Any Other Color (HM Rosetail AOC)

Cascading rosetail fins conceal a high-pH territorial duelist.

Shop the HM Rosetail AOC betta — a show-stopping halfmoon rosetail fighter with flowing fins, best kept solo in high-pH water. Order live fish online today.

• Water conditions: The HM Rosetail AOC is a Betta splendens variety bred for heavy, layered finnage, and it settles best in a mature, stable aquarium rather than a freshly cycled one. This line is selected for higher-pH systems, so aim for a pH around 7.2–8.0 and keep it steady — swinging pH does far more harm to a rosetail than an unusual reading held constant. Temperature should sit at 26–28°C, maintained with a reliable heater and checked daily, as cold water slows metabolism and invites fin clamping and disease. General hardness of 8–15 dGH and low-to-moderate carbonate hardness suit this fish well. Ammonia and nitrite must read zero at all times, with nitrate kept below 20 ppm through regular partial water changes. Because rosetails carry a heavy fin load, surface access matters: leave a clear gap between the water line and any lid so the fish can gulp air at the labyrinth organ, and keep the lid tight — bettas jump. Filtration should be gentle; a sponge filter or a spray bar turned towards the glass gives turnover without blasting the fins.
• Suitable tank mates: With an aggressive temperament and long, tempting fin trailers, this betta is best treated as a solitary centrepiece in a species-only setup, and that is genuinely the kindest option. If you want company, build the community around fish that ignore fins and occupy other levels: nerite snails grazing the glass, Amano shrimp in a heavily planted tank (accepting that small shrimp may become snacks), and, in a tank of 90 cm or more, robust mid-water schooling fish such as dwarf neon rainbowfish or glass catfish that tolerate higher pH. Avoid guppies, endlers, fancy mollies, angelfish, gouramis, barbs and any tetra with a reputation for nipping — rosetail finnage is fragile and even light nipping quickly escalates into fin rot. Never house two male bettas together, and do not add a female unless you are an experienced breeder running a controlled spawn; sorority setups are not appropriate for a rosetail male. Introduce tank mates before or alongside the betta, rearrange decor to break up territories, and always keep a spare tank ready in case the dynamic turns.
• Feeding habits: A Betta is a carnivore with a small stomach roughly the size of its eye, so portion control matters more than variety. Offer a quality betta pellet as the staple — two to four small pellets twice daily, pre-soaked for a minute to reduce the risk of swelling and constipation. Rotate in frozen or live foods two or three times a week: bloodworm, brine shrimp, daphnia and grindal worm all build condition and encourage the hunting behaviour that keeps the fish active. Daphnia is especially useful as a natural laxative. Hold food at the surface or pipette it in gently, and remove anything uneaten within a few minutes, since a rosetail that gorges itself can develop buoyancy problems that are frustrating to fix with heavy fins. Fast the fish one day a week, watch body shape rather than following the packet blindly, and remember that a betta begging at the glass is not necessarily hungry — it is simply a fish that has trained you well.
• Care requirements: Provide a tank of at least 20 litres for a single specimen, ideally wider than it is tall so the fish can turn without dragging its fins. Cycle it fully before the betta arrives, and use a drip-acclimation of 45–60 minutes to move the fish from bag to display, matching temperature throughout. Keep flow low and add resting points near the surface — broad-leaved plants such as Anubias, floating water sprite, or a betta log — because a rosetail tires quickly and needs to lean on something between breaths. Lighting should be moderate with a dark substrate to show off colour. Carry out a 25% water change weekly with temperature-matched, dechlorinated water, siphon gently around decor, and rinse filter media in tank water only. Inspect the fins every few days: rosetails are prone to fin rot, clamping and, in hard water, occasional bacterial issues, so catching a ragged edge early saves weeks of treatment. Tannins from Indian almond leaf are useful for healing, but use them sparingly in a high-pH setup as they soften and acidify the water. Finally, keep the tank covered, avoid strong room draughts, and do not move decor frequently — this is a fish that rewards routine.