Betta fish, also known as betta fish or Siamese fighting fish, are known for their striking colors and fluttering fins. When you buy it from a pet store, you most likely don't know how old it is. It is not easy to determine the age of a betta fish, but with observation and reasoning, you may be able to make the closest estimate.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Determining Age Through Physical Traits
Step 1. Check the size
A normal adult betta fish is usually about 8 cm in size. Attach a tape measure or ruler to the fish tank to measure it. If the size is less than average, the fish are most likely juveniles.
It can be difficult to measure fish precisely. However, in most cases, you can simply estimate it by attaching the meter to the aquarium
Step 2. Check the fins
The fins of an adult betta fish beautifully flutter. If the fins of your betta fish are like this, it means the fish is an adult. If the fins are still small, the fish is still a juvenile or even a baby.
- Betta fish that have grown up usually have cuts and tears. So, there may be a small cut in the fin or a tear at the tip.
- Make sure you know the gender. Unlike the male fish, the female fish do not have fluttering fins.
- Do not make the mistake of distinguishing between ordinary tears and wounds due to disease.
- Betta's fins or crowntails look naturally torn.
Step 3. Look at the color of your betta fish
Young betta fish generally have a striking color, while older betta fish are slightly faded. Older betta fish have a slightly faded, paler color to their scales.
Betta fish for pets can have a variety of colors. While wild betta fish tend to be gray or dull and only show flashes of color when fighting
Method 2 of 2: Identifying Signs of Aging
Step 1. Notice the changes in her body
You will notice that your betta is getting paler and paler by the day and that despite being fed daily, the fish are getting thinner. This is a sign of aging betta fish.
Betta fish's backs also get hunched over with age. The backs of older betta fish are usually stooped, while the younger ones have a straight back. Don't mistake the slouching of the back as a problem with the fins, because in older betta fish, the back is curved
Step 2. Notice the change in agility
The older you get, the weaker the fins of the betta fish will be. After a few years, the betta will lose the desire to fly fins.
- Healthy betta fish will swim swiftly, while old betta fish will hide behind plants or other decorations, also swim slowly.
- Pay attention to whether the fish catches its food quickly when you feed it. Old betta fish will swim slowly towards the food and require several attempts to catch it properly.
Step 3. Watch for cataracts in the eye of the fish
Older betta fish tend to develop "cataracts" in the form of opaque or cloudy spots inside the eyes. No matter how clean and large the tank is, this is normal and will happen to older betta fish.
A healthy adult betta has black, non-bulging eyes
Tips
- Betta fish can live 2 to 5 years if cared for properly.
- Record the date of purchase of fish. This step will help you keep track of how old the fish are.
- Don't keep two betta fish in the same tank unless you're deliberately battling them.
