Alien betta
Betta splendens hybrid
Parameter dashboard
24-30 °C
6-7.5
6.5 cm
Care guide
Alien betta is an aquarium trade name for metallic ornamental bettas. The result is a fish with heavy metallic iridescence, often a turquoise or copper body laced with a fine net of dark scale edges that gives a reptilian, alien look. These labyrinth fish trace back to the warm, still waters of Southeast Asia and, like all bettas, gulp air at the surface to supplement their gills.
Male alien bettas are territorial and should be housed one to a tank, and they are quick, alert, and prone to jumping, so a tight lid matters. They are carnivores that relish live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, daphnia, and brine shrimp alongside a quality betta pellet. Community keeping depends on the individual and needs a larger aquarium with plenty of cover, but avoid fin-nippers and other gouramis, and treat dwarf shrimp as potential snacks rather than reliable tankmates.
Keep alien bettas in a heated, gently filtered tank of at least 20 litres at 24 to 30 degrees Celsius, in soft to moderately hard water that is slightly acidic to neutral. They breed like other bettas, with the male building a surface bubble nest, fertilising the eggs in an embrace, and guarding the fry alone. A male and female should not be kept as a routine display pair; supervised breeding requires a way to separate them.
Sources
- seriouslyfish.com — https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/betta-splendens/
- aqueon.com — https://www.aqueon.com/resources/care-guides/betta
- aquariumcoop.com — https://www.aquariumcoop.com/blogs/aquarium/betta-fish-care-guide
Further reading on identification and aquarium care.
Tankmate compatibility (sample)
Pairwise screening against other species in the database (prioritizing the same family when data is available).
Review first (11)
Caution or avoid from automated rules — confirm before mixing.
| Species | Assessment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate gourami Sphaerichthys osphromenoides Caution | Caution | close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Crescent betta Betta imbellis Caution | Caution | close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Dwarf gourami Trichogaster lalius Caution | Caution | close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Honey gourami Trichogaster chuna Caution | Caution | close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Pearl gourami Trichopodus leerii Caution | Caution | close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Pygmy gourami Trichopsis pumila Caution | Caution | close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Snakehead Betta Betta channoides Caution | Caution | close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Three spot gourami Trichogaster trichopterus Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| White Seam Betta Betta albimarginata Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Galaxy betta Betta splendens Avoid | Avoid | one of these species is highly aggressive and is usually best kept on its own · a highly aggressive fish takes long-finned tankmates for rivals and attacks them · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Siamese fighting fish Betta splendens Avoid | Avoid | one of these species is highly aggressive and is usually best kept on its own · a highly aggressive fish takes long-finned tankmates for rivals and attacks them · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
Same rule engine as Compare. Not a substitute for observation, tank size, or acclimation.
Related species
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