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Welcome to the wide world of the Betta Splendins!
The first thing you need to know is, bettas are remarkably easy
to keep & care for. These fish can be kept by the amature & expert, alike.
Origin:
Bettas are Anabantoids. This
family of fish are carnivorous & bubble nesting. This family includes the Groumis, Paradise fish, and all the betta species.
The Siamese fighting fish is the species Betta Splendins, of the genius Anabantoid.
Bettas are found in mud puddles &
streams in the Orient. They are very hardy fish & can live in almost any type of water.
Their aggressive attitude
was bred into them by the ancient peoples who, after plowing the fields, would fight their wild bettas (also known as plakats).
The looser would be released & the winner would be bred. The different fin types of bettas were bred by selective breeding,
as well.
Care:
Bettas are Carnivorous fish. They require water above 68 degrees Fahrenheit, although, mine have survived
lower temperature for short periods of time. Bettas are very easy to take care of, they breath air so aeration in their aquarium
is not really necessary. Don't change your betta to often. For one gallon of water, change once a week, 2 gallons, every two
weeks, 3 gallons, every 3 weeks & so on. If you have a filter in your aquarium, water changes are almost unnecessary.
Bettas need meat protein & should be fed once or twice a day for normal up keep. An appropriate diet for these fish
is a tropical fish flake food, Bettamin, blood worms, steak, beef heart & any assortment of red meats (beef) & manufactured
foods, as wells as, Daphnia, brine shrimp, ect.
A betta should not be kept in a vase with a plant in it if you do not intend
to feed it. Contrary to popular belief, the betta cannot survive on plant roots & the plant cannot efficiently filter
the water. While a plant may cut down on water changes, you must still change at least once every 2 weeks-depending on the
size of your container. Your betta should be fed an appropriate diet of the above listed foods, even if he is in a tank with
a plant. Neglecting to feed & change his water will result in a dead betta & very dirty water. Keep it clean, keep
him fed, keep your arrangement beautiful!
Bettas, don't do well with other fish, especially males. Females may get along
with some types of fish but most bettas must be kept in solitary tanks. If you have multiple bettas, put them were they can
see each other. This keeps them from getting board & gives the exercise. If a betta is willing to get along with other
fish, usually the other fish are not willing to get along with him. They will usually pick at his long fins & irritate
him & in-turn he will do the same to them. Charocoids (tetras) are a bad choice for betta tank mates. They are the kings
& queens of nippiness.
Don't put your female betta were she can see male bettas, unless you are planning to breed her.
She will get eggs & if you don't breed her she can die of being egg bound.
Types of Bettas:
There are may different
fin types of bettas. Here are the different types:
VT, Veil Tail, the most common type of betta-not excepted in IBS shows
CT,
Crown Tail, used to be quite rare, is now quite common-excepted in IBS shows
DT, Delta Tail, still rare to see in your
local pet shop & Wal*Mart but they are sometimes there-Excepted in IBS shows
TT or DT, Twin Tail or Double Tail, probably
the most rare to see in an LPS or Wal*Mart-Excepted in IBS shows
HM, Half Moon, scarce in your LPS but findable-Excepted
in IBS shows
Plakat, Almost non-exsistant in the LPS-excepted in IBS shows
Different Species, According to the IBS Species
Maintenance Program:
Betta Taeniata
Betta Splendins (the most common Species)
Betta Albimarginata
Betta Bellica
Betta
Coccina
Betta Dimidiata
Betta Enisae
Betta Falx
Betta Foerschi
Betta Miniopinna
Betta sp. Pangkalanbun
Betta
Patoti
Betta Persephone
Betta Picta
Betta rutilans
Betta simplex
Betta Tussyae
Betta Strohi
Betta Inbellis
Betta
Pugnax
Betta Smaragdina
Betta Burdigalla
Betta Channoides
Betta pi
Betta Renata
Betta breviobesus
Betta
Pinguis
Betta Simorum
Betta Pulchra
Betta Brownorum
Betta Rutilans
Betta sp. Mahachai
Betta edithae
Betta
Patoti
Mouth Brooding Betta
Betta Anabantoid
Many of these Bettas are piece loving community fish, unlike the Betta
Splendins.
Life Span:
I have heard of laboratory bettas living for 10 years! They were chased around daily & who
knows what else!LOL
A normal betta, bought from the LPS or Wal*Mart, will be with you any where from 1-3 years, with some
making it to as much as 4 1/2 years, this is rare, though. For your betta to live long, you must take proper care of him.
The longest lived betta I've had was a crowntail female, Ver-mea. She lived til' she was 3 & died not to long after her
third aniversary with me.
Bettas (Splendins), from spawn to death, usually live anywhere from 2-3 years, depending on
the fish.
Breeding:
Bettas aren't the hardest fish to breed but, by far, not the easiest. I have never successfully
bred bettas but I do know how it works. It goes like this: a female swims into (or is introduced into) the male's habitat.
The male will usually bite her and chase her into submission. The female will hide. Durring this time, the male builds his
bubble nest. When the bubble nest is ready & the female is ready, she will swim out, with her head down. She will be swimming
in an S pattern & will proceed to move under the male's nest. The male will be under his nest & when the female comes
over, he grabs her with his body. The male gives her a full body hug, also know as "The death hug". This stimulates the female
to release her eggs. The male, simoltaniously fertilizes the eggs. When the male releases her, the female floats lifeless
for a minute or more. The male then proceeds to pick up the eggs off of the bottom of his dwelling or habitat & spits
them back into the bubble nest. The male takes care of the eggs for about 3 days until they hatch and he proceeds to take
care of the fry until they become free swimming. The male doesn't eat durring this time & the female would either be removed
or she would swim off.
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