Beta fish are among the most popular and domesticated fish today. The Beta genus, which has more than 70 species, has more different colors and shapes in their natural lives. The first domestication studies started 150 years ago in Thailand, when children collected Beta fish from rice fields. The Siamese King of the time noticed the rapidly increasing popularity of fish and decided to tax them.
Beta fish, one of the most popular aquarium fish, have a wide variety of colors and shapes to choose from. In this article, we have listed the most interesting information about Beta fish, which has managed to fascinate everyone who sees it with their appearance. Without further ado, let’s move on to our content.
Information about betta fish:
- Fish are smart enough to be trained.
- Beta is actually the name of over 70 species
- are omnivorous fish
- They can breathe oxygen on the water surface
- It is quite easy to distinguish between male and female Beta fish.
- they only live a few years
- Male Betas are extremely aggressive
- It is the national marine animal of Thailand
- They can communicate with each other
- Wild Betas have duller colors
- They like warm water more
Fish are smart enough to be trained.
Beta fish are extremely intelligent fish. They can even recognize their owners who feed them. They can even follow fingers around the aquarium, run through hoops, and can be trained to perform simple tricks like pushing a ball towards the goal.
Beta is actually the name of over 70 species
Scientifically, “Beta” is the generic name for a genus that encompasses dozens of different fish species. Betta splendens is the most common of these, and the type that most people know as “Beta”. Another name is the Brawler Siamese fish.
are omnivorous fish
Another important thing to know about betas is that they are omnivores. This means that they are not actually very picky about their diet. In their natural habitat, they usually come to the surface and feed there. Bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia are among their favorite foods to eat.
They can breathe oxygen on the water surface
Bettas are anabanthods, also known as labyrinth fish. Anabantoids have a special organ through which they can breathe oxygen. In this way, they do not have to survive only by normal underwater respiration. That is, they can survive out of water for a while.
It is quite easy to distinguish between male and female Beta fish.
In general, it is fairly easy to determine whether Beta fish are male or female. There are some factors that make their sex clear and separate male Betas from female Betas. This is much more difficult to do in young Beta fish. Males have more vibrant colors than females, while females have vertical stripes on their bodies. There are also differences in body shapes. Females are shorter and broader than males.
they only live a few years
The lifespan of Betas is usually 2-3 years, but there have been Betas that live much longer than that. So in rare cases, they’ve been seen to live longer than 10 years. One of the biggest reasons for this is good maintenance.
Male Betas are extremely aggressive
If you have a collective aquarium and are considering adding a fish, Beta should be among your last choices. This is because Betas are extremely aggressive towards other males and smaller fish. That is, any male Beta fish can attack and harm another fish in the same aquarium.
It is the national marine animal of Thailand
Originating in Southeast Asia, Beta fish are one of the most popular fish all over the world today. But their original habitat is countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam. These fish mostly live in the Mekong River and other rivers. It was also chosen as Thailand’s national marine animal in 2019. However, they should be monitored regularly, as they are designated as vulnerable in their natural environment by conservation status.
They can communicate with each other
Male Betas use their gills as a means of communication. For example, when two male Betas meet, they open their gills and fins to scare each other away. They also expand their gills and fins when courting a female. If the female is affected, they will turn their gills and fins towards the male.
Wild Betas have duller colors
Did you know that the brightly colored Betas that you are used to seeing today actually have duller colors in their wild life? The bright colors and patterns you see today are the result of many years of breeding work by fish breeders. However, these studies can lead to genetic and deformities from time to time.
They like warm water more
Bettas are tropical fish, meaning they prefer warmer waters. In the wild, they live in waters of about 24 to 30 degrees Celsius. It is recommended to keep pet Beta fish in waters of 26 to 27 degrees Celsius. If the aquarium water is too cold, Betas will become sluggish over time and may even stop eating. Therefore, aquarium water needs to be checked regularly.
In this content, we examined the interesting features of Beta Fish. You can also check out our other content about animals:
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