The female Siamese Fighting Fish is not as colourful as its male counterpart, but still has an interesting personality, and good specimens are far from drab. Females are relatively peaceful but they are also timid and prone to disease problems. The aquarium should have plenty of hiding spots, plants and areas to 'investigate' and be stocked with other peaceful fish. The natural lifespan of these fish is around 18-24 months, fish offered for sale are normally around 6 months old. Although females and males can be kept together, it is recommended to keep several females to a male, or simply just a single male or group of females. Mixing both males and females is best left to experienced fish keepers since problems of territory, rogue individuals, and damage caused by spawning are likely. Many retailers only stock male fighters, this is partly due to their popularity, but also because females tend to have a low survival rate when travelling long distances. Male Fighters are not included in the Think Fish Community creator due to problems of compatibility between individuals.