This is probably
one of the most popular fish sold in the aquarium trade. They
come in a wide assortment of colors and are highly tolerant
of improper water conditions mainly because of their natural
habitats. Many Bettas live in puddles, often in rice patties.
This type of environment is very unstable (temperature) making
the Betta much more tolerant to our mistakes. This doesn't
mean that an aquarist should purposely neglect their needs.
As their nickname (Siamese Fighting Fish) suggests, males of
this species will fight...sometimes to the death. In their native
areas they are often the objects of gambling. When two males
are placed together you will most likely see the gill flap towards
the bottom of their head spread open and the fins, especially
the dorsal with be at full spread. Males are highly intolerant
of each other and should NEVER be placed together. Keep only
one male per aquarium and it is usually prudent to keep them
out of each others' sight.
It is a myth that Bettas cannot be kept with other fish. It
is recommended that they not be kept with fin-nipping fish,
otherwise all other community fish should be acceptable. Generally
the Betta will not be the problem fish.
These fish are Carnivores meaning they don't need veggies
in their diet. Frozen foods like Brine Shrimp and Bloodworms
are a favorite. There are many commercially prepared dried
foods available, many labeled specifically for Bettas. These
are acceptable and they often have a color enhancer added to
brighten Bettas' already vibrant color. Feed very little, these
fish don't need much. If you Betta refuses to eat you'll have
to try different foods or possibly vary their diet. Also, you
may need to raise the temperature. Some Bettas have difficulty
digesting their food if the temperature is too low.
Sexing Bettas is very simple. The males and females of this
species look nothing alike aside from the head. The females
are much smaller, bland in color, and lack the long flowing
fins of the male. Females are also incredibly gentle.
Breeding is surprisingly easy with these fish but their are
some things you should know. First, males are incredibly territorial.
If a female is not receptive to a male's advances she will
more than likely be killed because the male will view her as
being an unfit mate. Second, these fish are egglayers, specifically
bubble nest builders. To get them to lay eggs the water should
be no deeper than 6" and some surface current should be
supplied (not much). Once eggs are laid, it shouldn't take
much more than 24 hours for the fry to hatch. |
