HomeFreshwater aquarium fishGouramis & bettasCrescent betta Crescent betta (Betta imbellis) Scientific name: Betta imbellis Ladiges, 1975 The Crescent betta (Betta imbellis) is a freshwater fish of the family Osphronemidae that grows to about 6 cm (2.4 in). It is easy to keep and peaceful, suits community aquariums and needs a tank of at least 40 L (11 US gal), water at 24–30°C (75–86°F) and a pH of 6.0–7.0. Native range: Asia, Streams and still waters in southeast Asia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. Crescent betta care at a glanceCare levelEasyTemperamentPeacefulCommunity tankGoodAdult size6 cm (2.4 in)Minimum tank40 L (11 US gal)Temperature24–30°C (75–86°F)pH6.0–7.0Hardness5–19 dGH (89–339 ppm)DietOmnivore. Accepts flakes, frozen foods, live foods and vegetables. BiologyDiagnosed by having the following combination of characters: A bright red crescent on distal edge of caudal fin; absence of caudal transverse bars; dorsal transverse bars on distal two-thirds of dorsal fin; iridescent blue opercle scales; body dark brown to black; lateral scales 30-32; body depth 24.2-30.1% SL; dorsal-fin origin above lateral scales 15-17 (mode 16); length of dorsal-fin fin base 12.9-18.9% SL; and height of pectoral-fin origin 14.8-18.9% SL.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameBetta imbellisFamilyOsphronemidae (Gouramies)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length6.0EnvironmentFreshwater;; pH range: 6.0 - 7.0; dH range: 5 - 19 benthopelagicClimateTropicalDistributionAsia: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessUsesAquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More gouramis & bettasSlim bettaBetta bellicaSpotted bettaBetta pictaPygmy gouramiTrichopsis pumilaChocolate gouramiSphaerichthys osphromenoidesBadisBadis badisOrnate ctenopomaMicroctenopoma ansorgiiSee all gouramis & bettas Can it live with...?Crescent betta and BadisCrescent betta and Black ghostCrescent betta and Black sharkminnowCrescent betta and Blackbarred limiaCrescent betta and Bleeding-heart tetraCrescent betta and Bloodfin tetraCrescent betta and Bluespotted corydorasCrescent betta and Brilliant rasboraCrescent betta and Butterfly splitfinCrescent betta and Chinese suckerCrescent betta and Chocolate gouramiCrescent betta and Clown barbCrescent betta and Clown loachCrescent betta and Clown rasboraCrescent betta and Croaking gouramiCrescent betta and Dwarf botiaCrescent betta and Dwarf rainbowfishCrescent betta and Eel LoachCrescent betta and Forktail rainbowfishCrescent betta and Gangetic leaffishCrescent betta and Garnet tetraCrescent betta and Glass catfishCrescent betta and Glowlight tetraCrescent betta and Goldeneye cichlidCrescent betta and Head-and-taillight tetraCrescent betta and Horseface loachCrescent betta and Indian glassy fishCrescent betta and Lake Kutubu rainbowfishCrescent betta and Leopard corydorasCrescent betta and Moonlight gourami SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Aquarium care parameters compiled, checked and converted to metric and imperial units by Guppies.za.net.Last updated 28 September 2026