Discover the Beauty of Nemo Betta Fish!

The Nemo Betta Fish has become popular recently due to its beauty and hardiness, making it an excellent choice for aquarists of all levels. These showy creatures will draw attention with their deep reds, oranges, and yellows that can range from subtle to extremely bright. In this post, we will discuss what makes the Nemo Betta Fish so unique, including classification, and information on how to care for them properly. We'll also provide tips on keeping your fish healthy and happy and discuss some of the most common problems encountered when caring for these amazing creatures. So read on to learn more about this incredible species!

1. What is Nemo Betta Fish?

Nemo betta fish is a trade name that seems to originate from Malaysia (or Thailand). This strain was developed from the Armageddon line, where the marble effect spread throughout the whole body, likely to the combination with the red gene. The Armageddon gene makes the marble pattern sharp, particularly in the fins. It is this sharpness that leads to an association with stripes on Nemo fish. And since it comes from Armageddon, Nemo's main colors are typically red-orange-yellow like Candy. Sometimes people refer to this combination as "Candy-Nemo".

2. Identification

For those who are new to the game, the Nemo betta will look a lot like a Koi or Candy betta, as they both have bright colors. However, for experienced people, distinguishing these fish species is not difficult.

For example, the Koi line has one main color, such as red Koi, black Koi, and yellow Koi. The color patches are usually separated independently of one another.

The Candy line basically has the same bright-colored patches as the Nemo fish. However, they seem to be covered with a layer (cellophane) of chalk dust on their surface, making the colors appear lighter and less sharp than those of the Nemo fish.

Meanwhile,o is a red mutation that goes with non-red colors; for example, Orange/Red, Orange/Yellow, three colors on a Red/Yellow/Orange fish, or non-red/non-red could be Orange/Yellow. The color patches are very sharp and coherent with each other.

Previously, red and non-red colors could hardly appear together, and if so, only with a few rare exceptions. However, the Marble gene changed that. There appears to be nothing "impossible" in the betta world.

In essence, these fish lines are all branches of the Koi betta fish line, and more deeply, they all carry the marbled gene.

3. Classification

Nemo betta fish are divided into two basic types: "Nemo Classic" and "Nemo Galaxy". Besides, they also have many different trade names and variations. Below are classifications and common names. 

Note: The classification below is divided by the color of the fish; however, Nemo betta fish still exist in many different tail forms and phenotypes, such as Halfmoon, Plakat, Crowntail, or even Giant.

3.1. Nemo Classic

Nemo Classics is the most popular line of fish; they only have the basic colors red, orange, and yellow, or two of the three colors mentioned above. Note also that there are no iridescent scales on their bodies. They are also known by a number of different trade names, such as "Nemo Marble Betta" or "Nemo Candy Multicolor".

A Classic Nemo Giant Betta Fish

3.2. Nemo Galaxy Betta

When metallic scales appear on the body, they are called the "Nemo Galaxy". A fish is considered beautiful if its color arrays are harmonious and balanced; its colors should be bright, and clear, and, especially, the iridescent spots should be spread evenly across the fish's body.

A Nemo Galaxy Betta Fish

3.3. Fire Nemo Betta

Nemo fire is the trade name used to call a Nemo betta fish whose red color is bright red - like a flame. Here are some pictures for you to identify.

A Fire Nemo Betta Fish

3.4. Copper Nemo Betta

Once the fish's body appears copper in color, it will be called Copper Nemo.

A Copper Nemo Betta Fish

3.5. Tiger Nemo Betta

Some breeders have used the name "Tiger Nemo" to refer to fish that appear black on the body. At this time, the body of the fish will only have red, black, and yellow colors, with less red than black and yellow.

A Tiger Nemo Betta Fish

3.6. Yellow Nemo Betta

Once the yellow color on the body (be it fins or tail) appears in a large proportion, they will be called Yellow Nemo.

A Yellow Nemo Betta Fish

3.7  Avatar Nemo Betta

If the iridescent scales of a Nemo betta overwhelm other colors, it will be called an Avatar Nemo.

An Avatar Nemo Betta Fish

3.8. Black Nemo Betta

In case black overwhelms the other colors (red, orange, and yellow), then they will get Black Nemo.

A Black Nemo Betta Fish

4. Overview of Nemo Betta Fish

4.1. Size

Nemo bettas come in many sizes depending on their type. If they belong to the Plakat line, they will only be from 2.5 to 4 cm in size. If they belong to other normal fish lines such as Halfmoon, Crowntail, etc., they will be 4 to 6 cm in size. If they belong to the Giant betta line, they will be larger in size, ranging from 7 to 10 cm.

4.2. Lifespan

In general, the lifespan of bettas does not depend on their phenotype. Therefore, this betta line has the same lifespan as other betta lines. They can live for two to three years in basic captivity and up to five years if given an ideal habitat.

4.3. The behavior

The Nemo betta fish is known for its aggressive nature, making it important to ensure that they are kept in their own aquarium or bottled environment. Unlike other species of bettas, they don't need a large tank and can easily be accommodated in even small bottles as their fins and tail give them the flexibility to do so. These types of fish should not be housed with other fish due to their territorial behavior and potential for aggression toward other tank inhabitants.

4.4. Prices

When buying Nemo bettas, let remember to consider the price. Depending on the size, quality, and type of fish you are looking for, the price can vary significantly. In general, a high-quality betta can cost anywhere from $15-$30 USD. Prices may also vary depending on where you buy them from as pet stores typically charge more than online retailers or specialty shops. 

You can also buy fish from online stores or breeders on Facebook. However, before purchasing, be sure to ask for actual pictures of the fish to ascertain the exact color and size.

A female Nemo Giant betta measuring 6 cm

5. Raising Nemo Betta Fish

To raise a Nemo betta, you need to know the following:

5.1. Dimensions of the aquarium

A reasonable tank for raising Nemo bettas is 12 cm x 17 cm x 20 cm. You don't need a big tank because fish don't like to live in groups. With this tank, the fish has enough space to grow healthily.

5.2. Water Environment

In the tank, you need to keep the water stable so that the pH is between 7 and 7.5. The temperature of the tank should be about 24 to 30 degrees Celsius. You should let the water occupy two-thirds of the aquarium and change the water in the tank regularly—about once a week.

5.3. Filter system

You should install an additional filter system in the aquarium to clean the tank and save you from having to change the water multiple times. Furthermore, fish also produce a lot of waste, so having an additional filter will create a cleaner water environment and help the fish grow healthier.

5.4. Food

Betta Nemo fish don't have any particularly special requirements for food. You just need to feed them with bloodworms, pellets, worms, larvae, worms, or dry granules. Additionally, you can sometimes supplement the fish with minced meat and shrimp. You should only feed your fish a maximum of two times a day; each time the amount of food should be no more than the size of a pea; if it is more, it will easily pollute the water.

5.5. Some notes when raising Betta Nemo fish at home

• Very aggressive fish: Although not purebred Siamese, this fish still has the aggressive nature of Betta fish. Therefore, you should keep it in a separate tank, not mixed with other fish to avoid fights.
• Decorations for the tank: You can decorate with miniatures or install a water filtration system in the tank to help the fish breathe and keep the water clean.
• Do not feed Nemo too much: If you feed him too much, he may become too full which leads to illness and death. You should only feed him enough to avoid a lot of waste in the tank.

A Halfmoon Plakat Nemo betta fish.

6. Diseases

The most common diseases in Nemo bettas are fin rot, mouth fungus, and Ich. Fin rot is caused by either poor water quality or bacterial infection, and manifests as frayed fins or a white stringy substance coming from the fish's skin. Mouth fungus is a fungal infection that begins at the mouth and spreads to other parts of the body. It can cause lesions on the head, gills, and eyes of the fish. Ich is a parasitic disease that results in small white spots forming on the surfaces of the fish's body. 

• In order to prevent these diseases it is important to keep your tank clean, with regular water changes and filter maintenance.
• Additionally, be sure to add aquarium salt or conditioner when water changes occur.
• If a fish is showing signs of infection, it should be moved to a hospital tank and treated with medication as soon as possible.
• Remember to quarantine any new fish before adding them to the main tank in order to reduce the risk of introducing disease.

Finally, always buy healthy fish from reputable sources, and avoid overcrowding your tank to reduce stress on your bettas.

7. Breeding

Breeding Nemo bettas is done similarly to other betta lines; however, there is one difference: the Nemo Gene is the Marble gene - that is, the "jumping gene" - so phenotypes in hybrids are often difficult to identify and direct.

Please work patiently and enthusiastically.

Conclusion

After reading our vibrant blog post on the Betta Nemo fish, we hope you feel more knowledgeable about the many aspects of this fish. We started by discussing its size, lifespan, and origin, followed by discussing its vibrancy of colors and adaptations, and then moved on to habitat. Finally, we dived into their diet and behaviors. With all this information maintained in your memory banks, you can now bring home your very own betta with the satisfaction that you know what kind of environment to provide for them to ensure their happiness and healthy life spans. We urge you all to step out of the box when picking up your next fish addition from a pet store and consider a Betta Nome. If you decide to add one to your tank setup, let me know in the comment below!