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Betta fish are widely known as fighting fish. Frequently sold in individual containers, you might believe all Betta fish have the same general appearance and demeanor. Regardless of what you see at pet stores, male and female Betta fish are quite different. Subtle differences in their appearance and behavior can help you differentiate their sex. Knowing the sex of a Betta fish is critical when deciding if and when to breed a pair of Betta fish.
Steps
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Wait until characteristics begin to develop with age. Male and female Betta fish will look very similar when young. This is because their body has not yet developed to the point where sexual characteristics are manifested. Before sexing your betta, either wait until you can see obvious male characteristics or wait about two months.
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Observe the size and shape of their fins. Male Betta fish will generally have long dorsal (top), ventral (bottom), and caudal (tail) fins. Often 2-3+ times their body height. The dorsal and caudal fins will often droop due to their length. Female Betta fish will typically have shorter fins about as long as the Betta is tall or shorter. However, Plakat Betta Fish have short fins, so do not immediately assume that your betta is a female just because of shorter fins. Female Betta's ventral fin may often resemble a hair comb. There are long-finned female Betta Fish that are sold by breeders. [1] X Research source
- Short fins may indicate female sex, but this characteristic should be combined with other evidence before sexing is conclusive.
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Note his or her colors. Males typically have bright colors. Females usually do not. Females from the petstore tend to have subdued or dull colors, especially in the body. However, you can find colorful female betta fish from breeders. Female betta fish aren’t always dull. Bright, bold coloration in the body and fins is a good indication of a male Betta. [2] X Research source
- Colors can change depending on the stress level of the fish. Female Bettas will be more colorful when stressed than non-stressed females.
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Look for the egg spot. Female Bettas will have a small white spot (the ovipositor tube) on their underside. This spot will resemble a grain of salt. It is located between the near the edge of the ventral fin near the head of the Betta. Male bettas can develop a false egg spot, so using an egg spot to confirm sex is not the most accurate way. [3] X Research source
- Finding this spot may be difficult with younger females whose sexual organs have not fully developed. As the fish ages and becomes larger, the ovipositor tube will become larger and easier to see.
- If you are having trouble viewing the location of the spot, consider feeding or preparing to feed your fish. He or she will likely move to the top and angle himself or herself so you can more easily view the location.
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Compare their body shapes. Male and female Betta fish have subtle differences in body shape. Males tend to be long and thin. Females tend to be shorter and thicker. This is a subtle difference. You will probably want to familiarize yourself with obviously male Betta fish to use this method to sex Bettas. Female Bettas almost look like stubby males when comparing body shape.
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Put a mirror beside or in the tank. Bettas will flare at other males. Both male and female Betta fish have aggressive tendencies. However, male are typically more likely to engage in aggressive behavior. When you place a mirror beside or in your Betta's tank, your Betta will see another Betta. Males will likely stretch or flare their gills to show dominance. They may even try to attack the mirror.
- Female Bettas will sometimes flare to show dominance too. However, they do so with less determination. Males tend to become obsessed with the fact that another male is near them.
- Do not leave the mirror in the tank for extended periods of time. While seeing your male Betta's aggressive display is fun, this can stress your Betta to the point it affects his or her health. Male Betta's fins, particularly, may start to shorten simply due to experiencing long periods of high stress.
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Consider the method of purchase. How you purchased your Betta can tell you a little about his or her sex. Male bettas are typically sold exclusively in the typical "pet store" because of their bright colors and large fins. These are typically male traits, and, consequently, most pet stores sell and stock only male Bettas. Female Bettas are typically sold by aquarium enthusiasts or higher-end aquarium stores.
- Many pet store staffers are more knowledgeable about pets than you. However, their expert knowledge may be limited by their own pet interests. When consulting a pet store staff worker about the sex of a Betta, consider asking if they have ever personally bred Bettas, or if they have to look at the label before telling you if a Betta is male or female. When in doubt, assume the fish is male.
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Look for bubble nests. When males are ready to mate, they typically create bubbles on the surface of the water. They create hundreds or thousands of little tiny bubbles that group together. This is in preparation for tending to fertilized eggs. Male Bettas typically tend to be the primary caregivers for their offspring. Note, Female bettas have been known to build bubble nests as well. [4] X Research source
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Check your Betta's gills for a beard. Both male and female Betta fish have a membrane under their gills that is a different color than their body. Usually, the beard is brown or black in coloration. Males tend to have larger beards than females. You may only be able to see the female's beard with when her gills are closed if you look hard enough. Males tend to be more obvious even when the gills are open. [5] X Research source
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionCan the female and male be together all the time or should they be kept in different tanks?Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.It's best to keep the male and female in separate tanks, except for brief periods of time for mating.
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QuestionAre the eggs visible to the naked eye?Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.The eggs themselves are tiny and once enclosed in a bubble they are difficult to see. As a fertilized egg grows, two black dots become more obvious which are the Betta fish's eyes.
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Tips
- If you are determining the sex of an adult Betta, looking at their size can be the first helpful tips. Females are usually smaller in body size than males. This tip goes for adults, as juvenile male/female bettas are the same size and hard to sex.Thanks
- When in doubt, try finding a local Betta fish expert at your local fish store. Look for a store that specializes in selling only aquarium fish rather than a larger department store.Thanks
- Accurately sexing Bettas is a skill that develops with practice. Experienced breeders can sometimes spot male Bettas when they are as small as ¾" long!Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- I've kept bettas for years, and have found that housing females with males often works well. This likely depends on your individual fish's temperament. I've had success keeping females with docile males in larger tanks, along with other peaceful community fish like cherry shrimp and snails. However, be cautious and watch for signs of aggression.
- In the wild, bettas live together in rice paddies and ditches. But in a tank, they may fight without plenty of space. A single betta is best for small tanks. For a community tank, get 3+ bettas and heavily plant the tank to break up sight lines. The bettas will establish a pecking order and be less aggressive.
- Only female bettas have an egg spot on their belly near the ventral fins. This white dot is unique to females. However, juvenile fish may not show egg spots until maturity, so it's not a definitive way to sex young bettas.
- Stressed juvenile males at pet stores often resemble females, with short fins and dull color. Don't assume it's a female based on appearance alone. Consider their age, fins, body shape and behavior too.
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Warnings
- While female Bettas can be kept together under the right conditions, males should not be kept together. Males and females should not be kept together except during short periods for breeding.Thanks
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References
About This Article
Article Summary
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To determine the sex of a betta fish, you'll need to wait until your fish is at least 2 months old since that's when male and females start to look different. Once your betta fish is mature, look to see if it has long fins that are 2-3 times its body size, which is typical in males. If your betta fish has shorter fins, it's probably a female. Also, note the color of your betta fish. If it's bright and colorful, it's probably male, and if it has a dull or subdued coloring, it's most likely a female. To learn how to tell the difference between a male and female betta fish by looking at their body shape, scroll down!
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Reader Success Stories
- "The site is very informative when it comes to Betta Fish. My Partner first bought me a beautiful Blue color male betta last month and the male has this hole chill, relaxing and just hanging attitude. So for my birthday present he bought me today a gorgeous Betta Female and her attitude is very active and busy. We placed them in different containers to see how they would react, the male has not shown any aggression. " ..." more
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"The site is very informative when it comes to Betta Fish. My Partner first bought me a beautiful Blue color male betta last month and the male has this hole chill, relaxing and just hanging attitude. So for my birthday present he bought me today a gorgeous Betta Female and her attitude is very active and busy. We placed them in different containers to see how they would react, the male has not shown any aggression. "
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"How to tell if I have a boy or a girl fish, also telling me the information about how the fish breathes and acts. I just got my first fish yesterday and I didn't know anything about it until after reading the article. Thank you."
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"Showing where to look for the egg spot and the body length helped. I can now definitely say I have a male. Going to read more into how to breed, as I also have a female, she just has not matured enough yet. Extremely helpful."
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"Thanks to this site, I now know that our betta is a male - kinda funny, because my daughter already gave him a girls name. There are always bubbles at the top of the water and no egg spot, so definitely a male."
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"The appearance of the fish and how he or she acts helped me a lot. What I didn't know is that male betta fish make eggs when they're ready to breed. I guess I learned a lot on this website."
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