Betta Fish Prices 2024: Purchase Cost, Supplies, Food, and More!

Bettas or Siamese fighter fish have been kept as pets for over 100 years. They are colorful yet aggressive fish that can be found in a range of different colors, with a variety of markings and tail types. Due to their vivid shades, bettas are often described as the jewels of the aquarium world.

If you are interested in buying a beautiful betta fish, the cost is an important consideration. One mistake new fish owners make is assuming bettas will be cheap pets that will do fine living in a bowl without a filter or heater. However, this isn’t the case, and while the fish itself is usually inexpensive, you will need to pay for adequate housing and supplies.

How Much Does a Betta Fish Cost?

The betta fish itself generally doesn’t cost much. You can expect to pay $5 to $30 dollars for one betta fish. Certain varieties that are considered rarer can cost up to $55, usually from a breeder. The cost of the betta is influenced by the variety, sex, age, and overall health of the betta. Male bettas are usually more expensive than their female counterparts. This is simply because they are available in more colors, markings, and fin types.

Since bettas are solitary fish that should be housed alone, you will only need to pay for one betta fish, unless you have the finances to house each betta fish individually. They will need their own appropriate aquarium setup.

Below is a price comparison table of the expected cost for the most common varieties of betta fish:

The rarer varieties of bettas, like the dragon scale, mustard gas, dumbo ear, or opal bettas, can cost between $15 to $55.

Cost of Betta Fish Supplies

While the betta fish itself doesn’t cost much, the supplies can be on the pricier side. However, they are relatively inexpensive fish to care for in comparison to other pets like dogs or even goldfish. You can expect to pay between $100 to $400 when you first get a betta fish. This will cover the cost of the supplies and food your betta fish needs.

Tank

Before purchasing a betta, you will need to set up a suitably sized home. The recommended minimum tank size for a betta is a five-gallon tank, according to veterinarian Dr. Krista Keller. However, you can keep bettas in larger tanks if they are not heavy-tailed varieties or are female.

A five-to-20-gallon tank typically costs between $30 to $100. You shouldn’t house your betta fish in a bowl, vase, or small tank even if you find one marketed towards bettas. These types of aquaria are usually too small for bettas, even the heavier finned varieties. Some tanks are sold with an aquarium hood and light, which may be cheaper than purchasing them separately.

Equipment (Filter, Light, Heater)

Next, you will need to purchase a filter, light, and heater for your betta’s tank. Bettas don’t need a strong filtration system. They generally don’t like having a current in their tank, nor do they have a heavy bioload. The filter that you use should be able to filter the size of your betta’s tank, but also not take up too much swim space.

Sponge filters remain one of the most popular filters for betta fish. They not only filter the water but produce bubbles that aerate it too. Sponge filters run on an aquarium pump and are hooked up with airline tubing, which is relatively inexpensive.

The aquarium light that you choose shouldn’t be too bright for your betta, and it should be able to fit securely on the tank. Aquarium lights are beneficial because they help regulate your bettas day and night cycle, and aid in live plant growth. However, the lights should only run for about eight to 10 hours a day.

Lastly, as tropical fish, bettas do need a heater. If you have your betta in a small five-to-20-gallon aquarium, you don’t need a heater with a high wattage. A 25-to-50-watt heater is usually ideal for bettas and shouldn’t cost you more than $25. Of course, a heater will need to be plugged in both day and night, and it may affect the cost of your electricity bill. However, the heaters don’t run constantly, so they shouldn’t make a significant difference.

Plants, Decor, and Substrate

Once you have all the initial costs sorted, you can decorate your bettas new home. You have the option of adding a substrate to the bottom of the tank like aquarium sand, gravel, or pebbles. Be sure to choose a substrate that isn’t brightly colored with dyes since they may leach into the water over time and potentially harm your betta. Betta fish also benefit from live plants in their tank, along with decorations like aquarium-safe rocks, betta hammocks, and fake silk plants.

Food and Supplements

Bettas should be fed betta-specific fish food, like pellets. Their food is relatively inexpensive and generally doesn’t cost more than $25. It’s a good idea to purchase a betta fish food that is made from quality ingredients, while also being budget friendly. Your betta’s food will be a monthly ongoing cost.

Aside from their main food, you can supplement your betta’s diet with live, freeze-dried, or frozen foods. This includes foods like bloodworms and baby brine shrimp, which bettas love. Since betta fish are carnivores, they do require a diet high in animal-based proteins.

Water Treatments

Your fish’s aquarium water will need to be treated with a water conditioner. This is essential if you are using tap water since it contains chlorine, chloramines, and heavy metals that are harmful to fish. A quality water treatment costs around $6 to $15 and should be used every time you refill your betta’s tank.

To do water changes in your betta fish’s tank, a small siphon (also known as a gravel vacuum) is recommended. You can do partial water changes on the tank with a siphon and refill the tank using a bucket. Siphons can either be expensive or inexpensive, depending on their size and quality.

Medication

Unless your betta fish is sick, you won’t need to buy medication. However, there are several diseases that can affect your betta fish which require treatment with medication. These medications can range in price and are found at aquatic pet stores.

In Conclusion – How Much Does a Betta Fish Cost Annually?

In comparison to many other pets, bettas are relatively inexpensive to care for. However, most of the initial costs will be higher than expected, such as the cost of the tank, heater, and filter. The ongoing costs like food, water treatments, and medication will vary. Most betta fish owner spend around $100 to $250 on their betta fish annually.

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