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The Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens), also known as "the betta", is a popular freshwater aquarium fish. In the wild, betta splendens occur in Thailand and Cambodia where they are known as ikan bettah, pla-kad or trey krem (the fighting fish). Because of their luminous colors Bettas are widely popular as ornamental fish in aquariums. In traditional Thailand and Cambodia, Betta splendens are a valued status symbol among simple farmers as well as aristocrats alike, mainlybecause of the aggressive and competive behavior of the males, which is displayed in show fights and competitions.
Betta splendens belongs to the the group of labyrinth fish, which do not depend exclusively on gill breathing, but which feature a so called labyrinth organ, through which they are able to breathe atmospheric oxygen to some degree. This enables to these fish to survive in relatively warm water with low oxygen levels. The particular physionomy of their mouth, which upwards open and adapted for surface feeding, also allows them to take up air at the water surface. That is whythe air around Betta aquariums may not be much colder than the water, because the fish may catch a chill and become ill.
While Bettas splendens males are appreciated all over the world for their bright colors and extravagant fins, their natural color in the wild is reddish brown with greenish scale rows, and shorter fins. Wild Females have yellowish-brown color. Grown Bettas splendens males usually measure around 2.4 inches/ 6 cm while some specially bread variations may reach up to 8 cm/3.1 inches. Bettas splendens become approximately 2 years old.
In the wild, Betta splendens feed on zooplankton adn insect larvae. In captivity, betta food dieta typically consists in a combination of vitamins, blood worms and ground shrimp meal and fish meal, Individuals which feed on a wider range of different foods tend to live longer and have richer colors. Betta splendens make few demands to the water quality and do well in relatively small spaces if required. Males are exceptionally aggressive against malaes of thier own kind. They attack each other at first and will fight until the death when no escape is vailable. Males will also threaten their own reflection in a mirror and attack it. They may also attack species that resemble their own,
Standarts for the assessment of bred Betta Splendens are set by the IBC (International Betta Congress) which consider criteria suh as size, symmetry, proportion and shape. There are standards in each case for the breeding specific forms such Halfmoon, Crowntail, Veiltail, Roundtail, Doubletail etc.
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