What Are Bettas?      The Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens), also 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. 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. It is typically not recommended to keep male and female bettas together, except temporarily for breeding purposes which should always be undertaken with caution.This species is native to the Mekong basin of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam and is mostly concentrated in the Chao Phraya river in Thailand. The fish can be found in standing waters of canals, rice paddies and floodplains.      Although popular as an aquarium fish, the IUCN has classified B. splendens in the vulnerable category. The fish is naturally endemic to Thailand and can be found in shallow areas in marshes or paddy fields. The primary threat is due to habitat destruction and pollution, as farmlands continue to be developed across central Thailand.    Commonly called a betta in the aquarium trade, especially in North America, that is the name of a genus not only containing this fish, but also other species. B. splendens is more accurately called by its scientific name or "Siamese fighting fish", to avoid confusion with the other species in the genus.  B. splendens usually grows to a length of about 6.5 cm (2.6 in).  Although aquarium specimens are widely known for their brilliant colours and large, flowing fins, the natural coloration of B. splendens is generally dull green, brown and grey, and the fins of wild specimens are short. In the wild, they exhibit strong colours only when agitated. In captivity, they have been selectively bred to display a vibrant array of colours and tail types.    The vernacular name "plakat", often applied to the short-finned ornamental strains, is derived from the Thai word pla kad (Thai: ปลากัด), which literally means "biting fish" and is the Thai name for all members of the B. splendens species complex (as all members have aggressive tendencies in the wild and all are extensively line-bred for aggression in eastern Thailand) rather than for any specific strain(s) of the Siamese fighting fish. So the term "fighting fish" comes in use to generalize all the members of the B. splendens species complex including the Siamese fighting fish. Males and females flare or puff out their gill covers (opercula) to appear more impressive, either to intimidate other rivals or as an act of courtship. Other reasons for flaring can include when they are intimidated by movement or change of scene in their environments. Both sexes display pale horizontal bars if stressed or frightened. However, such colour changes, common in females of any age, are rare in mature males due to their intensity of colour. Females often flare at other females, especially when setting up a pecking order. Flirting fish behave similarly, with vertical instead of horizontal stripes indicating a willingness and readiness to breed (females only). Betta splendens enjoy a decorated tank, being a territorial fish it is necessary to establish territory even when housed alone. They may set up a territory centered on a plant or rocky alcove, sometimes becoming highly possessive of it and aggressive toward trespassing rivals. This is the reason why when kept with other fish the minimum tank size should be 45 litres (about 10 gallons). Contrary to popular belief, bettas are compatible with many other species of aquarium fish. Given the proper parameters bettas will be known to only be aggressive towards smaller and slower fish than themselves such as guppies. The aggression of this fish has been studied by ethologists and comparative psychologists. These fish have historically been the objects of gambling; two male fish are pitted against each other to fight and bets are placed on which one will win. One fish will arise the victor, the fight continuing until one participant is submissive. These competitions can result in the death of either one or both fish depending on the seriousness of their injuries. To avoid fights over territory, male Siamese fighting fish are best isolated from one another. Males will occasionally even respond aggressively to their own reflections in a mirror. Though this is obviously safer than exposing the fish to another male, prolonged sight of their reflection may lead to stress in some individuals. Not all Siamese fighting fish respond negatively to other males, especially when the tank is large enough for each fish to create their own designated territory

Raising the Betta fish Although Betta fish are often found in small tanks and bowls in the pet stores, that doesn’t mean they enjoy being there. Like all other fish, Bettas love as much space as possible. Thanks to their ability to breath from the surface of a tank, they are able to endure some horrific tank environments, but as a fishkeeper, we know that a bad aquarium is not what you are in to, so we would recommend AT LEAST 2 gallons. Ideally, your tank would be at least 10 gallons, but not all budgets can accommodate that. The minimum tank size is directly related to how experienced the fish keeper is, and how often they want to carry out water changes, in order to keep the water pristine. The Betta must of course have enough room to turn around, but there is no evidence that they require a lot of space. Due to their labyrinth organ they are not dependent on high oxygen levels in the water, so a large surface area for gas exchange is not required. Some Betta enthusiasts claim that there is a minimum tank size for a Betta, but to try to set a strict baseline minimum is somewhat arbitrary.[1]. Reliably performing regular partial water changes (every other day for small unfiltered tanks) would at least ensure the water quality in a smaller tank is acceptable. Most consider 2.5 - 5 US gallons(9-19 liters) to be an ideal tank size for a Betta, "but you can successfully keep a Betta in a 1 gallon tank provided you clean it regularly" and maintain an acceptable temperature (minimum generally 75F, though 78F is optimal). Betta species prefer a water temperature of around 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) but have been seen to survive temporarily at the extremes of 56 °F (13 °C) or 95 °F (35 °C). When kept in colder climates, aquarium heaters are recommended.[11] Bettas are also affected by the pH levels of the water. Ideal levels for Bettas would be at a neutral pH (7.0) However, Bettas are slightly tolerant towards the pH levels.[12] They have an organ known as the labyrinth organ which allows them to breathe air at the water's surface. This organ was thought to allow the fish to be kept in unmaintained aquaria,[13] but this is a misconception, as poor water quality makes all tropical fish, including Betta splendens, more susceptible to diseases such as fin rot. Properly kept and fed a correct diet, Siamese fighting fish generally live between 3 and 5 years in captivity, but may live between 7 and 10 years in rare cases. If your tank is below 1 gallons (Which it shouldn’t be), we do not recommend using a heater. Water heaters can heat a small tank too quickly, and cause harm to your fish. If you are looking to use a heater, then 5 watts of power per gallon of water is a good baseline to judge from.In terms of water level, you must leave a small space at the top of the tank for your Betta fish to breath. Bettas are labyrinth fish, meaning they have the ability to breath oxygen from the waters surface. Denying your fish this ‘breathing space’ can do serious harm, since they need to exercise their labyrinth bladder on a consistent basis. Because of their sturdy nature, Betta fish can endure some terrible water conditions. A filtration system is not necessarily needed, but it is recommended. As with any other type of fish, there is a high risk of disease if you do not clean the tank on a regular basis, as the pollution from decaying food and waste can build up quickly. We recommend you change the tank water at least once per week. REMEMBER that fish become accustomed to the parameters of the water they have been in, so drastically changing the water at once, can lead to shock, and sometimes death. You might think you are helping when you change 90% of the water, but your fish will be thankful if you don’t. Try removing 20- 30% at a time. A lot of diseases are caused by bad water conditions, so it’s crucial that you keep up to date with your water care, if you want to keep healthy fish. Check out our article on Betta Fish Diseases to get a better understanding of what you must look out for. When choosing a filter for your Betta fish tank, look for something which doesn’t produce a high current. This can make it difficult for your fish to swim. While they are not needed, it’s always a good idea to have a filtration system to remove any build up of toxins. If your tank is too small, then a filter will do more harm than good, so we only recommend a filter if your tank can accommodate the increase in current, without affecting the flow of the water. Overfeeding is a huge issue with Betta fish, since their stomach is no bigger than one of their eye balls! One feeding per day is more than enough. Just one or 2 Betta fish pellets can be enough to keep them full, and happy for an entire day. It can be easy to assume that your Betta is not eating enough, but keep in mind what you just read, and understand that it will take weeks for a Betta fish to starve to death. They require such a small amount of food, you could forget to feed them for an entire week, and they will still be swimming around soundly (We are just proving a point – NEVER leave your fish without food). Obviously, if you don’t pay attention when feeding your fish, their will be a lot of leftovers. Only feed your Betta as much as they will actively eat. It may take a few days to gauge this, but it’s worth it. Any food which is not eaten, will build up at the bottom of the tank, and start polluting the water. If you are planning on feeding your Betta fish just generic fish flakes, think again! Betta fish are carnivores by nature, and require either a Betta specific pellet, or frozen treats such as brine shrimp and blood worms. In their natural habitat, the primary diet of these type of fish would be small insects, their eggs, and mosquito larvae that form at the water surface. Whilst offering your Betta fish a diet of live food can be exciting to watch, and a treat for them, it’s generally recommended to stick to frozen foods, since the risk of a parasite breakout with live food is not worth it. If you are an advanced fish keeper, then do what you must, but we wouldn’t recommend live food for absolute beginners. As with a lot of fish, Betta’s can sometimes run into digestive problems. We have found that a ‘pea’ every once in a while will help keep them ‘regular’ and without issue. A defrosted frozen pea will suffice. Just peel off the skin, chop it into bite size pieces, and drop it in the tank. Betta fish will generally eat a lot of floating foods in the wild, so they will have no problem with the floating peas!