Halfmoon Betta Fish – Complete Care & Guide

Halfmoon Betta is a betta having a tail spread 180 degrees. They come in short and long-tailed forms with different colours. This fish originated from the tropical regions of South Asia. Halfmoon Bettas are one of the prettiest freshwater fish people love to keep as a pet. Betta fish is also called Siamese fighting fish due to its fighting attribute if kept with other fighting fish.

Betta Splendens is the scientific name of Halfmoon bettas. It has a labyrinth organ that helps it breathe on the water’s surface, while it is difficult for some fish to survive. Despite being aggressive, bettas are one of the great pets to keep. They can become excellent pets if you give them proper care and attention. It requires a specific temperature and space to live healthily and happily. 

Bettas are easy to keep because they can survive in most water conditions. But you must also know many things before having them as a pet. Halfmoon Bettas require specific places and water temperatures to live peacefully. When you buy a betta, try to research its nature to create a healthy environment. If the domain is not healthy, your Halfmoon betta may die soon. 

Caring Guide of your Halfmoon Betta fish

The unique variant of Halfmoon bettas is easy to keep if you know how to keep your fish happy and peaceful. If you are trying to keep Bettas for the first time, you need to know about their nature and the required atmosphere to keep them thriving. This fish is easy to maintain, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t need any care. This care guide will help you familiarize yourself with the requirements of your fish. You will know the suitable tank size, filtration, and best food for your fish. You will also know what tank mates are best for your Halfmoon betta to avoid fighting. Here is the essential aspects you need to know before keeping a Betta; 

Tank size:

As betta is labyrinth fish, it can breathe from the water’s surface. Some people think bettas can live happily in a small fish bowl, but it is invalid. Though they can survive in a small space for some time, they will not stay healthy and happy because of less space. A minimum of a 2-gallon tank is required for Halfmoon bettas as they need room to thrive and play.

You should maintain the temperature of the tank around 75 to 80 degrees. Cold water will make bettas sick and result in death because it will reduce their immunity, and they will be prone to diseases. Hot water increases the metabolism of bettas, and they will age quickly. You can use a heater to maintain the temperature if you want to keep them healthy. It would help if you kept the pH between 6.55 and 8.

You can also check the best betta fish tanks.

Keep the tank clean:

Water filtration is highly recommended for Halfmoon betta tanks as they like to live in freshwater. You can use a good quality filter to keep the water clean and healthy. The filter will reduce destructive bacteria while keeping beneficial bacteria. They help keep your fish healthy and keep the tank well-maintained. The water filter is reasonable when you buy it with the entire setup.

Halfmoon bettas are not swimming experts; if the current is too strong, it will stress the fish. If you keep them in a water filter for a long time, it may lead to severe stress and ripped fins that can also lead to death. You must select a filter that is specifically recommended for bettas. 

Tank habitats:

Halfmoon bettas fight fish, so they cannot live with all types of fish. Fish having long fins and bright colours are attacked mainly by bettas as they see them as a threat. However, bettas can live happily with non-aggressive tank mates having lighter colours. Male bettas are more aggressive and can be aggressive toward other male bettas if kept in the same tank. They will fight each other until one is in acute stress or dead.

Male Halfmoon bettas will show aggression towards female bettas as well. Do not keep male bettas with female bettas unless they are breeding. If you want to keep them together, keep them in a larger tank of 10 gallons to provide plenty of space. You can use the rule of one gallon per every inch of one fish. To keep a group of 5 Halfmoon bettas of 2 inches, you must use a ten-gallon tank.

Bettas can live with other fish types if they don’t have pointed fins and brighter colours. If you want to keep bettas with other fish, it is recommended to use an 8 to 10-gallon tank to avoid the territorial instincts of betta fish. It will provide them with enough space to play and live peacefully. Larger tanks with decorative plants will give them plenty of room to hide when stressed.

Some suitable fish for the Halfmoon betta tank include Ember Tetras, Female Gypsies, Harlequin rasboras, Pygmy, and Female Cardinalfish.

What and how to feed?

You should know about the dietary requirements of Bettas if you want to keep them healthy and happy. You should know the perfect diet for them and how to feed them.

What to feed your bettas?

Halfmoon bettas are natural carnivores and can eat insects and insect larvae to live. If you want to provide a healthy diet to your bettas, it will be good to understand your pet’s dietary requirements. Some think bettas can live by eating the plant roots in a smaller tank. But bettas need a diet full of protein. 

You can find protein-rich pellets in pet stores for your bettas. Choose a formula specifically made for Halfmoon bettas. Bettas pallets contain the exact level of nutrients required for bettas. These pallets will help you avoid overfeeding your fish.

Betta fish can also eat protein-rich frozen foods such as bloodworms and brine shrimps. However, it would help if you fed them in moderation. 

You can also check the best betta fish food.

How to feed your bettas:

You should feed your betta two or four food pallets once or twice daily. Pallets are very filling for bettas as they expand when placed in water. You can give fresh food or freeze-dried food once or twice a week.

It is recommended to clean the excess food once your betta is done eating. The food particles falling to the bottom will decrease the water quality and make the environment unhealthy.

Difference between Halfmoon male & female betta fish

Halfmoon male betta fish:

You should know how to differentiate male and female betta for safety and breeding purposes. It is also essential to avoid conflicts in the tank. You can quickly identify a Halfmoon Male Betta from its female counterpart. Halfmoon male bettas are sexually dimorphic and have brighter colours with flowing tails. 

Male Halfmoon bettas are aggressive and can attack other fish having brighter colours or long fins. Keep male bettas in a different tank, and they will fight each other until one dies. Even if you keep them in a larger tank, they will eventually fight each other.

Though Halfmoon bettas are aggressive and will attack other fish, it doesn’t mean they cannot live with other fish. They can be kept with less aggressive fish having short fins and lighter colours. 

Halfmoon Female Betta Fish:

Female bettas have lighter colours with less impressive fins. Female Halfmoon betta fish are less likely to fight each other. They can live with other fish species peacefully because they are more tolerant. You can keep them with other colourful fish to avoid potential fighting in the betta tank.

Diseases and infections:

Halfmoon bettas are prone to many diseases caused by fungal, bacterial, and parasitic infections. These infections are caused mainly by the poor water quality in the tank. Keeping the water quality perfect is always recommended to avoid any diseases. Common symptoms that can show your Halfmoon betta is sick include lethargy, reduced appetite, clamped fins, and duller colours.

Common diseases found in Halfmoon bettas include fin rot, ich, and velvet. You can know about these diseases to identify what caused them and how you can save your bettas from getting sick. 

Fin rot:

Fin rot is also named tail rot. It is the most common disease found in Halfmoon bettas. Fin rot is caused by bacterial infection, and you can see it by tearing the betta’s fins. At the start, it will affect the edges of the fins with small tears. However, if you don’t treat the disease, it will result in a complete loss of fins.

Poor water conditions and increased toxic ammonia compounds are the main reason for the diseases. Temperature below 78 degrees can also lead to fin rot. This disease is highly transmittable and can affect other fish in the aquarium. This disease will attack fish having a weak immune system. Stress is also the main reason for weaker immunity in bettas. However, a healthy Halfmoon betta will deflect the disease if the water conditions are accurate. 

If you see minor symptoms of fin rot, changing the tank water can be helpful. Larger tanks are easy to manage, so you can also shift the fish into a larger tank. If the disease is severe, you will need a licensed professional for assessment and treatment.

Velvet:

As the name indicates, this disease is caused by a parasite that looks like velvet. These parasites are adult Oodinium that attach themselves to Halfmoon betta. These parasites hold a hard shell around them and feed off the skin cells of betta. When they free themselves from bettas, they gather at the bottom of the tank and reattach themselves to other bettas.

Golden-coloured dust appearing on the betta’s body and fins can be the main symptom of this disease. Other symptoms include clamped fins, loss of appetite, and scratching against aquarium walls.

You can treat the bettas with this disease by turning off the lights and increasing the water temperature to 30 degrees. Parasites cannot live in these water conditions. This disease is also contagious, and you must treat all the fish in the tank. Changing the tank water to clean water is better for avoiding the disease further.

Ick:

Ick, also called white spot disease, is common among bettas. It is also caused by a parasite attacking the fish’s skin. It makes the fish scratch itself on the tank’s surface, which leads to white spots on the betta’s body. These spots are sores. Ich can cause lethargy, stress, appetite loss, and even death.

This disease is also caused by poor water conditions and will quickly attack fish having weak immunity. As ick is a transmittable disease, moving the infected into a separate tank is recommended to keep other fish safe. If the problem is severe, there are some effective medicines available to cure the disease.

Conclusion:

Halfmoon betta is a most liked freshwater fish having brighter colours and half-moon-shaped fins. These fish are easy to keep, but you must keep the water conditions clean. It can strive above 78 degrees, and low temperatures make them sicker. 

Male Halfmoon fish are mostly aggressive, and you must keep them separate from some lighter-coloured fish. However, female Halfmoon betta fish are not aggressive and can live with almost all other fish species.

Halfmoon betta fish can catch diseases if they have a weak immune system. Velvet, ick, and fin rot are some most common diseases that are caused by poor water conditions. It is always recommended to keep the water clean, and you must keep an eye on the fish to know if some disease is infecting them.

Halfmoon betta fish are lovely to keep as a pet and can make your aquarium look impressive.