Betta (Siamese Fishing Fish): Fish Species Profile

Betta fish, commonly referred to as Siamese fighting fish, are one of the most popular fish species. With its jewel-toned coloring and flowing fins, betta fish are a great addition to any fish lover's home. Not all betta fish fight—only the males. Female bettas can be kept together and with other non-aggressive fish species. Despite how they are often sold in individual containers, bettas should not be kept in a fish bowl. Bettas are happiest when kept in a heated and filtered aquarium containing water that is soft and warm, with a neutral to slightly acidic pH. With the right care, bettas can live around 3 to 5 years. 

Characteristics

Origin and Distribution

Bettas originate in the shallow waters of Thailand (formerly called Siam, hence their name), Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and parts of China. These areas are home to rice paddies, ponds, slow-moving streams, and swamps, all of which are home to bettas. Today, bettas have been introduced into many other locations, giving rise to non-native populations in several countries.

The common name, Siamese fighting fish, was coined due to the practice of organized fights between males, much like cockfights. These matches continue to this day, driven by the income from betting. In some locations males are bred specifically for aggression, to ensure better fights. However, having male bettas fighting each other is considered cruel and should not be done. 

Colors and Markings

The brilliant coloration and long flowing fins of the male betta make it one of the most well known of aquarium fish. Females are usually not as highly colored and have much shorter fins. In nature, this species is not usually brightly colored.

However, captive breeding programs have resulted in a wide variety of colors, including white, yellow, orange, red, pink, blue, green, turquoise, brown, and black. A myriad of combinations can be seen, from solid colors to those with different fin and body colors, to patterned colors. Fin types have also changed due to selective breeding. Veil tails have been joined by crown tails, deltas, fans, half moons, lyre, and split tails, to name a few.

Both sexes have a torpedo-shaped body and an upturned mouth geared for eating at the surface. Mature adults reach a size of two to three inches, with females being slightly smaller than the males. A unique feature of this species is the presence of a labyrinth organ that allows them to take oxygen from the atmosphere instead of from water, thus allowing them to survive in low-oxygen pools.

Tankmates

Males cannot be kept together unless there are separators in the tank. Multiple females can generally be kept together without problems. Several females, or one male, can be kept with other peaceful fish species, as long as they are small and are not fin-nipping types, such as tiger barbs.

Betta Habitat and Care

Bettas are one of the most recognized, most colorful, and often most controversial fish in the freshwater aquarium hobby. Debates rage about the appropriateness of keeping them in small bowls. To fully understand their needs, it is important to become familiar with their native habitat, where they live in large rice paddies, shallow ponds, and even in very slow-moving streams. Although many fish keepers are aware that bettas come from shallow waters, the warmer water temperature is often overlooked.

The home countries of the betta are tropical, which means the water temperature is quite warm, often into the 80s. Maintaining proper water temperature is perhaps the biggest argument against keeping a betta in a bowl, which cannot readily be heat-controlled. Really, the best option is to house them in a betta fish tank, with an aquarium heater and water filter.

Since it's so important for bettas to live in warm water, you'll want to get an aquarium water heater. Consider the size of your tank when looking for a heater; the standard rule is the heater should have 5 Watts of power per gallon of water. You can get a floating thermometer or a digital one that attaches to the aquarium glass. Place the thermometer where you can easily read the water temperature. You'll want to perform a partial water change at least once a week.

Even though bettas do well in water that is low in dissolved oxygen, that does not mean they require less oxygen than other fish. Bettas have a special respiratory organ (called the labyrinth organ) that allows them to breathe air directly from the surface. In fact, they inherently must do so. In experiments where the labyrinth organ was removed, the fish died from suffocation even though the water was saturated with oxygen. For this reason, bettas must have access to the water surface to breathe air directly from the atmosphere.

Optimally, the water for keeping bettas healthy should be soft and warm, with a neutral to slightly acidic pH. Water movement should be kept to a minimum, which means that power filters and powerheads are not suitable. Bettas may be kept in a community tank as long as the water conditions are met, and if no aggressive or fin-nipping fish are present. However, only one male may be kept in each aquarium, unless they are separated by a barrier. The use of plastic boxes that hang inside the aquarium is a suitable option for keeping more than one betta in a tank, or for keeping them in a tank with fish that might nip their fins. Females will generally not fight with each other and may be kept together in the same open space. Female bettas can also be kept with other non-aggressive fish species.

Diet and Feeding

Betta fish should be fed two to three times a day, as much food as they will eat in five minutes. In nature, bettas subsist almost exclusively on insects and insect larvae. They are built with an upturned mouth that is well suited to snatching any hapless insect that might fall into the water. Internally their digestive system is geared for meat, having a much shorter alimentary track than vegetarian fish. For this reason, live foods are the ideal diet for the betta, however, they will adapt to eating flake foods and frozen or freeze-dried foods, such as:

• Brine shrimp
• Daphnia
• Plankton
• Tubifex
• Glassworms
• Beef heart

These are all excellent options that may be found frozen or freeze-dried. If flake food is fed, it should be supplemented a few times a week with frozen and freeze-dried foods, and if possible, live foods.

Gender Differences

Males typically are more brilliantly colored and have longer and flowing fins. They also have a more distinct "beard" (under the gill coverings) and are larger overall than the females. Females have short fins and will display vertical stripes and an egg spot when ready to mate.

Breeding the Betta

Bettas have a fairly short lifespan and are most successful as breeders when they are about a year old; bettas in pet shops that are full size are usually at least six months old. They breed in bubble nests and do not require a large tank or special equipment.

Most breeders find that a bare-bottomed tank of roughly ten gallons works well, although smaller tanks are also suitable. Ideally, the fish should be conditioned prior to breeding by feeding them a diet of live foods. Breeder tank water should be at a pH of about 7.0, and water temperature around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, or slightly above.

The male will blow an elaborate bubble nest when he is ready to spawn. Floating water plants will help the male have an attachment site for the bubble nest. The female should be provided with a hiding place, as males may become aggressive during courtship. Even with a hiding place, it is common for the female to lose a few scales or have their fins frayed during spawning.

When they are ready to spawn, the pair will display intense coloration and begin circling each other under the bubble nest. The male will wrap himself around the female who has turned on her back. As she expels the eggs, they are fertilized and begin to sink. The male will scoop up the eggs in his mouth and spit them into the nest. This may be repeated several times, but finally, the male will chase the female away and she should be carefully removed from the breeding tank. From this point on, the male will tend the brood and care for the babies after the eggs hatch.

The male will continue to tend the bubble nest, spitting eggs that fall out back into the nest. In one to three days the eggs will hatch, and the fry will be visible hanging in the bubble nest with their tails pointing downward. They are provided nutrition by their yolk sack for another 36 hours, during which time the male will continue to pick up and return any fry that falls out of the nest. The male should be removed when the fry leave the bubble nest, as the male may eat the young once they are free-swimming.

The fry should be fed a few feedings daily of baby brine shrimp or very fine powdered fish food. Tetra makes a dry mixture specifically for egglaying fish, and many pet shops carry frozen baby brine shrimp. Take care not to overfeed, as the uneaten food will foul the water and can quickly prove lethal to the fry.

More Pet Fish Species and Further Research

If bettas appeal to you, and you are interested in some compatible fish for your aquarium, read up on:

• Black phantom tetra species profile `
• Zebra danio species profile
• Tiger barb species profile

Check out additional fish breed profiles for more information on other freshwater fish.