The Siamese Fighting Fish or Betta Fish

Siamese fighting fish, also known as betta fish, are small, brightly colored Southeast Asian fish. They have been domesticated for over 1000 years and are now common in the pet trade. Betta fish are known in Thailand as “pla kat,” which translates to “fighting fish.” Male bettas can be aggressive and tend to fight, flaring their gill covers fiercely. They attack by nipping at the fins of other males (or even females) who come too close. Fights in nature may take only 15 minutes, but Thai breeders have developed bettas capable of battling for hours.

However, Unlike other aquarium fish, Siamese fighting fish do not require an aerated aquarium with good water quality and warm water temperature. They adapt quite quickly to captivity. Despite their aggressive and fierce nature, Siamese fighting fish have brilliant, vibrant colors. And this is one of the many reasons they have become popular as a pet trade favorite worldwide.

Sadly, over the years, many people have found it entertaining that they are naturally aggressive and fiercely territorial. The fish’s violence has long been exploited for financial benefit by those who wager on fish fights. For millennia, people in Southeast Asia have caught and reared Siamese fighting fish to compete in staged conflicts where bets are placed, equivalent to cockfights.

After being introduced to the rest of the world, Siamese fighting fish became popular as ornamental fish within a few decades. With a wide spectrum of colors due to their vast history of selective breeding, they earned the name “designer fish of the aquatic world.”

Male bettas in the wild never develop the lovely, flowing fins seen on pet store bettas, with their radically diverse forms and vivid reds, greens, golds, violets, and blues. These bright colors are the result of selective breeding. Siamese fighting fish in the wild have a dull green color and tiny fins that they flash to attract mates and scare off predators, including salamanders, cats, and larger fish. The more colorful captive males, on the other hand, appear to utilize their increased colors to attract mates and battle while defending territory.

Storm flooding and terrible droughts have become second nature to the Siamese fighting fish as they are labyrinth fish. They live in marshes, ponds, or slow-moving streams with shallow water.

Also, like humans, Siamese fighting fish are diurnal. This means they are active during the day and sleep at night, and they need darkness to rest well.

Contrary to popular belief, Siamese fighting fish cannot survive simply on foliage or plant roots. They are carnivorous animals that primarily feed on insects and insect larvae in the wild.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, Siamese fighting fish are vulnerable because their habitat has become lost due to urban expansion and farming. Pollution from agriculture and towns has also posed a threat to the fish, and their wild population is dwindling. According to the IUCN, captive breeding may assist in saving the fish’s population. Although they are one of the world’s longest-lived fish, they are slowly getting extinct due to human activity.