WYSIWYG Elephant Ear Longfin Male Betta (Betta splendens)

An Elephant Ear Longfin Male Betta (Betta splendens), also sold as a Dumbo Ear betta, named for the oversized pectoral fins that fan out from behind the gills like a pair of ears. This one is a pastel fish: soft pink and cream through the body, a lavender to violet wash over the back and shoulders, a warm coppery face, and long flowing finnage in pale lavender shot through with pink rays. The pectorals are broad and edged in clean white, which is exactly the trait the Elephant Ear name is describing. Beginner friendly, hardy, and full of personality. Browse the rest of our freshwater livestock and supplies to set him up properly.

Why WYSIWYG Matters on a Betta

Bettas are sold as morphs, but no two are actually alike. Color, finnage, and pattern vary fish to fish even within the same batch, and a lot of what you see online is a stock photo of some other betta entirely. The second photo here is this fish in one of our tanks, taken as he is right now. What you see is what you carry home. Colors do shift a little as a betta settles in and matures, usually deepening once he is comfortable, so treat the photo as an honest starting point rather than a frozen guarantee.

Care Guide

• Tank size: 5 gallons is the real minimum, and more is better. The cups and bowls bettas are famous for are survival, not living. A heated, filtered, planted 5 gallon transforms how the fish behaves.
• Heat is not optional: 76 to 82°F, held steady with a heater. Bettas are tropical, and a cold betta goes lethargic, stops eating, and gets sick. Room temperature is not warm enough in most homes.
• Water: pH 6.5 to 7.5, soft to moderately hard. Always dechlorinate. Weekly partial water changes keep long fins in good shape.
• Gentle flow, especially for this one: those big pectorals and long fins make swimming more work. Use a low-flow or baffled filter. A betta fighting a current all day is a stressed betta.
• Feeding: carnivore. A quality betta pellet as the staple, with frozen or freeze-dried bloodworms and brine shrimp a couple of times a week. Feed what he clears in about two minutes, and skip a day each week.
• Soft decor only: long finnage snags and tears on sharp plastic plants and rough ornaments. Silk or live plants, smooth wood, and a lid, since bettas jump.
• He breathes air: bettas have a labyrinth organ and surface regularly. Never seal the tank completely, and leave a gap of air between the water and the lid.

Specifications

Compatibility

One male betta per tank, no exceptions. Two males will fight, often to the death, and that is not a temperament you can train out of them. He also should not live with another betta of any sex outside of controlled breeding.

In a 5 gallon he is happiest alone. At 10 gallons and up he can work in a calm community with fish that are neither nippy nor flashy: pygmy corydoras, small peaceful catfish, and nerite snails are reliable choices. Avoid fin nippers like tiger barbs and most serpae tetras, since long finnage is an open invitation, and avoid anything brightly colored with flowing fins that he might read as a rival. Guppies are a classic mistake for exactly that reason.

Live plants help more than most people expect. Anubias Nana and Java Fern are low light, undemanding, and give him broad leaves to rest on near the surface, which bettas genuinely use.

Recommended Foods & Supplies

• Fluval Bug Bites Betta Formula, an insect-protein staple pellet
• Fluval Betta Protein-Rich Food as an alternate staple
• Sicce Jolly 10W Pre-Set Heater for a 5 gallon, or the 20W for a 10 gallon
• Fluval Betta Tap Water Treatment to dechlorinate every top-up
• Fritz Catappa Leaves or Fluval Almond Leaves, tannins that soften water and settle a nervous fish
• Ocean Nutrition Betta SPA Conditioner for fin and slime-coat support

FAQ

Is the photo really this fish?
Yes. The tank shot is this specific betta in our store. That is the whole point of a WYSIWYG listing. There is one of him, so when he sells this page goes away rather than restocking with a different fish.

What makes him an Elephant Ear?
The pectoral fins. On a normal betta they are small and nearly clear; on an Elephant Ear, also called Dumbo, they are broad opaque paddles that flare out as he swims. It is purely cosmetic and does not affect health, though it does make gentle flow more important.

Can he live in a bowl?
Please do not. Bettas survive in bowls and thrive in heated, filtered 5 gallon tanks, and the behavioral difference is dramatic. A betta with warmth, plants, and clean water builds bubble nests, patrols, and greets you.

Will his color change?
Somewhat. Bettas often deepen and shift as they mature and settle in, and pastel fish like this one can develop more contrast over the first few months. Stress can also temporarily wash a betta out, so give him a week to color back up after the move home.

Can I keep him with another betta?
No. One male per tank. This is the single most common and most costly betta mistake.