Question: How Long Do Bettas Live?

Answer: The average Betta lives about three years. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you'll have your Betta that long. Why? Because a Betta purchased at a pet shop is often one year old already. Males in particular, are allowed to fully mature so their fins and colors are well developed. Females may be sold at a bit younger age, but they will generally be at least six months old when offered for sale.

Good care and a healthy diet can prolong the lifespan of your Betta. Even so, it’s rare for a Betta to live more than 5 years. So if your fish only lives a year or two after you purchase it, don’t assume you’ve been a bad owner. That’s a perfectly normal lifespan.

Oldest Betta?
Wondering how long has the oldest Betta lived? There are documented cases of Bettas living as long as 9 or 10 years in captivity. How long has your Betta lived? In the poll below click on the number of years your oldest Betta lived, then see how your fish compares to others.

Note: You may only vote once per day.
My Betta lived 1 year
My Betta lived 2 years
My Betta lived 3 years
My Betta lived 4 years
My Betta lived 5 years
My Betta lived more than 5 years

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