What Kind of Fish is a Betta?
Q: What Kind of Fish is a Betta?
A: A Betta is an Anabantoid, or Labyrinth Fish.
Distantly related to Cichlids
and Perch, Anabantoids are found in Africa and Asia. Members of the families
Anabantidae, Belontiidae, Helostomatidae, and Osphronemidae, Anabantoids are
also referred to as the ``labyrinth fishes''. This is due to a special breathing
organ referred to as the labyrinth organ which is essentially a maze of tunnels
near the fish's gills. Labyrinth fish gulp air at the surface of the water and
absorb it through the labyrinth organ, allowing them to live in water with too
little oxygen to support fish which only breath through their gills. Some Anabantoids
can survive out of water for several hours breathing only through their labyrinths,
as long as they stay moist. Anabas testudineus, known as the Climbing Perch,
is said to be able to climb trees and to live out of water for up to two days.
As well as giving aquarists some additional choices for community-tank fish,
Anabantoids offer some unique options to fish keepers as well as presenting
a few problems. Because some Anabantoids are able to withstand cooler temperatures,
and because of their ability to survive in water with very low oxygen, these
fishes can be kept in tanks or bowls without heaters or filtration. On the other
hand, some Anabantoids (particularly males of some species) are very territorial
and some grow quite large.
Breeding Anabantoids can be quite rewarding. Some species build nests out of
bubbles into which they place their eggs while others, like some Cichlids, are
mouthbrooders.
The most commonly seen Anabantoid is probably the Betta or Siamese Fighting
Fish (which is generally said to be Betta Splendens but is probably a crossbreed).
Artificial color varieties with red, blue, green, purple, and many other colors
in various combinations are widely available. Males are bred to have very large
fins and both sexes are seen with double tails. Siamese Fighting Fish generally
make poor choices for the community tank for two reasons. First, as their name
would imply, they are very territorial. The aggression is greatest between two
males, but can be directed towards any fish that looks to the Betta too much
like another Betta. Second, their long fins make easy targets for many fish
such as Barbs. Siamese Fighting Fish can be kept alone in bowls (the larger
the better) or tanks without filtration as long as frequent partial water changes
are done. They do need warm temperatures, however, and are sensitive to temperature
changes, so a constant heat supply is needed if the room is less than about
75F. Also, due to poor breeding, many Siamese Fighting Fish are not very healthy.
A 3" male would be a large adult; females stay smaller.