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Betta - Siamese Fighting Fish

Family: OsphronemidaeBetta splendensPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Ken Childs

   The Betta or Siamese Fighting Fish are truly a favorite fish that has been part of the aquarium hobby for a long time!

   Along with Paradise Fish, the Betta or Siamese Fighting Fish are said to be the oldest known fish to be kept in aquariums. This is a great fish for a beginning aquarium enthusiast or for someone who wants minimal space and upkeep, but still wishes to enjoy a beautiful fish.

   The name "fighting fish" comes from the fact that males will most often fight each other until either one or both of them are dead. For this reason you can only keep one male per tank.The needs of the Betta or Siamese Fighting Fish are minimal in comparison to other species. They are quite disease resistant, very resilient, readily available, and inexpensive.

   Wild male Betta's have short rounded fins The beautiful specimens that are available in pet stores today have been developed from the wild variety. Through selective breeding quite a number of different varieties have been developed, sporting gorgeous colors and incredible fin formations. Only the male has the long fins however, the female's fins will be shorter and they are generally more drab in color.

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Geographic Distribution Betta splendens Data provided by FishBase.org Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Osphronemidae

Habitat: Distribution / Background

   The Betta or Siamese Fighting Fish Betta splendens were described by Regan in 1910. These fish are found in the Malayan peninsula and Thailand where they inhabit slow-moving waters with thick vegetation. They feed on a variety of plants and animals, including green algae and zooplankton as well as aquatic insects near the water surface.

• Scientific Name: Betta splendens
• Social Grouping: Solitary - Males should be kept singly or with one or more females. Monitor females for bullying.
• IUCN Red List: NE - Not Evaluated or not listed

Description

   The natural Betta or Siamese Fighting Fish has a stout elongated body and short rounded fins. Their body coloration is a dull green and brown. Today there are many brilliantly colored varieties, and even some color patterns. Both male's and the female's have been developed through selective breeding. It is most common to see fancy colorful males, but females that were once quite a drab fish, are now available in much more intense colors and finage. Even so, females do not attain the same showy fins nor the color intensity that males of the same type do.

   Blue and red colors were the first and easiest to develop. They have now been followed by magenta, orange, white, yellow, and dark green colorations. Marble and butterfly patterns have emerged, as well as metallic tones such as copper, gold, and opaque.
   Bettas have been selectively bred for finage that is longer and of various shapes. The most common is the 'veil tail' (which is also seen in mollies and platies). Other tail forms include the 'double-tail', 'crown tail', 'half-moon', "plakat', and variations on these.
   Like all other labyrinth fish they can breath air, generally gulping it at the water's surface. They have a special 'labyrinth organ' which acts like a lung and enables them to survive in oxygen-depleted waters.

• Maximum Size: 2.5 inches (6.35 cm) - The Betta or Siamese Fighting Fish fish get up to 2.5 inches (6 cm).
• Lifespan: 3 years - Their general life span is 2 - 3 years.

Fish Keeping Difficulty

• Aquarium Hardiness: Very Hardy
• Aquarist Experience Level: Beginner

Foods and Feeding

   The Betta or Siamese Fighting Fish are carnivores, and will generally eat all kinds of live, fresh, and dry protein foods. To keep a good balance give them a high quality protein pellet or flake food everyday. Also feed brine shrimp (either live or frozen) or blood worms.

   NOTE: A glass vase topped with a plant is a current trend today to create a decorative aquarium for this fish. This has led to confusion about the food requirements of these fish. They do not eat the roots of the plant. They are only protein eaters, not omnivores or vegetarians. They must be provided a protein food.

   This fish is quite hardy and will adapt to most aquarium conditions. Like all other anabantoids their special 'labyrinth organ' enables them to survive in oxygen-depleted waters. Because of this they can survive in smaller spaces. A minimum sized aquarium for a single specimen would be 3 gallons if kept in a warm room, and with regular maintenance. They will do best however in a larger aquarium, with adequate filtration and a heater, along with regular maintenance. A 10 gallon aquarium is recommended. Provide gentle water circulation and some sturdy aquarium plants. The aquarium should be covered to prevent jumps.

• Diet Type: Carnivore - These fish are sometimes sold in vases topped with plants under the premise that the fish will be able to survive by feeding upon the roots. On the contrary, this carnivorous fish will slowly starve in this environment unless provided a protein based food source.
• Flake Food: Yes
• Tablet Pellet: Yes
• Live foods (fishes, shrimps, worms): Some of Diet
• Meaty Food: Some of Diet
• Feeding Frequency: Several feedings per day

Aquarium Care

Photo © Animal-World

Photo © Animal-World

• Water Changes: Monthly

Aquarium Setup

• Minimum Tank Size: 3 gal (11 L) - Although this species is often subjected to tanks as small as 1/4 gallon, this set up is very rough on the fish. While the fish is equipped with a labyrinth organ that allows the fish to survive in oxygen depleted waters for short periods of time, this fish will suffer the same tissue damage from ammonia and nitrate spikes as any other species. This is nearly impossible to prevent in an very small tank.
• Substrate Type: Any
• Lighting Needs: Moderate - normal lighting
• Temperature: 75.0 - 86.0° F (23.9 - 30.0° C) - Keep the surrounding room temperature consistent with the water temperature to avoid causing trauma to the labyrinth organ.
• Breeding Temperature: 80° F
• Range ph: 8.0-5.5
• Hardness Range: 5 - 35 dGH
• Brackish: No
• Water Movement: Weak
• Water Region: All

Social Behaviors

   Generally they are considered a good community fish, however the Betta or Siamese Fighting Fish can get picked on. Other tanks mates will sometimes keep nudging it as if though to get it moving,and sometimes the fins become an easy target for an occasional nip. It has been noted that occasionally a Betta will attack other tank mates. This generally seems to be a case of misidentification, usually it's a brightly colored platy or molly.
   Only one male can be kept in a tank as two males together will fight to the death. Females can be kept with each other and usually a male can be kept with females if the tank is quite large and there are plenty of hiding places.

• Venomous: No
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive - Male specimens are all but completely intolerant of each other and anything they mistake for another male Betta. The females are less aggressive towards each other but are still very hierarchal. This fish cannot be housed with fin nipping fish.
• Compatible with:
  • Same species - conspecifics: Sometimes - Males will fight to the death. Females can be kept in groups or with one male.
  • Peaceful fish (): Safe
  • Semi-Aggressive: (): Monitor

Sex: Sexual differences

Female Betta Photo © Animal-World

   The male is brightly colored and has long colorful fins. Female's have shorter fins and are rather drab in color, and they may display horizontal striping.

Breeding / Reproduction

   Like most of the labyrinth fish, the Betta or Siamese Fighting Fish are bubble nest builders and will readily breed if you put a male and a female together. Their eggs as well as the fry, are lighter than water and float to the top. See the description of how to breed these fish in Breeding Freshwater Fish.

• Ease of Propagation: Difficult - Although getting Bettas to spawn is very easy, the actual raising of the young is incredibly challenging due to the accommodations which must be made for the aggressive tendencies of the males and the frequency of infection due to the delicateness of the fins. This should only be attempted by the most committed and informed of enthusiasts, and extensive research on specialized websites is advised.

Availability

   The Betta or Siamese Fighting Fish is readily available and inexpensive. Specimens run $3.00 and up, with the more exotic varieties being more costly. Females usually cost less than males.

References

Animal-World References
Freshwater Fish and Plants Tropical Fish ~ Freshwater Fish ~ Aquatic Plants

Author: Clarice Brough, CFS

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Lastest Comments on Siamese fighting fish View all 148 comments on Siamese fighting fish Add Your Comment

john - 2011-11-22 Hi, it's me, again. I was just wondering if my deseased betta(chewy and his girl missy) could have ghosts. Don't say I've been drinking too much because I'm 12 years old and I HAVE SEEN white fish shaped objects in my tank. The only fish in there is a white guppy. Click For Replies (3) Charlie Roche - 2011-11-22 I won't say you have been drinking. If you are seeing them, then they must be there. I don't know whether they are ghosts or shadows or getting ready to go to another world but if you see them they are there. john - 2011-11-23 Thx charlie, it makes me fell better that they are still with me. and by white guppy I meant yellow and red guppy. And also thx for answering so many of my questions. calvin johnson - 2012-01-28 by white you mean yellow and red? ithink your seeing your white guppy? (thats really yellow and red). Reply

john - 2011-12-12 Hi, I found this really neat fish on thatpetplace.com called the south american leaf fish and the banded leaf fish, I was wondering how to breed these fish and if I could keep them with bettas in a heavely planted tank. Click For Replies (2) Anonymous - 2011-12-15 You could probably keep female bettas with those other fish, but a male betta would kill it as soon as it found it. David Brough - 2012-01-26 Actually, Bettas are not aggressive to other kinds of fish at all, a leaf fish would be fine with a betta. Reply

karthi - 2012-01-11 I bought a new fghtng fish yesterday.......it started to lay eggs......wat did I do? I have no males in the tank.... Click For Replies (1) Alex Burleson - 2012-01-12 Females periodically release eggs. It is nothing to be concerned about, as they are not fertilized. Reply

john - 2011-11-30 Hi, I heard of a fish called the ornate ctenopoma/orange bushfish/ansorgi and from the pictures I have seen it look like a large betta but it apperently isn't realated. I was wondering if anyone knows where I could by one of these because they aren't on ebay and I don't know any pet stores that sell them. I would really like to get one for christmas or my birthday so please help. Click For Replies (1) Charlie Roche - 2011-11-30 The only place I know to get them 'ctenopoma/orange bushfish/ansorgi' commonly called the Orange Bushfish is in a tropical fish store. Reply

nadir - 2011-11-15 Hi all, at the beginning I was having a red fighter which always seems so dull and stays at the bottom of the tank. So I bought one more betta (a blue one) and kept the two tanks adjacent to each other. After then, both the fighters rebel each other on the opposite faces of the glass wall, all the time without any rest. Will this continuous fight make the fighters so tired and lose massive body or any trouble to its health? Click For Replies (1) john - 2011-11-27 In a way, yes. If you keep two bettas together it is bad enough but when you put both of their tanks near each other they can waste all of their energy and be too tired to eat and do other stuff as they most likely won't sleep because they will be staring each other down the whole night. What you can do is get a large tank (30 gallon+) and keep them together but you would need many other fish with them so they don't target each other (ex. guppy, platy, danios, etc.). Hope this helps. Reply

Betta Joe - 2011-11-27 I need help breeding my half moon king betta what size tank do I need and what kind of decorations do I need for the baby fish? Click For Replies (1) Timmy - 2011-11-27 Hi betta joe. I believe what you need to do to breed them is get the king betta any female betta from a pet store and put the male betta in a medium size tank (5-20 gallons) before the female and hope for the best. Keep a close eye on them just in case. For the babies just put stuff only they can get into. Good Luck! Reply

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