−15%
Easy
Libby Betta, Split-Tailed Betta BLUE - XL (Betta spl. male veiltail blue)
24–30°C · pH 6–7.5 · 20L
£9.34£10.99
Wild-type emerald betta with green, jewel-like iridescence for a calm planted tank. Moderate care, semi-aggressive. 24–28°C, pH 6.0–7.5.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Betta smaragdina
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Wild-type emerald betta with green, jewel-like iridescence for a calm planted tank. Moderate care, semi-aggressive. 24–28°C, pH 6.0–7.5.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
24–30°C · pH 6–7.5 · 20L
24–30°C · pH 6–7.5 · 20L
24–30°C · pH 6–7.5 · 20L
24–30°C · pH 6–7.5 · 20L
The betta fish is one of the most popular and most misunderstood freshwater species. This guide covers everything from proper tank size to the truth about tank mates.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Native to the still and slow-moving waters of Southeast Asia, the Smaragd Fighter — known to most UK keepers as the Emerald Betta (Betta smaragdina) — takes its name from the green, jewel-like iridescence that runs across its body and fins. This is a wild-type fighter rather than a fancy long-finned strain, so it carries a natural, understated look that suits aquascaped and biotope-style tanks.
As a labyrinth fish it can gulp atmospheric air at the surface, and it spends most of its time in the upper layers of the aquarium. It stays compact at roughly 4.5 cm, but its semi-aggressive streak means stocking needs thought rather than guesswork. A carnivore by nature, it does best on small meaty foods, and with steady care it lives in the region of three years.
A planted aquarium of at least 40 litres, with a calm surface, floating cover and gentle flow, lets this betta settle, hold a small territory and show its bubble-nesting behaviour. Soft to moderately hard water in the listed range keeps it comfortable, and it accepts a wide hardness window of 1 to 12 dGH, which makes it adaptable for many UK tap-water profiles.
Keepers often ask whether the Emerald Betta can join a community: it can, but only a peaceful one, and many people choose to keep it as a species feature instead. Patience pays off, since a settled fish in clean, stable water will reward you with its full colour and its trademark surface-bubbling behaviour over its three-year span.
Only ever keep one male per tank — two male Betta smaragdina will fight. It works best as a species-only fish or alongside carefully chosen, non-nippy companions such as snails, or shrimp where they won't be seen as prey. Steer clear of aggressive or fin-nipping fish, large predators, very boisterous tankmates and anything that needs hard, alkaline water. Each emerald betta travels with a licensed live-animal courier and is covered by our live arrival guarantee.
