Do Betta Fish Have Teeth? Can They (Actually) Bite You?

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Last Updated: July 28, 2022 by Flora Gibbins

Yes, Betta fish do have teeth, very tiny white teeth. To see these teeth you will need to take a very close up look of your Betta’s open mouth – sometimes they are so small even at this close up look you may not see them (a magnifying glass may help).

Because people know the aggressive fighting nature of Betta fish yet can’t see any teeth they often ask if Bettas have teeth. After hearing some of the fighting stories and watching a Betta tear at a bloodworm during feeding times owners are often surprised that they can’t see the teeth with their naked eye.

Do Betta Fish Have Teeth - JapaneseFightingFish.org

 

What Do Betta’s Use Their Teeth For?

The Betta’s teeth are used for feeding time. Used for chewing and munching at Betta pellets and cutting up dried Bloodworms (or any live food you may feed them) before eating them. Betta fish are carnivores, in their natural habitat they would feed on small water-bound insects and larvae – these fish needed these small sharp teeth for hunting and killing from the rice paddies they originate from.

As we all should know by now, Betta fish are also known as Siamese Fighting Fish and these teeth play a part in them acquiring that reputation! They will use those small sharp teeth to fight with other fish and rip up the fins of their opponent. Bettas are very territorial, especially male Bettas towards other male bettas – they should never be kept together or these teeth will come out! Betta sometimes will even attack other kinds of fish so you should be very careful about your betta tank mates – fish that are too colorful, have large fins or any that may nibble your betta are a no-no.

But you have no need to worry, these teeth can cause no pain to human hands. If after reading this blog you are brave enough to put your hands in your Betta fish tank you may feel a little nibble but they can’t bite hard enough to do any harm! They are just Betta kisses! 🙂

Do Betta Fish Bite - Betta Fish Have Teeth - JapaneseFightingFish.org


8 thoughts on “Do Betta Fish Have Teeth? Can They (Actually) Bite You?”

  1. I’m breeding my betta fish and the male loves to flare at absolutely nothing. The female is aggressive and the male is checkingher out. He’s refuseing to make a bubble nest.:P

  2. I ended up at this article after testing my theory about my boy being much more bold and aggressive than other bettas…
    I got my finger damp, got some flakes on my fingernail, and held my finger just above the water. Jaime backed away at first as I was moving my finger, but as soon as he realized there were flakes he lunged out of the water and I felt his teeth hit my fingernail. It was quite impressive.
    He’s so fearless!

  3. I had to look this up, because I stuck my finger in Simon’s tank and at first he just bumped it with his mouth, and then he bit at my finger! xD

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