Betta Fish

Betta Fish, also known as the Siamese Fighting Fish or Betta Splendens, come from warm, slow-moving waters in Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand). They are commonly found in rice paddies and standing waters of canals. In the late 19th century, start a selective breeding of this fish because of their fighting abilities, creating the fish we know today.

Male Bettas become very possessive in their territory, and for this reason they turn aggressive towards any fish they have close. They flare their fins as a signal of threat, however in some cases it could be a sign of flirt. Specialists do not recommend keeping two male Bettas in the same tank; they will attack each other to mark territory. You can maintain a male with a female together only for breeding, if you house them together for a long period, they will often attack each other.

We can differentiate males from females through some particular characteristics:

•       The males have bright colors; the females tend to be rather plain.
•     In addition to their colors, male Bettas typically have long, flowing fins and tails, while female Bettas have a shorter fin, being this a little bit rounded.
•        Males tend to have larger bodies, and they're skinnier that females.
•        Female Bettas can cohabit with other fish while males are more aggressive.

Bettas can live about 3 to 5 years in captivity. You need to take good care of your Betta to increase its life expectancy. The quality of the water is essential for them. Bettas need to have the water temperature between 74 and 84 Fahrenheit; if the water is too cold, it could be exposed to health problems. Also, you have to use water without chlorine to avoid skin problems.

Diet is another important factor in Betta’s health. They are carnivores and for this reason they need a diet with some proteins. The most common types of Betta food are fish flakes, fish pellets, and freeze-dried food such as bloodworms and brine shrimp. All of these treats you can get it in a pet store, they are inexpensive and easy to find.

If you are a fish lover, and you want to have some of them in your house; we recommend to start with a Betta Fish. They are easy to take care of, and they don't need a lot of space, so you should have no problem finding room at home for your new pet.