than assuming it’s ready after a fixed number of days.
For routine care, aim for no detectable ammonia or nitrite. Carry out regular partial water changes, condition replacement tap water and match its temperature to the aquarium. Gently clean clogged filter media in removed aquarium water.
Our recommendation: Keep maintenance consistent and let water tests guide you. Clear-looking water can still have water quality problems.
What Should You Feed Your Betta?
Choose a quality food formulated for bettas, with pellets small enough for your fish to eat comfortably.
Top Fin Aquatics stocks New Life Spectrum Betta Regular Pellets, which you can find in our Betta collection.
Feed small, measured portions and remove leftovers. Suitable frozen foods can add variety, but portions still matter.
Our recommendation: Follow the food’s directions and adjust to your fish’s appetite and condition. Pellet sizes differ, so a fixed pellet count won’t suit every food. Overfeeding also adds unnecessary waste to the aquarium.
Plants and Decorations: Make Your Betta Feel at Home
A planted aquarium gives your betta places to explore, shelter and rest. Include cover without crowding out all the swimming space, and provide resting spots near the surface.
Check ornaments and hardscape for sharp edges that could damage delicate fins. A gentle filter, soft planting and a regular day-and-night lighting cycle make a useful starting point.
Browse our Aquatic Plants collection for options suited to your lighting and tank.
Can Bettas Live with Other Fish?
For beginners, our recommendation is one betta in its own aquarium.
Never house two male bettas together. A male and female also shouldn’t be kept together as an everyday pair, and female groups require careful planning and experience.
Some individual bettas can live in a suitable community aquarium, but compatibility depends on temperament, tank size and the other species. Fin-nipping fish and fish that harass the betta are poor choices. Shrimp may also be eaten.
Ask us before adding companions, and have a way to separate fish if problems develop.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | A better approach |
|---|---|
| Relying on room temperature | Use a suitable heater and check the temperature |
| Choosing a strong filter current | Provide gentle flow and calm resting areas |
| Adding a betta to an uncycled aquarium | Establish biological filtration first |
| Overfeeding | Offer measured portions and remove leftovers |
| Choosing sharp decorations | Use smooth, fin-friendly furnishings |
| Buying tankmates without checking compatibility | Discuss the full setup before adding fish |
Find Your Betta at Top Fin Aquatics
A betta aquarium can be a beautiful, manageable freshwater setup when you get the essentials right: warm water, gentle filtration, suitable food and a comfortable environment.
Explore our current betta range, or contact Top Fin Aquatics for help planning your setup. You can also visit our Foxton fishroom during advertised opening hours to talk fish and see what’s available.