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Siamese fighting fish
A cambodian colored (light body, dark fins) veiltail male.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Osphronemidae Genus: Betta Species: B. splendens
Binomial name
Betta splendens Regan, 1910

The Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) is one of the most popular species of freshwater aquarium fish, native to the Mekong basin in Southeast Asia and called pla-kad in its native Thailand. It is a member of the gourami family (family Osphronemidae) of order Perciformes, but was formerly classified among the Anabantidae. Although there are nearly 50 other types of bettas, B. splendens is the most popular species among aquarium hobbyists, particularly in the United States, and is commonly referred to with the imprecise name "betta." Image File history File links Emblem-important. ... Wikibooks logo Wikibooks, previously called Wikimedia Free Textbook Project and Wikimedia-Textbooks, is a wiki for the creation of books. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1922x1166, 1665 KB) Summary Memnon a cambodian coloured male Betta owned by the author. ... For other uses, see Scientific classification (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Typical Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... Orders See text The Actinopterygii are the ray-finned fish. ... Families many, see text The Perciformes, also called the Percomorphi or Acanthopteri, include about 40% of all fish and are the largest order of vertebrates. ... Genera Belontiinae Belontia Luciocephalus/Trichogastrinae Colisa Ctenops Luciocephalus Parasphaerichthys Polyacanthus Sphaerichthys Trichogaster Macropodinae Betta Macropodus Malpulutta Parosphromenus Pseudosphromenus Trichopsis Osphroneminae Belontia Osphronemus The gouramies are a family Osphronemidae of freshwater perciform fish. ... Betta Betta splendens which is often called simply betta, see Siamese fighting fish. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Charles Tate Regan (February 1878 - 13 January 1943) was a British ichthyologist, working mainly around the beginning of the 20th century. ... Year 1910 (MCMX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday [1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... For other uses, see Species (disambiguation). ... For the village on the Isle of Wight, see Freshwater, Isle of Wight. ... “Aquaria” redirects here. ... For other uses, see Fish (disambiguation). ... View of the Mekong before the sunset The Mekong is one of the worlds major rivers. ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... Genera Belontiinae Belontia Luciocephalus/Trichogastrinae Colisa Ctenops Luciocephalus Parasphaerichthys Polyacanthus Sphaerichthys Trichogaster Macropodinae Betta Macropodus Malpulutta Parosphromenus Pseudosphromenus Trichopsis Osphroneminae Belontia Osphronemus The gouramies are a family Osphronemidae of freshwater perciform fish. ... The hierarchy of scientific classification In biological classification, family (Latin: familia, plural familiae) is a rank, or a taxon in that rank. ... Genera Belontiinae Belontia Luciocephalus/Trichogastrinae Colisa Ctenops Luciocephalus Parasphaerichthys Polyacanthus Sphaerichthys Trichogaster Macropodinae Betta Macropodus Malpulutta Parosphromenus Pseudosphromenus Trichopsis Osphroneminae Belontia Osphronemus The gouramies are a family Osphronemidae of freshwater perciform fish. ... In scientific classification used in biology, the order (Latin: ordo, plural ordines) is a rank between class and family (termed a taxon at that rank). ... Families many, see text The Perciformes, also called the Percomorphi or Acanthopteri, include about 40% of all fish and are the largest order of vertebrates. ... Genera Anabas Ctenopoma Microctenopoma Sandelia The Anabantidae are a family of perciform fish commonly called the Labyrinth fish but also known as the Climbing Gouramies or Climbing Perches. ... Betta Betta splendens which is often called simply betta, see Siamese fighting fish. ... “Aquaria” redirects here. ...

B. splendens usually grows to an overall length of approximately 6 cm (~ 2.3" in). However some individuals may reach 3.5 inches in length. Bettas are notable for their colours and tail shapes. The natural colouration of B. splendens is a dull green and brown, and the fins of wild specimens are relatively short. However, brilliantly coloured and longer-finned varieties have been developed through selective breeding. This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... A fin is a surface used to produce lift and thrust or to steer while traveling in water, air, or other fluid media. ... Selective breeding in domesticated animals is the process of developing a cultivated breed over time. ...

Lifespan

Normally the siamese fighting fish live to be 2-5 years old, but some live to be nearly 8 years old. Typically, males purchased from a pet store are 9-12 months old, at a point when their finnage becomes fullest and most attractive. Due to their shorter finnage, females available in pet stores are often only 3-6 months old. Male bettas living in laboratories with large individual tanks and daily exercise have lived 10 years or longer.

Breathing

Like anabantids and all members of the genus Betta, Siamese Fighting Fish have a labyrinth organ in their heads that allows them to take oxygen directly from the atmosphere in addition to the oxygen taken from water via their gills. Genera Anabas Ctenopoma Microctenopoma Sandelia The Anabantidae are a family of perciform fish commonly called the Labyrinth fish but also known as the Climbing Gouramies or Climbing Perches. ... Betta Betta splendens which is often called simply betta, see Siamese fighting fish. ... A much folded suprabranchial accessory breathing organ found in Anabantoidei. ... For other uses, see Gill (disambiguation). ...

Diet/Exercise

Bettas are top-feeders, but will roam all depths of their shallow habitat.

Bettas have upturned mouths and are primarily carnivorous surface feeders. In the wild, bettas feed on zooplankton and the larvae of mosquitoes and other insects. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2204x1568, 1344 KB) Kampffisch (betta splendens) Source/Quelle: Fotografiert von Marcel Burkhard alias cele4 File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Gourami Siamese fighting fish ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2204x1568, 1344 KB) Kampffisch (betta splendens) Source/Quelle: Fotografiert von Marcel Burkhard alias cele4 File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Gourami Siamese fighting fish ... This article deals with meat-eating animals. ... Photomontage of plankton organisms Plankton is the aggregate community of weakly swimming but mostly drifting small organisms that inhabit the water column of the ocean, seas, and bodies of freshwater. ... A larval insect A larva (Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of animal with indirect development, undergoing metamorphosis (for example, insects or amphibians). ... For other uses, see Mosquito (disambiguation). ...

Bettas that are fed a wide range of foods often live longer, show richer colors, and heal more quickly from fin damage. Betta pellets are typically a combination of mashed shrimp meal, bloodworms, and various vitamins. Bettas also will eat live or frozen bloodworms or brine shrimp or daphnia. For variety and fiber, bettas may also be fed finely chopped vegetables high in protein, such as soybeans, green beans, broccoli, corn, or carrots. Although some individuals can subsist on dried flaked food suitable for tropical fish, this will reduce their coloring somewhat. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Midge (insect). ... For non-zoological information on this animal as a pet, see Sea-Monkey. ... Species Subgenus Daphnia Subgenus Hyalodaphnia D. galeata Subgenus Ctenodaphnia Daphnia are small, mostly planktonic, crustaceans, between 0. ...

Breeding and nests

Bettas are difficult to breed, and not recommended for beginners. Females can be identified by a small, white 'pearl' at the rectum. This is called an ovipositor, most visible from below the fish. They lay egg clutches of approximately 100-500 eggs, rarely over 600 eggs. However, sometimes males have this as well, making it difficult to tell.

The male tends the eggs and newborns. Betta males build bubble nests of various sizes and thicknesses on the top of their tanks, sometimes even when not in the presence of female or young. Quick temperature change, barometer changes, materials in the tank, and presences of other males or females all have been shown to stimulate bubble nest construction. However, after the young fish are swimming freely, the chore of tending them falls upon the human owner. Therefore, it is advisable to research and prepare baby food, baby-ready (cycled) tanks, etc. prior to actual breeding. Some of these foods improve its actions such as speed, growth, and energy. An exceptionally large nest Bubble nests are created by male Betta/Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens) from air bubbles coated with saliva to increase durability. ...

Tail shapes

A metallic, double-tail male Betta

Breeders have developed several different tail shapes: Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 587 pixelsFull resolution (1500 × 1100 pixel, file size: 586 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Siamese fighting fish Metadata This file... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 587 pixelsFull resolution (1500 × 1100 pixel, file size: 586 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Siamese fighting fish Metadata This file...

• veiltail (non-symmetrical tail, only 2 rays)
• crowntail (highly frilled, extended spiny rays)
• half-moon (large tail fin that forms a 180-degree half circle)
• short-finned fighting style (sometimes called "plakat")
• double-tail (the tail fin is split into two lobes and the dorsal fin is significantly elongated).
• delta tail (tail span is less than half-moon with sharp edges)
• fantail (a rounded delta tail)

Dorsal fin of an orca A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of fishes, whales, dolphins, and porpoises, as well as the (extinct) ichthyosaurs. ...

Colours

This pale pink male has red fins and splotches.

Bettas have been affectionately nicknamed "The Jewel of the Orient" due to the wide range of colours which are produced through selective breeding. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1502x940, 526 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Siamese fighting fish Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1502x940, 526 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Siamese fighting fish Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used... Selective breeding in domesticated animals is the process of developing a cultivated breed over time. ...

Recently breeders have developed in females the same range of colours previously only bred in males.

This female is green.

Wild bettas only exhibit strong colours when agitated. However, breeders have been able to make this colouration permanent, in a wide variety of huesbreed true. Bettas come in a variety of colours, such as magenta, orange, yellow (rare), white and emerald green. Breeders have also developed different colour patterns such as marble and butterfly, as well as metallic colors such as copper, gold, and opaque. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2560x1920, 1708 KB) Summary Close-up of a female betta splendens (also called siamese fighting fish or simply betta) showing newly-bred colorful nature of female bettas. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2560x1920, 1708 KB) Summary Close-up of a female betta splendens (also called siamese fighting fish or simply betta) showing newly-bred colorful nature of female bettas. ... Image File history File links Fish2. ... Image File history File links Fish2. ... A true breeding organism is an organism having a certain trait which is passed on to all subsequent generations when bred with another true breeding organism for the same trait. ... This article is about the dye color magenta. ... An emerald color is a shade of green that is particularly light and bright, with a faint bluish cast. ...

Breeders around the world continue to develop new strains. Recently breeders have developed in females the same range of colours previously only bred in males. However, females never develop finnage as showy as males of the same type, and are almost always more subdued in colouration.

Behavior

A male "attacking" his reflection in the fish bowl glass.

Male and female Bettas flare or "puff out" their gill covers (operculum) in order to appear more impressive, either to intimidate other rivals or as an act of courtship. Females and males will display horizontal bars (unless they are too light a color for this to show) if stressed or frightened. Females often flare their gills at other females, especially when setting up a pecking order. Flirting fish behave similarly, with vertical instead of horizontal stripes indicating a willingness and readiness to breed. Bettas sometimes require a place to hide, even in the absence of threats. Bettas cling very close to a plant or rocky alcove, sometimes becoming highly possessive of it and aggressive toward trespassing rivals. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (699x674, 182 KB) Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (699x674, 182 KB) Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A hierarchy (in Greek hieros = sacred, arkho = rule) is a system of ranking and organizing things. ... This article is about flirtation. ...

On average, males are more aggressive, though individual females demonstrate a wide range in level of aggression. In Asian countries, aggressive short-finned male bettas, plakats, (prounouned pluh-KET) have long been used in a sport similar to cockfighting. The aggression of bettas has been studied by ethologists and comparative psychologists^[1]. Bettas will even respond aggressively to their own reflections in a mirror; use of a mirror avoids the risk of physical damage inherent in actual conflict. For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... The Cock Fight by Jean-Léon Gérôme (1847) A cockfight is a contest, held in a cockpit between two fighting cocks (roosters) trained to severely injure and/or kill one another. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Comparative psychology, taken in its most usual, broad sense, refers to the study of the behavior and mental life of animals other than human beings. ...

Tankmates

Because of the aggressive nature of this species, a betta's tankmates must be chosen carefully: “Aquaria” redirects here. ...

Two or more Males: Male bettas do not 'fight to the death' in the wild; once one fish has clearly won the encounter, the loser will retreat to a safe location. In an aquarium, however, there is no place to run, and the winning fish will continue to attack the loser, often ending in death. Therefore, two male B. splendens should not be housed in the same tank unless they are (a) separated by a dividing wall, or (b) if they are from the same batch of eggs and are not fully mature. Definition Withdrawing is the act of removing all or part of a military force from combat and moving to a safe location. ...

A Male and a Female: Males can kill females, so it is not recommended to keep them in the same tank unless there is a separator such as a piece of glass. Often breeders use a container that allows the female to display without being harmed by the male, prior to induced breeding. However, they must only be kept together if they are being bred or they are juvenile siblings.

Several female bettas in a community tank with mollies and rainbowfish.

Two or more Females: Bettas are not schooling fish but with enough room and many hiding spaces, female bettas can cohabit. However, there should never be only two female bettas in a tank together: one will bully the other. However, three or more females generally establish a hierarchy, allowing them to live peacefully. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1920x2560, 1098 KB) Summary Female betta splendens (also called siamese fighting fish or simply bettas) in a community tank, with mollies and rainbow fish visible. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1920x2560, 1098 KB) Summary Female betta splendens (also called siamese fighting fish or simply bettas) in a community tank, with mollies and rainbow fish visible. ... Species (see text) Poecilia Bloch & Schneider, 1801, is a genus of freshwater fish in family Poeciliidae of order Cyprinodontiformes. ... The Rainbowfishes are a family of small, colourful, freshwater fish that are found in northern and eastern Australia and New Guinea and some other nearby islands. ...

Compatible Fish of Other Species: Before co-housing bettas with other species, their compatibility should be carefully researched, and the owner should prepare a back-up plan. Common tankmates include mollies, catfish, or loaches. Amano Shrimp also provide good tankmates, and provided with sufficient natural plant cover will keep the tank clean without causing the betta any stress. Species (see text) Poecilia Bloch & Schneider, 1801, is a genus of freshwater fish in family Poeciliidae of order Cyprinodontiformes. ... Genera Acanthocleithron Atopochilus Brachysynodontis Chiloglanis Euchilichthys Hemisynodontis Microsynodontis Mochokiella Mochokus Synodontis The Mochokidae are a family of catfish from Africa that includes the squeakers and upside-down catfish. ... Genera Acanthopsoides Acanthophthalmus Acantopsis Botia Chromobotia Cobitis Enobarbichthys Formosiana Iksookimia Koreocobitis Kottelatlimia Lepidocephalichthys Lepidocephalus Leptobotia Misgurnus Neoeucirrhichthys Niwaella Pangio Parabotia Paralepidocephalus Paramisgurnus Protocobitis Sabanejewia Serpenticobitis Somileptes (Gongota loach) Syncrossus Yasuhikotakia Loaches are freshwater fishes of the family Cobitidae, small benthic (bottom-dwelling) fishes with a flattened ventral profile. ... Binomial name Caridina multidentata Stimpson, 1860 Caridina multidentata is a species of shrimp found in the Yamato River area of Japan as well as parts of Korea and Taiwan. ...

Incompatible Fish of Other Species: Certain fish should not be housed with bettas. Although bettas are most aggressive towards each other, they also can kill very small fish or nip at the fins of fish such as fancy guppies. If the guppies are about the size of the betta, and they have unattractive fins, it's usually okay, but the situation should be handled with caution. Schooling fish, particularly barbs and even some tetras may nip the fins of a betta. Also, aggressive fish such as barbs, pirahnas, or bluegills should not be kept around bettas. Only females can be kept in communities, aggressive females should be monitored. Gouramis such as the dwarf gourami and pygmy gourami may be attacked by male bettas due to their similar appearance. Paradise Fish, which closely resemble bettas may attack and kill bettas. For other uses, see Guppy (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Guppy (disambiguation). ... Barb is a common and generic term for the species of fish within the genus Barbus and the famila Cyprinidae. ... For other uses, see Piranha (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Rafinesque, 1819 The Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) is a species of freshwater fish sometimes referred to as bream, brim, or coppernose. ...

Tank size

When kept in a small container such as a vase, the fish need frequent water changes to rid the water of fatal ammonia build-up which remains the main cause of death for the uneducated betta owner, and the container must be kept in a warm room, at a steady temperature of between 76-85 degrees. Drastic temperature changes can put the betta into shock and may prove fatal and temperature lower that 76 degrees lead to lethargy and make bettas more prone to illness. A minimum of a 2.5-3 gallons with a heater will provide better living conditions. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 799 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1997 × 1498 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 799 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1997 × 1498 pixel, file size: 2. ...

Fish of this breed are often kept in small containers, or even in vases as a display piece. Many bettas end up drowning as these decorative vases do not allow the bettas to surface for air. Many argue that they should not be kept in these conditions, that they are only sold in small containers because they will fight if kept with other bettas or incompatible fish. Such small containers are also used as a marketing tactic by many petstores that promote bettas as a display fish and, incorrectly, state that they don't need much water and like smaller containers. It is recommended by these groups that bettas, like all fish, should have adequate filtration and have a heated environment, as they are a tropical breed and are prone to illness and death if not kept in conditions suited to their breed. These groups also frown upon them being kept in less than two gallons, as is often practiced when the breed is used as a display. They recommend that a living environment of at least five gallons is 'ideal'.

To maximize the lifespan of the fish and ensure their well being, they should always be kept in appropriate sized tanks. As a rule of thumb, for each inch of fish there must be at least one gallon of water in its tank. Bettas ideally should be kept in a filtered tank 5 gallons or more and treated like any other freshwater tank fish.

Nonetheless, to keep an individual B. splendens, a minimum tank size of at least 3 U.S. gallons is recommended, if it will be kept in a warm room. Some authorities maintain that for a betta to lead a happy life and live the maximum lifespan, as much as 5 U.S. gallons is necessary.^[2] This absolute minimum ratio (8 liters/fish) holds true for both females and males who are being housed individually as well as females who are being housed together; this means that the smallest tank that can become a female community tank is 10 US gallons, which can hold four peaceful females. A tank of 5 US gallons will allow use of a heater, to maintain a temperature of about 27 °C, or 80 °F. It is optimum to keep the pH levels of the water between 6.5 and 8.0. One must take care in monitoring the pH levels to ensure the health of the fish, specifically if CO2 injection is being used in a planted tank, which can result in rapid spikes of pH values. Live plants will improve the water quality. Also, since the betta obtains oxygen from the air, the tank must not be covered with an air-tight lid and the betta must be able to easily reach the surface. It should be noted that the lid must not leave any gaps large enough for the betta to jump out of. Bettas are notorious for their jumping abilities, and there have been many recorded cases of bettas killing themselves. However, they usually end up surviving unless you can't get them back in water for about 5 hours. U.S. customary units, commonly known in the United States as English units or standard units, are units of measurement that are currently used in the U.S., in some cases alongside units from SI (the International System of Units—the modern metric system). ...

Various Notes

They were also called Rumble Fish in the 60s era novel of the same name written American novel by S.E. Hinton (ISBN 0-440-97534-4). Rumble Fish is a 1983 film directed, produced and co-written by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the novel by S.E. Hinton (ISBN 0-440-97534-4) who co-wrote the screenplay as well. ... This article is about the literary concept. ... Susan Eloise Hinton (born on July 22, 1948 in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is an American author who wrote five young adult novels in the 1960s and 70s. ...

References

Further reading

• Simpson, M. J. A. (1968). The display of the Siamese fighting fish Betta splendens. Animal Behaviour Monographs, 1, 1-73.
• Thompson, T. (1966). Operant and Classically-Conditioned Aggressive Behavior in Siamese Fighting Fish. American Zoologist, 6, 629-741 (doi:10.1093/icb/6.4.629).

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Betta splendens

• Bettas at the Open Directory Project
• Betta splendens (TSN 172611). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 19 March 2006.
• "Betta splendens". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. November 2005 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2005.