SB PETS
BETTA FISH: “BETTA” THAN
A N Y OTH E R FIS H? BY HAILEY LAWSON
B
etta Fish (or Siamese fighting fish) are a popular freshwater fish with a wide range of brilliant colors, including red, blue, orange, yellow, green, purple, brown, and black. They may be solid, bicolored, multicolored, marbled, piebald, or variegated. Moreover, betta fish are easily recognizable by their beautifully colored, eye-catching tails that gracefully flow through the water. Bettas are great for small aquariums because they can breathe air or take in oxygen through their gills, making them great fish for a less active tank. Their vivid coloring has made them one of the most popular aquarium fish. Betta fish are originally native to the Mekong River throughout Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia. The very aggressive males will often fight each other to death. Even females can be aggressive, but less so than males. In a community aquarium, bettas will attack other brightly colored fish while leaving less colorful species alone. Adult bettas grow to be 2 to 3 inches long, not including the length of their fancy flowing tails. Male bettas have more intricate fins than females and are bred to produce fins in various shapes, while wild bettas generally have smaller fins with duller shades of gray, brown, and green. Bettas typically live for about two to five years, but they can live longer than that with proper care. Male bettas are usually sold in pet
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| SBMAG.NET
stores after they reach one year old—this allows for full color and fin development. Female bettas are generally six months old when they’re sold.
