Betta splendens

{{Basic fish page
 * origin=:Wild Betta splendens are green/brown with red fins in a plakat (short-tailed) shape. These wild types are found in wide rice paddies in Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia. Although shallow (between $$ depending on season) these are very wide bodies of water, meaning the theory that Bettas live in puddles is completely untrue especially in the dry season where they live in puddles that are still connected.
 * sexing=[[Image:Male-female bettas.jpg|Male on top, Female lower|right|thumb]]
 * Male Bettas are generally more colourful and have much larger fins than females. Females have short fins, and when viewed in aquarium shops or in a stressed condition they appear to lack colour. But once in a suitable tank and have settled in their colours will come through also.


 * Females also have an ovipositor visible, a small white dot just behind their ventral fins. A female's ventral fins will also be shorter than a male's and her anal fin will be rounded and more rectangular rather than finishing to a point, as a male's does. Both male and female fish will flare their gills and extend their fins, however the gills on a female will be smaller, whereas a male's gills when flared will go right around the head like a ruff.

Breeding

 * Breeding Bettas should not be taken lightly and should be planned carefully before a pair is prepared for breeding. It can take 2-3 weeks for a pair to be conditioned (with excellent water quality and plenty of live food) before they can be put together. Once the spawn has become free-swimming, almost 6 months to a year before they are ready to go to new homes, and each of these fish will need daily care and water changes to ensure optimum health.


 * See our illustrated article, Breeding Betta splendens, for more details on how to breed these popular fish.


 * tank_compatibility=:Bettas are relatively peaceful fish. Their aggressive behaviour shows when mixed with other members of the Osphronemidae family or anything with long, colourful fins that the Betta may confuse for another Betta such as male Guppies.  Males should not be kept with other males or females unless the tank is very large and heavily planted with many places to hide.  Females develop a hierarchy so should be kept alone or in groups of 5 or more in a minimum of . Males should only be kept with females during the brief breeding period. Bettas should not be kept with aggressive tank mates such as Cichlids or with fish that can nip their long fins such as Danios, Tetras or Barbs.
 * diet=:Carnivore. In the wild, diet is insects and insect larvae. As aquarium pets, their main diet should consist of specially formulated Betta pellets (such as Hikari Betta Bio-Gold). May be fed Brine shrimp, Daphnia, pieces of cocktail shrimp and bloodworm occasionally.
 * feeding_regime=
 * Feed once or twice a day in small quantities. They appreciate a mixed diet and can prove fussy, they love live food, but care must be taken that they do not become so fussy to the point they will only accept live food. Bettas are also prone to constipation, so feeding them cooked de-shelled pea (cut into quarters so Betta can eat) once a week followed by a day of no food at all helps to keep them regular. To prevent constipation keep portion sizes small and avoid overusing commercial dry fish foods like flakes, pellets and freeze-dried foods which can swell with water in the fish’s gut. Soaking dry food prior to feeding will help reduce the risk of bloating. Frozen daphnia can also be added to a balanced diet and acts as a mild laxative. Bettas can go up to a week without food providing they have been well fed beforehand.


 * environment_specifics=:While its technically true that Bettas can live in a small and unheated bowl, they are more likely to become sickly and lethargic. They will live longer and thrive in larger surroundings. Like other tropical fish, Bettas will thrive best in heated tanks, with live plants and plenty of room to swim. At least  is preferred. They are tropical fish and will therefore prefer to live in the higher temperature range of around.


 * The males do not do well in strong currents, especially the long-finned varieties as they are not strong swimmers. For this reason, and because the frequent water changes necessary without a filter are too stressful for them, a small filter is recommended.


 * Bettas are labyrinth breathers and therefore must have access to the surface at all times.


 * Some Bettas will jump. Some jumpers won't stop even if you put a cover over their tank. There needs to be a minimal amount of air space (1/2") between the water and tank hood to prevent injury.


 * For centuries Far East Betta breeders have kept this fish with Indian Almond Leaves (Terminalia catappa), the tannins released by this leaf acts like bogwood, and give the fish essential chemicals, promotes beneficial fungi and bacteria etc. These leaves are on sale on eBay and at good Betta dealers.

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 * behaviour=:Bettas are curious creatures. They enjoy exploring every nook and cranny of their tanks.  They appreciate live plants and caves to swim around and through. You may notice they will sit on, lean on, or "claim" an object. They are quite peaceful and will get along with most other fish which are not fin nippers or that look like them.  Bettas will flare out the sides of their faces to warn other fish not to mess with them or if they see an object that they mistake for another Betta.
 * identification=:Please see our article on Betta splendens variations to identify your sub breed

Special notes

 * Interestingly, the veiltail Betta is now hardly ever shown at fish shows, as it is considered by many Betta breeders as 'common' and not worth displaying any more.
 * The Siamese Fighting Fish is a hybrid of true Betta splendens, Betta imbellis, and Betta smaragdina. True Betta splendens are rare.
 * Several aquarists debate on whether the Betta should be kept in tanks or bowls, since their natural environment consists of "small, shallow areas of water". However their natural environment, while being shallow, is often acres wide. This does not mean a large tank is not suitable for a Betta, by all means a large tank/bowl would be better for them.
 * Bettas, like Gouramis are a labyrinth fish, in that they have a special organ that allows them to breath air at the surface, so they can survive in poorly oxygenated water. If they are not allowed access to the air then they may drown.
 * As they age, a Betta's colouration often changes; those with the marble gene constantly change. There is also a redloss gene that means a Betta born with a lot of red in the fins will lose all red as as it matures. The redloss gene is desirable in Betta shows.
 * A female will usually outlive a male by a few months.
 * Longfinned Bettas, especially halfmoons and veiltails, can sometimes find themselves getting hampered down by their own tails, or through boredom, can turn to tail biting. Sometimes fish will do these because of a change in environment, as a result of fin rot, or you simply have a nervous fish with a vengeance against it's own tail! There is no real known cure for this, and you may just have to live with a Betta with tatty fins, keep their water clean though to prevent infection.
 * If the fry do regular exercise, some aquarists say they'll live much longer. Put a mirror in front of the tank or inside the tank, as soon as it sees its own reflection, it will become active and try to fight the reflection. Do this for half an hour (may be twice a week) then take it out. Some breeders  use this as a cure for fin rot; the theory is that it works by increasing the blood circulation in the fins.
 * Heavily finned variations such as the halfmoons may occasionally "blow" their tail or develop a split in their tail from flaring. This will heal eventually but must be watched for fungus or bacterial infections initially.
 * Can be prone to finrot if kept at less than ideal temperatures. Try to keep them around.
 * Not recommended to be housed with Dwarf African Frogs or other aquatic frogs. When the male Betta matures and becomes sexually active he will defend his territory from all intruders. The laid-back manner of these frogs also means that often the Betta eats their food first and gets fat, while the frogs often starve.

Pictures
For more images of Bettas click here.