Table of contents
Evolved in particular environment
Betta originates from Thailand and inhabits shallow area like vast standing waters of canals, rice paddles, floodplains and swamp. Fighting fish has gills but they also has unique biological feature called “labyrinth organ” which allows taking oxygen directly from air.
Hence, if they are trapped into cramped space by flood or other causes, they are still ok to live as they can breathe air. And because of this labyrinth organ, it allows fighting fish to survive in environment where dissolved oxygen in water is in low percentage.
Prefers stagnant water than stream current
Improved variety betta like half moon which has extremely elongated fins is not designed for swimming performance but for the show. Hence, they often dwell in slow current or stagnant area. You would like to mimic the environment for keeping fighting fish so either slow current or stagnant condition is desirable when setting up your fish tank.
Fighting fish can normally be kept without filter (taking into account good maintenance). However, if you really would like to have filter in your aquarium for better water quality for longer period of time as well as less maintenance required for you, adjust the flow rate so it doesn’t blow fighting fish away.
Life span
Life span will depend on variety type and its environment even though they are looked after exactly the same. Some will live over 5 years but some other will only live 1-2 years.
Prefers low pH and high temperature
Fighting fish prefers slightly acidic pH, around 6.5. They can tolerate lower pH like 5.0 and higher temperature just above 30 degrees Celsius. On the other hand, they don’t like temperature below 25 degrees Celsius and certainly not going to be happy for less than 20 degrees Celsius. Set the heater especially when it is getting cold and make sure that “reading temperature” is above 25 degrees Celsius, not “setting temperature” on heater.
Fighting fish is quite tough so you don’t need to be nervous about setting their environment perfect all the time. Although having said that, they do not appreciate when you change water rapidly and sometimes become ill due to that so change about 30% of water and slowly introduce new water to avoid the impact on fighting fish.
So many variations
Fighting fish is said to be the fish that can have any colour (blue, red, green, yellow, pink, white, black, etc). ALso, they have sheen and matte body colouration and metallic look is called “copper” as well.
Generally fighting fish is quite aggressive but there are some placid ones rarely seen. Facial expression is also different to individual fighting fish as you look closer.
Their body shape, body length differs by its genes. Some are very large which probably comes from giant plakat while some others have shorter body due to particular purpose of breeding program.
Thanks to breeders who spend so much effort and so much time to create and/or improve varieties of type. As they put so much effort onto it, we can meet to new improved variety that comes into the market.
Let them flare sometimes
Fighting fish will get excited when they see other fighting fish and enlarge their fins and gills. This action is called “flaring”. Fighting fish especially that has large fins such as half moon need to be flaring occasionally to prevent cling their fins as well as to achieve better fin openings.
Flaring in daily basis is important. Easiest and most common way to achieve this is to place mirror against it.
What to do when betta is not flaring
Sometimes some fighting fish will not flare even though they are healthy. Maybe it is little more placid than others. If for instance fighting fish will not flare by placing mirror against it, there is another way which may stimulate them flare up
Fetch fish that has narrow body shape such as guppy, white cloud or even female fighting fish and place them into container. Locate it either next to fish tank or float where male fighting fish is if possible.
Fighting fish may be surprised when those narrow body shape fish swim around it and should flare up as long as it’s not unwell. If your fighting fish is not flaring and mirrow technique is not working and not know what to do other than that, try this nad see how it goes.
Building bubble nest
Matured and healthy male fighting fish will make bubble nest on surface water for spawning. If you are not planning to breed fighting fish, there is no need to worry to ruin nest by cleaning fish tank.
Female can sometimes build bubble nest in rare occasion when it’s in breeding period as well.