Siamese Fighter Fish (Betta Splendens) originally came from Thailand and Vietnam regions. Some from the cooler mountain region and some from the muddy pockets and stretches of warm water but the commercial fighters sold in pet shops come from breeding fisheries, locally. The males are graceful, always bigger than the females and usually more colorful. The females have small tails and dorsal fins and the males have ornamental, longer and larger tails varying in shape.
These fish fall in their own category. Males are solitary and do not get lonely. They are aggressive towards other males of their own species and accepting the company of a female Betta takes some doing. Male bettas will attack females. Generally they should not be kept together. At times they are and this should be carefully monitored as it can get out of hand.
With species other than his own the male will get along just fine but will get nipped. To avoid infection setting in and spreading throughout the whole tank he should be kept on his own. Females can quite happily live in a community tanks.
Lifespan of Bettas in the wild can be as long as seven years in captivity their life expectancy depends on their diet and the quality of care they receive. Usually - up to three years. In captivity they come in a great assortment of colours. Colour variations range from shades of black to white and with many shapes of fins.
They are tolerant of a wide variety of water conditions and temperatures. Food prefeences vay from fish to fish Some can be fussy eaters and others will accept pellets, flakes or any other type of food you wish to provide. A lot depends on what they were fed as fledglings.
Although they are a tropical fish when kept in the warmest spot in the house in cold water will usually survive the winter. Their ideal water temperatures are 70 - 80 degrees. Sudden changes in temperatures will cause them to become ill. The main illnesses are fungus diseases and are deadly if not treated urgently.
Unlike other fish Siamese fighters have accessory breathing organs, called labyrinths, made up of blood vessels with which they breath in air, thus absorb oxygen directly from the water surface. This enables them to survive in limited spaces, though they enjoy the generosity of spacious aquariums. Containers, suitable for them to live in, should have the capacity of at least 2 litres. Fighters seem to live longer in tap water than bottled or tank. If using filtered water a few grains of sea salt should be added to it to replace the lost minerals through filtering.
Maintaining healthy conditions for your fighter means:
1___ Good feeding daily (at least once) with good quality food. Betta food is available in pet shops and you can talk to your local pet shop owner as to what is best for their stock and the time of the year.
Occasionally only, you could give your fighter 'live food', such as blood worms. They usually come in a frozen packet which can be kept in the freezer and used as required in small portions. Feeding them to your fish as 'the diet' is not recommended as he will be missing out on the nutrients provided in balanced diet.
2___ Maintaining steady and suitable temperature of the water. If in a cold climate you will need a small heater. If left near a window do watch out for the sun cooking your fish. This is a spot where is warm during the day but doesn't remain warm at night. Middle of the house is best.
3___ Water changes have to be made as it becomes necessary. Size of the container, climate you live in and feeding habits will determine how often. The more often the feed the more frequent the waste; warmer conditions will make the water foul quicker. Feeling with your finger on the inside of the container for signs of slime will give you an idea as to when is time for cleaning. Unattended, the water becomes acidic and contain nitrite, both of which will give your fish the burning sensation, make him want to eat more and ultimately lead to disease.
With every water change or top up 'Water Conditioner' should be added to the clean, replacement water, for Chlorine and heavy metal elimination.
Bettas are egg layers and the adult male will build nest at the surface of the water by blowing bubbles, indicating his readiness to spawn. It is not necessary to accommodate his urges and he will happily accept your decision.
In the case of you wanting to breed from your male knowing what to look for in a female fighter is important. Primary requirement is for the female to be an adult. Her size is the indicator. After careful introduction of standing your male and female side by side for some time, if successful, the male will make his bubble nest. The female will show fullness with eggs and when looking towards her anal fin a bright white gravid tube should be sticking out. It is then that she is ready. She can now visit the males home for an hour or two. Observe carefully and the time together can be increased a little later. Some hiding places and a few large leafed plants in the tank are a good idea.
Males are agressive to females and will bully them as apparently it is a normal part of their courtship process. The extend of his aggression will depend on wheather he accepts his female as his partner. Eventually they might settle down to breed. If the female looks worn out and tatered they may have to part company and another female may have to be introduced, one that he may prefer.
Bettas are not easy fish to mate. Mating process is extremely beautiful but can be difficult at times to bring about. The individual temperaments of the male as well as female plays a big part in how successful the mating process will be and introduction to each other will often be the key to how harmonious their co-existance will become. For anyone aiming at trying to breed from their fighter should first do a little research. If after that still planning to breed than it is a good idea to get a home made baby brine shrimp hatchery going beforehand. The fry are pretty hard to care for with lots of preparation and a fair bit of extra work involved afterwards.
For a wonderful display of your fighter's finnage and for his entertainment place a mirror behind his tank and see the instant reaction! This is only excitement not stress.
Housed in a beautiful, glass bowl or an elegant tall vase (of suitable glass), the "fighter" will give a vibrant visual effect. These fish are easily maintained pets, make a striking and relaxing feature in many work places and are brightening up many homes.
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