| These small tropical fish are placid when on their | | | | around the 30° mark. Nevertheless, if you live in |
| own, and suprisingly aggressive towards other | | | | a more temperate climate, then you'll need to add |
| male Bettas. They can live in the smallest of | | | | an aquarium heater to your tank. This is especially |
| bowls. In the wild they have even been found | | | | so if the temperature of the water tends to drop |
| living in water-filled buffalo hoofprints... | | | | below the 18° mark. |
| Betta Fish (e.g. Siamese Fighting Fish) are tropical | | | | The Betta fish can oftentimes survive in poorer |
| native fish to the Southern parts of Asia and the | | | | quality water, but you should always endeavor to |
| countries of Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. | | | | change the water frequently to ensure that your |
| Betta Fish thrive in the natural wilderness, and in | | | | pet Betta is happy, healthy and active. These |
| places where there is small reedy like pools, slow | | | | gorgeous long fin beauties really do need their |
| flowing creeks and shallow ponds. Considered the | | | | water changed at least "one to three" times a |
| most beautiful of all tropical fish, they get their | | | | week. And if you decide to put your pet Betta in |
| name "Siamese Fighting Fish" (e.g. Betta Fish) | | | | a small bowl then you may need to change the |
| because of their aggressiveness towards other | | | | water every few days. |
| male Bettas. | | | | Bettas are prone to pick-up a number of |
| They're also aggressive in nature too because | | | | common diseases like dropsy and fin rot which |
| they have to survive in smaller bodies of water, | | | | in most cases are more or less associated with |
| and therefore tend to fiercely protect their area | | | | the quality of water in which they live. In a home |
| (where they live) or they'll lose out on breeding | | | | tank environment there are special medicines |
| with a female Betta (who shares the male Bettas | | | | available such as "Bettafix" which is excellent for |
| pond, stream, etc.) to a more dominate male | | | | aquarium fish like the tropical Betta Fish. |
| Betta fish. | | | | Aquarium Tank Space |
| Sometimes Bred For Fighting | | | | Although not advised a Betta fish will live in small |
| People have been breeding Siamese Fighting Fish | | | | bowls and tanks. Many times Bettas are kept in |
| for MANY thousands of years. In places like | | | | small plastic jars and even smaller glass containers |
| Thailand for example... they even breed betta fish | | | | or a betta tank purchased from the local pet |
| for fighting. The Bettas which are bred as | | | | shop. |
| ornamental types are usually MUCH prettier | | | | |
| though, than the Bettas bred for fighting. | | | | It's always best though to keep Bettas in |
| These Siamese Fighting Fish we love to call betta | | | | separate containers unless you are thinking about |
| fish also have a very unique characteristic which | | | | breeding. Another thing to watch out for is trying |
| actually makes them much different in some | | | | to put different varieties of tropical fish in a single |
| respects to other types of tropical fish. | | | | bowl or tank. |
| HOW? | | | | WHY? |
| Because these special fish can breath both | | | | Because long finned, redish colored tropical fish |
| through their gills, and through a special organ | | | | almost always pick-on Betta Fish. Tropical fish |
| called the "labyrinthine" which allows the Betta fish | | | | such as "tiger barbs, serpae, and even tetras" |
| to take in pure oxygen when there is a limited | | | | which tend to attact the Bettas flowing fin. |
| supply of oxygen found in its water environment. | | | | Anyone can own a Betta Fish. They're an |
| Maintaining Healthy Betta Fish | | | | especially good animal to have as a first-time pet |
| Bettas are fresh water tropical fish which love | | | | owner or somebody that has very little time or |
| shallow water, and thrive in warmer temperatures | | | | space in their lives for a regular size pet. |