HomeFreshwater aquarium fishGouramis & bettasSlim betta Slim betta (Betta bellica) Scientific name: Betta bellica Sauvage, 1884 The Slim betta (Betta bellica) is a freshwater fish of the family Osphronemidae that grows to about 10 cm (3.9 in). It is easy to keep and semi-aggressive, suits community aquariums and needs a tank of at least 75 L (20 US gal), water at 24–30°C (75–86°F) and a pH of 6.5–7.5. Native range: Asia, Streams and still waters in Indonesia and Malaysia. Slim betta care at a glanceCare levelEasyTemperamentSemi-aggressiveCommunity tankGoodAdult size10 cm (3.9 in)Minimum tank75 L (20 US gal)Temperature24–30°C (75–86°F)pH6.5–7.5Hardness5–15 dGH (89–268 ppm)DietOmnivore. Accepts flakes, frozen foods, live foods and vegetables. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 0 - 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-12; Anal spines: 1 - 2; Anal soft rays: 29 - 31; Vertebrae: 32 - 33. Anal fin ray mode 31; dorsal fin ray mode 12; lateral line scale mode 33; postdorsal scale mode 8; pelvic fin length 23.6-38.8% SL; reaching end of 8th anal ray; pelvic fin flange ending halfway pelvic filament; non-overlap of adpressed pelvic fin branched rays with anal fin origin; and less sloping lateral head profile.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameBetta bellicaFamilyOsphronemidae (Gouramies)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length10.0EnvironmentFreshwater;; pH range: 6.5 - 7.5; dH range: ? - 15 benthopelagicClimateTropicalDistributionAsia: Indonesia and Malaysia.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesAquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More gouramis & bettasCrescent bettaBetta imbellisSpotted bettaBetta pictaPygmy gouramiTrichopsis pumilaChocolate gouramiSphaerichthys osphromenoidesBadisBadis badisOrnate ctenopomaMicroctenopoma ansorgiiSee all gouramis & bettas Can it live with...?Slim betta and BadisSlim betta and Black ghostSlim betta and Black sharkminnowSlim betta and Blackbarred limiaSlim betta and Bleeding-heart tetraSlim betta and Bloodfin tetraSlim betta and Bluespotted corydorasSlim betta and Brilliant rasboraSlim betta and Butterfly splitfinSlim betta and Chinese suckerSlim betta and Chocolate gouramiSlim betta and Clown barbSlim betta and Clown loachSlim betta and Clown rasboraSlim betta and Crescent bettaSlim betta and Croaking gouramiSlim betta and Dwarf botiaSlim betta and Dwarf rainbowfishSlim betta and Eel LoachSlim betta and Forktail rainbowfishSlim betta and Gangetic leaffishSlim betta and Garnet tetraSlim betta and Glass catfishSlim betta and Glowlight tetraSlim betta and Goldeneye cichlidSlim betta and Head-and-taillight tetraSlim betta and Horseface loachSlim betta and Indian glassy fishSlim betta and Lake Kutubu rainbowfishSlim betta and Leopard corydoras 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