PETS 2016 - FIGHTING FISH

Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens)
Siamese fighting fish originates from Southeast Asia and is a characteristic example of lungfish, which apart from gills have another organ for breathing, the so called labyrinth. In nature they need it in order to survive the lack of oxygen in water and during drought. These fishes in nature often live in rice fields and sometimes find themselves on dry land. Then they lie in mud and breathe oxygen from atmosphere. Most often we keep in aquariums male fishes because they are more colourful and have bigger fins than female fishes. By breeding a variety of colours and their combinations were created. This fishes got their name by the fact that they are very territorial and defend their part of aquarium or a water plant bush in which they dwell. In nature such fights end with the withdrawal of the weaker, but in aquarium, because of limited space, they most often end with the death of one of the rivals. In Thailand they used to organise until recently the fights of these fishes and betting, but during last years this was fortunately forbidden. So, in aquarium we can keep just one male Siamese fighting fish, since otherwise they would fight one another. Also, other kinds of fish in aquarium cannot have long fins because this provokes the fighting fish to fighting. Though, Siamese fighting fishes are not too demanding, so in several smaller aquariums we can keep one of them in each and enjoy their many colours and varieties. In the world, and recently also in our country, competitions and exhibitions of Siamese fighting fishes are organised, which show how beautiful and attractive they are for breeding. In nature they feed on live food (larvae and adult water insects), and in aquariums they are used to food in form of small leaves. Their reproduction in aquarium is also very interesting, since - like some other kinds of lungfish - they build a nest from foam which floats on water surface. A female and a male then lay together spawn into it, which the male then guards until the fishes hatch. If the aquarium is small, the female has to be removed to avoid problems. Siamese fighting fish is indeed a nice example of variety and beauty of animal species on Earth.
Boris Cebović Small Animal Breeder