Most hobbyists that care for bettas choose males, particularly new hobbyists. Males are wildly popular for their bright colors and beautiful, flowing fins.
Females make excellent pets too, though most people pass them over. Their colors are generally duller, and they have shorter, less showy fins.
Most hobbyists that choose female bettas have been in the hobby for a while. Many choose several females to create a betta sorority. Beginners shouldn’t attempt a sorority as it’s difficult to do right.
Single female bettas are great for beginners and experts alike. They are usually less aggressive than males and do well in community tanks.
What Is The Difference Between Male & Female Betta Fish?
Their many physical differences make it easy to tell male and female bettas apart.
Differentiating can sometimes be confusing with shorter-finned males, like koi bettas.
Fortunately, other physical and personality differences help tell the two apart.
The physical differences are harder to notice in wild bettas. Males and females both have shorter fins and duller colors. These characteristics help them blend in with their surroundings.
Most of the differences noted below are still relevant, regardless.
Physical Differences
The physical characteristics are the most clear indicators of a betta’s sex. The fin length, body shape, stripes, and colors all set males and females apart.
Bear in mind that it is nearly impossible to tell juvenile males and females apart. Most hobbyists must wait about two to three months before they can accurately sex their fish.
The Egg Spot
The most obvious way to tell male and female bettas apart is by looking for an egg spot.
Females have a tiny white, salt-like “egg spot” between their anal and ventral fins. An “egg spot” is the common name for the fish’s ovipositor — where the fish lays her eggs.
Finding the egg spot on white and other pale bettas is difficult. Look for other indicators for these dull fish.
The Beard
The “beard” is the opercular membrane under the gill plate cover.
Both male and female bettas have a “beard,” though the male’s is larger.
It’s easiest to see the beard when the fish flares its gills. We can sometimes see a male’s beard even when it is not flaring because it’s larger than a female’s. A female’s beard is never visible when she’s not flaring.
The Fins
We can tell most males and females apart by looking at the length of their fins.
Most males have significantly longer tail (caudal) fins than females.
Their long, flowy fins are why male bettas are popular. A male’s fins can be up to three to four times longer than a female’s, depending on the type of betta.
A male’s ventral fins are significantly longer and thicker than a female’s.
Duller Colors
Like most animals, female betta fish are duller than males. Males tend to be vibrant and flashy — another characteristic that makes them popular.
While females are paler in general, they can sometimes be quite colorful.
A sorority of female bettas can put on quite a show. Hobbyists are likely to get a variety of contrasting colors and personalities.
Body Shape
Females must carry eggs; their bodies are wider, shorter, and stockier. Males tend to have long, slender bodies.
Females Have Vertical “Breeding” Stripes
Hobbyists can sometimes tell if a betta is a female by placing it in a tank next to a known male. After seeing each other for a day or two, the fish may decide they want to breed.
A female ready to breed will display dark vertical stripes along the length of her body. Males don’t show these stripes.
Flaring
Male and female bettas both flare. Females may flare with their heads pointing slightly downward. Males keep their heads upright.
Males and females flare for different reasons.
Males flare to warn other males and females to stay away. It is a precursor to an attack if the opponent doesn’t heed the warning.
Females are more likely to flare at other females to show dominance. Unlike males, females are less likely to attack each other after flaring.
Breeding & Egg Care
Hobbyists can tell males and females apart by how they mate and care for their young.
Bubble Nests
Firstly, males prepare “bubble nests” to prepare for their eggs and to attract females.
They blow bubbles that float to the water’s surface and stick together in large clumps. Once the female releases her eggs, the male pushes the eggs into the bubble nest. They develop there until hatching.
Females often choose a male based on his bubble nest.
In the wild, a female may simply swim away from a male if she doesn’t like his bubble nest. In captivity, the female will destroy a nest that she doesn’t like.
Males Make Bubble Nests Without Females
Males often create bubble nests even when not in the presence of a female. The behavior is instinctual; they wish to prepare for eggs even when there isn’t a female available.
Females Sometimes Make Bubble Nests
Females sometimes create bubble nests. The behavior isn’t as frequent or common as in males, and their bubble nests tend to be smaller.
A female building a bubble nest is usually a sign that she is more dominant than other females.
Mating
Once they decide to mate, the male wraps his body around the female and squeezes the eggs from her body. She becomes limp, floating on her side in the water column from the pressure.
Protecting The Eggs
After squeezing the eggs from her, the male collects them and places them in the bubble nest.
Males are fiercely protective of their eggs and stand guard of the bubble nest until the eggs hatch. Hobbyists should remove the female from the tank after she lays the eggs. Female bettas are not parental in nature and will eat their eggs if they can.
How To Tell If A Female Betta Is Pregnant
Females may produce eggs, even if there is no male around. Her abdomen swells, becoming large as it fills with eggs.
Females usually reabsorb eggs if no male is available. Other times, they expel them into the water.
Besides swelling, hobbyists can tell a female is full of eggs by looking at her ovipositor. It becomes larger and protrudes from the body. A white, tube-like structure appears to hang off her body in preparation of expelling the eggs.
Who Is More Aggressive?
Males have far more aggressive temperaments than females.
Males are usually most aggressive with other males. They may also be aggressive with females, especially outside the mating season.
Researchers say that the males’ aggressive nature may shorten their lifespans. Less aggressive males and females tend to live longer.
Females are aggressive, though they tend to be more passive than males.
Wild Bettas
Bettas are aggressive in the wild. Their temperaments are more subdued than captive-bred bettas.
Wild males fight to defend their territories and for access to females. They are far less likely to kill each other. Usually, the weaker male retreats once he realizes he’s losing the fight.
Captive-bred bettas were bred specifically for vibrant colors and aggressive personalities. Traditionally, bettas were used for sport fighting, like dogs and roosters.
Here’s Why Males & Females Can’t Live Together
Males and females are aggressive toward one another outside the breeding season. They will fight to the death if hobbyists try to make them live together.
Males and females should only live together temporarily during breeding while using caution.
There are strict guidelines for introducing a breeding pair to keep them safe.
While males tend to be more aggressive, females often kill the males. Their short fins allow them to attack faster, quickly shredding the male’s fins.
Can Female Bettas Live Together?
Females can sometimes live together in “sorority” tanks featuring five or more females.
Sorority tanks are difficult and unsuitable for beginning betta hobbyists. Many factors go into ensuring the female bettas are all happy and don’t kill each other.
Never house less than five females together. The larger, more aggressive females will bully the weaker ones.
It’s particularly dangerous only to keep two females together.
Female Vs. Male Betta Fish
There are benefits and drawbacks to both male and female bettas. Hobbyists can compare the two and decide which is best for their aquarium.
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Female Betta Fish & Community Tanks
Female bettas usually do well in community tanks with peaceful fish. Their more docile personalities mean they are less likely to fight with or bully other fish.
Hobbyists can keep sororities in large community tanks. They can be successful as long as the tanks are large enough to give each fish its own space. It’s best if hobbyists have at least 50 gallons when trying to keep a betta sorority with other community fish.
Those with smaller tanks can keep a single female betta with other community fish.
Females usually do well in community tanks. Success still depends on the betta’s personality.
Most females are less aggressive than males. Some females can be as aggressive as males and will attack anything they come across.
Have a separate tank ready to transfer the female betta if she becomes too aggressive.
Always add bettas to a community tank last. Adding the other species first gives them a chance to explore the tank and find places to hide.
Adding the betta first gives them a chance to choose their territory. It prevents the other fish from knowing where to hide from the betta.
Are Females Better To Keep With Other Fish Than Males?
Whether a male or female is better depends on which other species the hobbyist would like to display.
Though female bettas are generally peaceful, they can be more dominant toward others. While they are unlikely to kill other fish, they may bully them and pick at their fins. They usually do okay with other fin-nipping species, unlike male bettas.
Females are more likely than males to stand up for themselves against bullies.
While males won’t back down from a fight, their large fins make it difficult for them to defend themselves.
Tank Mates Most Suitable For Male Betta Fish
Keep male bettas with dull fish that have short fins. These fish do not appear to be a threat to the betta.
Some examples of good tank mates include:
- Cardinal tetras
- Clown plecos
- Corydoras
- Danios
- Ember tetras
- Feeder guppies
- Harlequin rasbora
- Kuhli loaches
- Mollies
- Neon tetras
- Otocinclus catfish
Tank Mates Most Suitable For Female Betta Fish
Female bettas often do well with fast, peaceful community fish. Keep them with fish that have pale bodies and short fins.
It’s best to avoid keeping female bettas with fish that are colorful and have long, flowy fins. Females are duller and have shorter fins than males. Despite this, they don’t take kindly to fish resembling male bettas.
Choose fish that are speedy and can defend themselves against female bettas.
All the tank mates suitable for male bettas are suitable for female bettas. Some other species that do well with female bettas include:
- Checkerboard barbs
- Cherry barbs
- Gold barbs
- Larger tetras (e.g., serpae, bloodfin, black skirt, etc.)
- Pentazona barbs
- Snakeskin barbs
- Yoyo loaches
FAQs
Are Male Or Female Betta Fish Easier To Care For?
Both male and female bettas need the same kind of care — neither is easier to care for than the other.
Can Female Betta Fish Lay Eggs Without A Male?
Female bettas may lay eggs without a male, though it’s not super common.
They may produce eggs even when there is no male available. Without a male, the female usually reabsorbs the eggs into her body. Sometimes, she may expel the eggs rather than reabsorb them. In these cases, she often eats the unfertilized eggs.
Sometimes, female bettas fill up with eggs and become “egg bound.” Their body does not reabsorb the eggs, and she is unable to expel them. Egg binding is a dangerous condition that owners must address immediately.
