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Betta FishAnother name for betta fish is the Siamese fighting fish. Betta fish is pronounced in the same way as when you say the Greek letter beta. It is for this reason that most misspell the name and is you often see it written as beta fish. Bettas originate in the shallow waters of Thailand, formerly called Siam, hence their name, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and parts of China. Bettas are probably one of the most recognized fish in the aquarium trade, often sold in small cups of water, stacked on shelves, side-by-side. Because of the fantastic colours of the male betta fish and other advantages, they are the most popular of aquarium fish. As is the case in most species in the animal world, it is the male betta fish that is the dressier gender. Most all the betta fish you would find in pet stores will undoubtedly be male, the female betta tends to be a bit on the dull side. In Canada and the United States , the Betta fish is sometimes sold in a vase with a plant, with the erroneous claim that the Betta fish can feed on the roots of the plant and that it can survive without changing the water. As the plant roots die, which they will, toxins are released into the water that can harm the Betta fish. Tanks with live plants require good filtration. A small tank of 10 gallons (38 liters), heater and filter, is negligible in price and will be repaid many times over by the enjoyment derived from a Betta fish well kept. Before co-housing Siamese fighting fish with other species, their compatibility should be carefully researched, and the owner should have a back-up plan if the shared tank does not work. It is strongly recommended that bettas given tankmates should be housed in a tank that is at least 2 gallons per fish in the community, depending on bio load, with plenty of hiding places. Male bettas do not 'fight to the death' in the wild, once one Betta fish has clearly won the encounter, the loser will retreat to a safe location. In an aquarium, however, there is no place to run, and the winning Betta fish will continue to attack the loser, often ending in death. Decorations can provide hiding places, especially important when two males are housed in a divided tank, or when the betta is living in a community tank. The capacity to turn aggressive behavior on and off by using a mirror, without putting the subject at the risk of physical damage inherent in staging an actual aggressive conflict, made the fish a popular subject of study by ethologists and comparative psychologists interested in studying aggression . Although bettas are most aggressive towards each other, they have been known to kill very small fish or nip at the fins of fish such as fancy guppies , perhaps mistaking their finnage for that of another male betta. Many varieties of "colour-enhancing" foods for aquarium fishes are available to the consumer. Generally, these foods contain natural dyes such as beta carotene and are not harmful to Bettas, although as with other dye methods, the effect is temporary. Betta pellets are typically a combination of mashed shrimp meal, bloodworms, and various vitamins to enhance color and longevity. Bettas fare better with a large variety of foods and will often show brighter, richer, and deeper colors if they are fed a wide range of foods. Dont overfeed, it tends to foul up the water and whilet bettas arent too sensitive about a bit of organic matter in the tank, it is still advisable to change the water at least once a week. Normally betta fish live to be 2-5 years old, but some betta fish live to be nearly 8 years old. Though this might sound like a rather brief life span, there are few fish more beautiful, or that give more pleasure, than the exotic Betta Splendens. Remember that your fish is a living, breathing responsibilitythat is all yours beginning the day you bring your new pet home. Stumble It! • Submit To Netscape • del.icio.us • Y! MyWeb |
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