Bettas are a colorful, comical, low maintenance fish perfect for the budding pet fish enthusiast or busy professional. They are a small, colorful freshwater, rayfin fish that originated in the shallow waters of Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and parts of China. Bettas are inexpensive and easy to find at many pet stores.
Although people refer to Bettas as “Siamese Fighting Fish” in the United States, there are actually two main species. The first species is the Spotted Betta, the B. picta, and the second is the Siamese Fighting Fish, the B. splendens. Their size ranges from 1 inch to over 5.5 inches.
The Siamese Fighting Fish is a bubble breeder meaning that it builds a nest of bubbles at the surface of the water in which it places it’s eggs. The Spotted Betta is a mouthbrooder and holds the eggs in its mouth until they hatch.
In nature, Bettas live almost exclusively on insects and insect larvae. In captivity, these fish should be fed flake food, blood worms or brine shrimp twice per day. The water in their native habitat is typically over 80F, so it’s important to keep their aquarium water warm. When the temperature drops below 75F they will become less active and more stressed.
Bettas fan their fins when intimidated to make themselves look larger and more imposing to their adversary (usually other Bettas). Over time a Betta may become used to seeing other specific Bettas if you have them in an aquarium and no longer fan it’s fins.
They survive in water with low oxygen levels by using special organs that allow them to breathe air on the surface. Bettas prefer little water movement; this is why they do quite well in small and medium size containers outside of an aquarium.
Male Bettas must be kept separate to avoid issues. Many pet stores sell special Betta tanks with dividers that allow you to place two of them in the same tank. Male and female can be in the same tank; however provide the female with a place to hide as the male may get aggressive and nip her fins. It’s OK to keep a Betta with community fish as long as there are no fin nippers among the other fish.
Bettas’ low cost, vivid colors, fin fanning antics and minimal upkeep requirements make them a great choice for the first time fish owner or a person who wants a pet but doesn’t have the time required by other species.
Written by John Elum, CityPetSite.com Staff
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