Male Betta Life Expectancy...

[StinkyFish]

Just curious....approx. how long does a healthy male betta live?

 

[revfred]

Life expectancy seems to vary. Some of the literature say 2 years. However, I have male bettas that are 5 years old. I do notice that those that are interbred for finnage and color seem to have shorter lifespans. Those that have more "wild" traits live longer.

 

[twoluvcats]

ya, like refred said...most 'petstore' bettas live 1-2 years at home with you...but realize that they are 6months to 1 year already when you get them (males only, females are younger)

I've known bettas in vases to live 4 or so years...BUT they seem to go into a sort of suspended animation...they don't move, or anything so they just forget to die or something. My MIL had one like that...lilly vase set up, no heater...he lived forever, but he looked SOOOOOOO miserable.

 

[LydiaGreen]

Owner of an LFS told me that I could expect my male bettas to live for up to 10 years. They are each in a 10 gallon tank and I do weekly water changes.

 

[cutter]

Owner of an LFS told me that I could expect my male bettas to live for up to 10 years. They are each in a 10 gallon tank and I do weekly water changes.

Sorry to dissapoint you LydiaGreen but unfortunately bettas (at least the bettas that the majority of us can find at our LFS's) don't have a life expectancy of more than 18 months. No betta can live 10 years regardless of tank size or regularity of water changes...

 

[LydiaGreen]

Sorry to dissapoint you LydiaGreen but unfortunately bettas (at least the bettas that the majority of us can find at our LFS's) don't have a life expectancy of more than 18 months. No betta can live 10 years regardless of tank size or regularity of water changes...

Then how is it that RevFred has male bettas that are 5 years old?

 

[adagiolove05]

my best friend had a betta that lived with her for 4.5 years, so im assuming he was at least 5 when he died. if they're well taken care of, i say they can live up to about 5 years. those are the oldest i've heard of.

 

[Iggy]

Oldest betta I have seen in person was 5 years from they day they bought it at the LFS, so 6 years is possible, but not common. Lost of store brands are interbred, so defects are common, and poor handling while they are growing up (crowded - lots of ammonia) can cut years off a betta's life. Expect 2 years for most, less for some, more for others.

 

[StinkyFish]

Thanks for all the replies. Now for a total newb question....how do you tell if the betta has been interbred? Any particular traits/colors?

 

[revfred]

"Wild" bettas lack the exotic finnage of the interbreds. In fact they are quite drab, the females moreso than the males. As my local SE Asian betta breeder told me, "round tails" embody more of the "wild" traits than others.