Siamese Fighting Fishベタ
Betta splendensVU— Vulnerable
The Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens), native to shallow, vegetated waters of the Mekong basin in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam, is a small labyrinth fish that can breathe air at the surface thanks to a specialized organ. Domesticated for at least 1,000 years and historically bred for staged fights between males, it has since been selectively bred into countless ornamental color and fin varieties popular in the aquarium trade worldwide. Wild populations are threatened by habitat loss and pollution and are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, even as Thailand designated the species its national aquatic animal in 2019.
Siamese Fighting Fish (reference photo)
Species Data
- Classification
- Anabantiformes / Osphronemidae Source
- Size
- Body length about 5–8 cm
- Lifespan
- Average 2–3 years
- Diet
- Carnivore Carnivorous, eating zooplankton and insect larvae such as mosquito larvae
- Distribution
- Native to mainland Southeast Asia—Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam—inhabiting shallow, vegetated waters such as marshes, floodplains, and rice paddies. Source
- Sources
- ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
Did You Know?
- Males fight fiercely when kept together and have long been bred for staged fights used in gambling matches. Source
- When threatening a rival, it flares its dorsal fin, tail fin, and gill covers to their fullest extent while its body trembles. Source
- It has a specialized labyrinth organ that lets it breathe atmospheric air, and males build floating "bubble nests" from bubbles and bits of plant matter during breeding. Source
Where to See This Species
Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 0
Verified individual animals and facilities will be added as official information becomes available.
Source links to official sites, official YouTube channels, and news aggregators such as Zoo Ring. Visit the publisher for the full item.
Conservation Story
Conservation Status
Vulnerable (VU)
Sources
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FAQ
- Why do male betta fish fight?
- Males are naturally aggressive toward each other, a trait humans have bred for centuries to stage fights, which is how the species got its common name. Source
- How does a betta fish breathe air?
- It has a labyrinth organ that lets it absorb oxygen directly from the air at the water's surface. Source
- What is a bubble nest?
- It is a floating nest of bubbles, often mixed with bits of plants, that a male betta builds to hold eggs during breeding. Source
- How many operating facilities are registered here?
- Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 0 Source
Books & gear
Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org