Rare item(classic) (HM Rosetail yellow candy)

In high-pH waters, this golden rosetail turns territory into a battlefield.

HM Rosetail Yellow Candy bettas are striking, heavy-finned show bettas for experienced keepers, best kept solo in stable, high-pH water with gentle filtration.

• Water conditions: The HM Rosetail Yellow Candy is a Halfmoon Rosetail Betta (Betta splendens) selected for its dramatic, overlapping finnage and yellow-candy colouration. Maintain a mature aquarium with a stable pH of 7.2–8.0 to match this line’s high-pH designation, a temperature of 25–28°C, and moderate hardness around 6–15 dGH. Stability matters far more than chasing an exact number, so avoid pH-adjusting chemicals and large swings. Because ammonia is more toxic at higher pH, the filter must be fully cycled and water quality tested regularly: ammonia and nitrite should read zero, with nitrate kept below 20 ppm. Use gentle filtration, such as a sponge filter or a baffled internal filter, so the heavy rosetail fins are not folded by strong current. A lid is essential to keep the air above the water warm and humid, and the tank should be at least 10 gallons for a single male, with 15–20 gallons being easier to maintain. Provide calm, shaded resting areas and avoid sharp decor that can split fin rays.
• Suitable tank mates: This betta is aggressive and is safest kept as a solitary specimen. Males should never be housed with other bettas, and females should not be added unless you are an experienced breeder with a separate spawning setup. If you attempt a community, use a well-planted tank of 20 gallons or more with broken lines of sight, calm dither fish and a reliable backup plan. Possible companions include small, peaceful rasboras, ember tetras, corydoras, otocinclus and nerite snails, but individual bettas vary widely. Avoid fin-nippers such as tiger barbs, serpae tetras and danios, as well as gouramis, cichlids, other labyrinth fish, guppies, platies and molly fry that may be chased or nipped. Shrimp are often treated as food. Quarantine all newcomers, observe closely for the first two weeks, and remove any fish immediately if fins are being damaged or the betta is persistently harassing tank mates.
• Feeding habits: Betta splendens is an insectivore-carnivore and needs a high-protein diet. Offer two small meals daily of a quality betta pellet, plus frozen or live foods such as bloodworm, brine shrimp, daphnia and mysis to support condition and colour. Feed only what is eaten within one to two minutes, removing uneaten food to protect water quality in a high-pH system. A single male typically needs just a few micro-pellets per meal; overfeeding quickly leads to bloating, constipation and swim-bladder problems, especially in heavy-finned rosetails. Fast one day per week if the fish looks full, and avoid mammalian fats, floating bread or large dry foods. Soak dry pellets briefly if your betta tends to gulp air, and vary the diet rather than relying on one food. Good nutrition supports fin regeneration, but colour-enhancing foods should not replace clean water and low-stress housing.
• Care requirements: Perform 25–30% weekly water changes with temperature-matched, dechlorinated water, vacuum the substrate and rinse filter media only in tank water. Keep the tank covered, warm and free from draughts. Rosetail bettas carry exceptionally heavy fins and are prone to fin rot, tearing and fatigue, so low flow, smooth decor, regular water changes and a calm position in the room are important. Provide broad leaves, floating plants or a betta log near the surface for resting, and keep lighting moderate. Indian almond leaves can be used sparingly, but remember that tannins may lower pH; in a high-pH setup, monitor rather than assuming. Acclimate carefully by floating the bag, then drip-acclimating or adding tank water gradually before netting the fish into quarantine or the display tank. Observe feeding, breathing, fin edges and colour daily; yellow-candy colour often deepens with stable conditions and good diet, while stress, poor water quality or chronic fin damage will dull it.
• Temperament and size: Expect an adult size of roughly 7–8 cm, including the flowing finnage. This is a territorial, aggressive betta that may flare at reflections and chase intruders, so mirrors should be used only briefly for exercise. Keep the tank in a quiet area, avoid sudden changes in lighting, and do not mix this long-finned show strain with boisterous or nippy species. If you need a community setup, plan for the betta’s needs first and treat any tank mates as a bonus rather than a requirement.