Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta)

The Siamese fighting fish, or betta, is a labyrinth fish of the family Osphronemidae, native to the shallow, sluggish waters, rice paddies, and floodplains of Thailand and Southeast Asia. Wild fish are relatively drab, but centuries of breeding have produced spectacular color and finnage varieties. A labyrinth organ lets it breathe air from the surface. Males are famously aggressive toward one another and cannot be housed together, as they will fight; the name reflects this behavior. A single male, or a male with peaceful non-nippy tankmates, works best. Females are less aggressive and can sometimes be kept in groups. It thrives in warm, still to gently filtered water with plants and surface access. It is a carnivore favoring small live and frozen foods and quality betta pellets. Males build bubble nests and care for the eggs, making it a popular and rewarding species to breed.