BETTA FISH
You might have heard about designer clothes and bags, but have you heard of the 'designer fish of the aquatic world' - the Betta fish? Known for its bright colours, beautiful fins and tails, it is native to Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam etc. Also called the Siamese fighting fish, the Betta fish is a genus which has 76 species. The most common species, the Betta splendens, is a much loved aquarium fish, beautiful to look at and easy to maintain.
The Betta fish is usually about 3 inches long and can live for 2-5 years. They have a special labyrinth organ which enable them to breathe directly from the water surface, and hence can survive in low-oxygen water pools.
They are found in a variety of colours, including blue, red, orange, white and black. However, the most attractive part of their bodies are their fins and tales. Different Betta fish have different types of tales such as a double tail, round tail, halfmoon tail, crown tail and more.
Interestingly, the male fish are often prettier and have longer flowing fins and tails in comparison to the female fish. Also, during hatching, it is the male fish who protects and takes care of the eggs by creating a bubble nest.
The petite Betta fish is also called the fighter fish. Yes, you read that correctly! These small aquatic creatures get aggressive and are prone to attack each other over their territorial space. You cannot keep two male Betta fish in the same tank. A fight would soon ensue and one or even both of them could die. However, female fish are less of the fighting kind and can live together.
Fascinating facts about Betta fish:
● The first domesticated Betta fish were found in Thailand about 1000 years ago.
● The Betta fish are carnivores and eat brine shrimp, glassworms, daphnia, tubifex, plankton etc.
● The Betta fish needs approximately 2 gallons of water in its fish tank. In the wild, these fish thrive best in the stagnant waters of vast floodplains, rice fields and canals.
● The Siamese fighting fish is the national aquatic animal of Thailand.
● The Betta fish name originates from an ancient warrior clan Known as the 'Bettah'.
