Fish Profiles: Siamese Fighting Fish - Betta Splendens | Real Aquatics

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Siamese Fighting Fish - Betta Splendens

Betta fish are native to Asia, where they live in the shallow water of marshes, ponds, or slow-moving streams. Male bettas are devoted fathers who build bubble nests for their young with their mouths and fiercely protect their babies from predators. Male siamese fighters are a beautiful species, presenting in many different colours with real personality. Siamese fighting fish, like us, follow a day/night cycle, active during the day and sleep at night, requiring darkness to get a good night’s rest.

As the name suggests, male Betta fish are typically aggressive, especially towards other male Betta - so solitary aquariums or tanks with bottom-feeder tankmates are recommended. Temperament can vary, so you can attempt to house them with other species, but please do your research prior. Male Betta's can be kept while breeding with female Siamese fighters, to be left alone to guard the eggs once the bubble nest is established.

What can you keep with Betta Siamese Fighting Fish?

Despite being aggressive by nature, the temperament of male fighting fish can vary, and they can be kept quite happily with certain other species of fish. Keeping males with other male Betta's, and gourami's, are a definite no. Siamese Fighter Fish must be kept with peaceful species, male Betta's are often housed quite nicely with catfish, snails, danios, corydoras, angelfish, tetras and less colourful guppies.

If they all live together in a tank that features ample plants, you just might find success. Refrain from housing Siamese fighting fish with gourami's, barbs, characins or fin-nipping fish. If aggression becomes an issue in any community tank, you should keep and maintain a separate suitable quarantine aquarium in which individuals can be placed to avoid conflict.

Can you keep Siamese Fighter Fish in jars, pint glasses, vases or small pots?

The real question is, why would any responsible fishkeeper want to? Betta Fish in certain parts of Asia, are culturally kept in jars or very small containers, in collections, or often for cruel sport purposes. Some supermarkets in the USA sell them on shop shelves in small pots, often with less than a litre in them, which really isn't cricket. While yes, Betta's have adapted to these habitats, it's really not ethical to keep them in anything smaller than a 15L aquarium, which is well-filtered, with plenty of environmental aspects to interact with (plants etc) that will not harm, stress or depress your fish.

Do Siamese Fighting Fish eat shrimp?

Yes, Betta fish do commonly eat shrimp. It is not a good idea to house them with small shrimp species, like cherry shrimp. Larger specimens such as the Bamboo Shrimp are too big to eat, and will cohabit quite nicely.

How do Siamese Fighter Fish Betta Splendens breed?

When betta fish breed, male bettas build a bubble nest at the surface and attract a female to it. Once a pair is formed, they perform a mating ritual. When the female begins to lay eggs, the male retrieves them and deposits them in the nest, where he will protect them until hatched. Females must be removed once eggs are laid.

Features
Average purchase size: 2" / 5cm
Maximum size: 3" / 7cm
Origin: Thailand, Asia
Family: Osphronemidae, Betta splendens
Temperament: Aggressive
Lighting requirement: Low
Ideal number kept: 1 male only

Water conditions
Ideal pH: 6.0–7.5
Water flow: low to moderate
Ideal temperature: 23-28°C

Ease of care
Moderate - Betta fish are aggressive, so be selective with tankmates or keep solitary. Betta's will appreciate leaves, or broad leafed plants such as anubias, and will often sleep on them.

Compatibility
Aggressive typically, do not house with shrimp or other male Betta's. Choose tankmates with care - do your research and choose only peaceful, docile tankmates, avoiding long-finned or fin-nipping fish.

Diet
Feed tropical fish flake or small granules, supplement occassionally with daphnia, brineshrimp and other frozen meaty food. Take care not to over-feed, as Betta habitats are often small/nano aquaria and are easily polluted by remainder food.

Breeding
Male Betta's will produce a bubble-nest on the surface to spawn with females, wherein she lays her eggs. Remove the female once the eggs are fertilised, males will protect them until hatched.

Life Span
The typical lifespan of a Siamese Fighter Betta Fish is 3-5 years in perfect aquarium conditions.