Betta Fish Gallery

Betta fish, also known as Siamese fighting fish, are native to Southeast Asia.
They are known for their vibrant colors and long, flowing fins, making them popular aquarium pets.
Male bettas are territorial and aggressive towards other male bettas, hence the name “fighting fish.”
Female bettas can also be aggressive, especially during breeding.
Betta fish are labyrinth fish, meaning they have a labyrinth organ that allows them to breathe air at the water’s surface.
They can survive in oxygen-deprived water conditions better than many other fish species.
Betta fish are carnivorous and primarily feed on insects, larvae, and small crustaceans in the wild.
They have a lifespan of around 2 to 3 years, although with proper care, they can live longer.
Betta fish are capable of building bubble nests, which they use to protect their eggs during breeding.
Despite their aggressive nature, bettas can be kept with other peaceful fish species in larger aquariums, but caution must be taken to ensure compatibility and adequate space.

The Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens), commonly known as the betta, is a popular fish in the aquarium trade. Bettas are a member of the gourami family and are known to be highly territorial. Males in particular are prone to high levels of aggression and will attack each other if housed in the same tank.

Betta Fish 01

◄ Back

Next ►

1 of 25

Betta Fish

If there is no means of escape, this will usually result in the death of one or both of the fish. Female bettas can also become territorial towards each other if they are housed in too small an aquarium.

Outside Southeast Asia, the name “betta” is used specifically to describe B. splendens, despite the term scientifically applying to the entire genus, which includes B. splendens and at least 72 other species. Betta splendens is more accurately called by its scientific name or “Siamese fighting fish” to avoid confusion with the other members of the genus.

English-speakers sometimes mispronounce betta as “bay-tuh”, after the second letter in the Greek alphabet. However, it is believed the name is derived from the Malay word ikan betta, with ikan meaning “fish” and bettah referring to an ancient warrior tribe, which is pronounced “bet-tah”.

Another vernacular name for Siamese fighting fish is plakat, often applied to the short-finned ornamental strains, which is derived from the Thai word pla kat (Thai: ปลากัด), which literally means “biting fish”. This name is used in Thailand for all members of the Betta genus, which share similar aggressive tendencies, rather than for any specific strain of the Siamese fighting fish. Thus, the term “fighting fish” is used to generalize all Betta species besides the Siamese fighting fish.

Siamese fighting fish were originally given the scientific name Macropodus pugnax in 1849—literally “aggressive fish with big feet”, likely in reference to their elongated pelvic fins. In 1897 they were identified with the genus Betta and became known as Betta pugnax, referring to their aggressiveness. In 1909, the species was finally renamed Betta splendens upon the discovery that an existing species was already named pugnax.

It is typically not recommended to keep male and female bettas together, except temporarily for breeding purposes which should always be undertaken with caution.

Source: wikipedia

View Betta Fish Photo Gallery

Betta Fish