Siamese fighting Betta Fish

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"The Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) is one of the most popular species of freshwater aquarium fish. Bettas grows to an overall length of approximately 6 cm (2.5 in), and has an average life span of two years. Well kept aquarium specimens have often lived well beyond 3 years.

Bettas come in a wide range of colors, which are produced through Selective breeding. Reds and dark blues are the easiest colors to purchase, being fairly hardy, and often breed true. They come in all colors except pale green which is untrue, magenta, bright orange it has been discovered (oranges do occur, however this trait is inconsistent, and solid orange has yet to be achieved), and emerald green. Betta also has different color pattern such as marble and butterfly. There is also metallic color betta such as copper, gold and platinum.

Both instinctive and learned behaviors of Bettas have been studied in considerable detail. Its characteristic aggressive responses were studied in detail by Simpson (1968). They are readily elicited by its own reflection in a mirror placed outside an aquarium. Male Bettas flare their gill covers, called the operculum, in response to certain situations. Flaring is the act of "puffing-out" the fins and gill covers as to appear more impressive, either to intimidate other fish (especially rival males) or as an act of courtship.

Bettas are normally very active fish. They have good eyesight and will learn to surface for feeding time when a hand appears over the bowl and other simple recognition tools. During darker parts of the day, they may "sleep" or rest on the bottom of the tank or just under the surface where they can breathe. Bettas are very territorial and require a place to hide, even if there are no threats. They will cling very close to any plant or rocky alcove they can find, becoming highly possessive of it.

Because of its beautiful colours and fin shapes, the Betta is popular with aquarists.
Members of the genus Betta, to which the Siamese fighting fish belongs, are a type of "labyrinth fish" (a name also given to anabantids) because they have a labyrinth organ in their heads that allows them to take oxygen directly from the atmosphere rather than from water via their gills. This flexibility allows these fish to survive in smaller spaces and in poorer conditions (e.g., in stagnant water) than would support other aquarium fish. Nonetheless, to keep an individual B. splendens, a minimum tank size of 8 liters (2 US gallons) is recommended, if it will be kept in a warm room. Some authorities maintain that for a betta to lead a happy life and live the maximum lifespan, as much as 35 liters (10 US gallons) is necessary.

Betta species are carnivorous and an appropriate food must be provided, such as dry "betta pellets" or live or frozen bloodworms or brine shrimp. However, most aquarium-bred specimens will accept dried flaked food suitable for tropical fish. When kept in a small container such as a vase, the fish need frequent water changes, and the container must be kept in a warm room. A larger tank with a heater will provide better living conditions. Wherever the fish is kept, water must be treated with an appropriate water conditioner before use.

Betta males are the ones to raise the fry (baby bettas) and will, even when not in presence of female or fry, build bubble nests of various sizes and thicknesses on the top of their tanks. Various things have been shown to stimulate bubble nest construction, such as quick temperature change, barometer changes, materials in the tank and presences of other males or females.

There is a stereotype that in the wild, bettas live in tiny muddy pools, and therefore that it is acceptable, even kind, to keep them in bowls and small tanks. In reality, bettas live in vast paddies, the puddle myth originating from the fact that during the dry season, the paddies can dry out into small patches of water. Many fish die at this time, and the question must therefore be asked: why would you want to replicate conditions where your fish would be starving, suffocating and highly stressed? All fish should be kept in appropriate sized tanks. For each inch of fish there must be at least one gallon of water in its tank. Bettas ideally should be kept in a filtered tank 10 gallons or more and treated like any other freshwater tank fish."
This information found: Wikipedia

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