Siamese
Fighting Fish
(Betta splendens)
by
Dina
Most of us have probably seen Bettas in the pet store.
Bettas originate in the shallow waters in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Vietnam, and parts of China.
B. splendens usually grow to an overall length of about
6.0 cm . They come in a variety of colours and fin types.
More on
Betta Colours and Fin Types
Bettas must have access to the water surface. A labyrinth
organ in their heads allows them to take oxygen directly from the
atmosphere, (in addition to the oxygen taken from the water via their
gills).
Another interesting characteristic of the Betta is that
the males tend to the eggs and young. The male will build a bubble nest.
Once the pair is ready to spawn, they will display intense colouration and
start circling each other beneath the bubble nest.
The male will wrap himself around the female who has
turned on her back. As she expels her eggs, they are fertilized and begin to
sink. The male will scoop up the eggs and spit them into the nest. From this
point on the male will tend the brood and the female should be removed. He
spits eggs that fall out back into the nest.
In one to two days the eggs will hatch. The fry will be
visible hanging in the bubble nest. They will feed off their yolk sack for
about a day and a half. During this time the male will continue to pick up
any fry that fall out of the nest. The male may eat the young once they are
free swimming, so should be removed within two days after the fry hatch.
To see a spawning pair
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