Betta Splendens Distribution and habitat

 

Betta splendens is a native of Southeast Asia, including the northern Malay Peninsula, central and eastern Thailand, Kampuchea (Cambodia), and southern Vietnam, according to Witte and Schmidt (1992). The species is confined to Thailand, from the Mae Khlong to Chao Phraya basins, the eastern side of the Cardamom highlands (Cambodia), and from the Isthmus of Kra, according to Vidthayanon (2013), a Thai ichthyologist and senior researcher of biodiversity at WWF Thailand. Betta splendens is a native of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, according to a report by Froese and Pauly (2019). Due to human introduction, they are now widespread throughout the neighbouring Malay Peninsula and in nearby areas of Sumatra.

Betta splendens often lives in marshes, floodplains, and paddy fields, which are shallow bodies of water with plenty of vegetation. Bettas were initially discovered and then domesticated by humans because of the historical prominence of rice farming throughout Southeast Asia, which offered a suitable environment for them. This environment likely led to the evolution of the lung-like labyrinth organ, which allows Siamese fighting fish like all members of the suborder Anabantoidei to breathe directly from the air. Because bettas can survive and even thrive in more challenging circumstances than other freshwater fish, they have fewer natural predators and rivals.

The abrupt and dramatic variations in water availability, chemistry, and temperature that characterise the tropical environment of the betta's native habitat. While air temperatures can fluctuate between 15 °C (59 °F) and 40 °C (100 °F), the pH of water can range from mildly acidic (pH 6.9) to strongly alkaline (pH 8.2). The capacity of Siamese fighting fish to effectively colonise bodies of water across the world is due to their exceptional adaptability and durability, which allows them to survive in a range of poisonous or harsh settings.

The aquatic vegetation and surface foliage, such as water lilies and fallen leaves, are what wild bettas love to reside in. Assertive males cohabit by claiming dense patches of vegetation as their domain, and the quantity of plants offers protection from predators and a barrier between them. As well as providing shelter to fry at their earliest and most vulnerable phases, such vegetation also provides protection to females during spawning.

Photo by:Shuxuan Cao from Pexels

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Siamese Fighting Fish - Betta Splendens

 

The betta, sometimes referred to as the Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens), is a freshwater fish that is indigenous to Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Due to their widespread appeal as pets and their comparatively low maintenance requirements, Betta splendens are among the most widely kept aquarium fish in the world. There are 73 species in the genus Betta, but only one is given the name "betta."

The longest of any fish, Siamese fighting fish are unique to the central plains of Thailand, where they were domesticated for the first time at least 1,000 years ago. They were originally bred for ferocity and used in cockfight-style gambling contests. Theodore Cantor, a Danish doctor, biologist, and botanist, is reported to have received several Bettas from King Rama III (1788–1851), who is credited with introducing them to the rest of the world. When they initially arrived in the West in the late 19th century, ornamental fish quickly gained popularity. The term "designer fish of the aquatic world" has been used for them because of their extensive history of selective breeding, which has resulted in a vast variation of colouring and finnage.

Siamese Fighting Fish

Male betta fish are notoriously aggressive and very territorial, and if they are kept in the same tank without a method of escape, they may fight each other and kill one or both fish. In small areas, female bettas might develop territorial behaviour against one another. Due to their unique labyrinth organ, which is a feature specific to the suborder Anabantoidei and allows for the entry of surface air, bettas are highly tolerant to low oxygen levels and poor water quality.

The Siamese fighting fish is not only well-known across the globe, but it is also Thailand's national aquatic animal. Thailand continues to be the principal producer and supplier of betta fish for the international aquarium industry. The IUCN has classed B. splendens as "vulnerable" because of rising pollution and habitat degradation, despite the fact that they are often used as pets.

Image by endri yana yana from Pixabay Image by Seno Aji from Pixabay

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Betta fish lifespan in wild. How Long Do Betta Fish Live in the Wild?

How Long Do Betta Fish Live in the Wild??  Typically, bettas live about 2 years in their natural environment. Their lives are much different in their natural habitat

Bettas originally live in swamp and river basins in Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia. They can also be found in rice paddies, ponds, small streams, and even drainage ditches.

While you might think these areas are constantly wet, they do go through significant dry seasons which causes the betta’s habitat to change drastically. They spent a large portion of their lives jumping from puddle to puddle to find larger bodies of water.

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Ideal water temperature to keep betta fish : maximum temperature for betta fish

Another factor for how long a betta fish will live is the water temperature in the aquarium.
86 degrees Fahrenheit is the absolute maximum, temperature that your betta tank can be at is 30 degrees Celsius or 86 degrees Fahrenheit.

Any higher than that and you are more or less cooking your fish, cooking it slowly, but cooking it none the less. You will notice weird behavior in your betta fish if the water is too warm


Be sure to keep the water at between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, which will boost your betta's immune system and help prevent disease.



Choose and research a good aquarium heater and get a reliable tank thermometer to keep track of the temperature. A 25 watt heater will do the trick!

if you do choose to keep your betta in a small tank it is probably best not to use a heater at all. A tank heater in a small tank can lead to the water temperature rising very rapidly, which is not good for the fighting fish – it can be almost like cooking them.

If you do choose to keep your betta in a small tank, try and locate it in a warm place in your home.

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How Long Do Betta Fish Live? Average Betta Fish Life Span

To help a betta fish live longer, feed it a healthy diet that consists of live food, betta pellets, and frozen fish food. You should also clean your betta's tank and water regularly so it doesn't get sick. 2 – 3 years is the average lifespan of a domesticated betta fish. This is because of the nutrition and living conditions are not always perfect. However, up to 6 years is very achievable and 10 has been done! You just need to make sure you can give your betta fish the best environment possible.


Info:
The female betta fish will usually live a bit longer by a few months than a male betta fish. However, most people prefer the males because they are much more colorful and have longer and fancier fins.

Tips:
Keeping Your Betta Fish Healthy and Happy
You will often see these colorful little fish in small containers at the pet store. They are sold this way because they can’t be kept together in one large betta tank as the males will fight each other.
These small tanks are not suitable living spaces for betta fish. Betta fish ideally need around 5 gallons of personal space in their tank.

Betta specific fish food is great as it has taken into account the natural diet of the fish and has been produced to match (or close enough ) the fish’s natural requirements.

A few live aquarium plants can provide a great retreat for your betta. It can also provide shade to help avoid algae growing so fast and can also help naturally filter out some impurities and nitrogen that will build up in the tank.

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Betta Imbellis colony - Video

Betta imbellis (Peaceful Betta) can peaceful live with other species.

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Female Betta

Female betta fish have shorter fins compare with male, and with less vibrant bright colors. But at this moment with many genetic created, some female betta fish can display as much colorful than male.  

Normally when females betta breeding she will display horizontal stripes or a vertical lines across their body when they flare with male betta. Mean they are ready for egg laying.  

Female betta fish are raised in large tanks along with other females. So female Bettas are unaffectedly used to a type of community living and are much more resistant of having other female bettas in the tank.   

   

Keep in mind that this is normal behavior of female bettas compare with male a bit aggressive. Keeping male and female together in the community tank is not a good idea but can work sometimes. As long they were been feed well with many other fishes around them sometimes the betta male won’t aggressive and if the male came from the same group when they grow up together.  

Female seen to be very easy to sexing them. When you will notice a egg sticking at the bottom of the abdomen side. Male is opposite. Sometimes some female with colorful look and with a bigger body but as long they have the white dot sticking at bottom it is a female betta.

Sexing the female betta

Spoting the female betta.   

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Betta Disease: Bacterial Infections

Prevention: Bacterial infections can happen for many reasons, but bad water quality is a happy environment for bacteria to grow in. Contact with dead fish can spread them too, though your bettas shouldn't have that problem unless they're in a community tank.

Symptoms: Betta may have clamped fins, lay at bottom or at surface, not eat, lose its color, turn gray, barely swim around. In more advanced cases, its body

may start developing red patches, open sores and all kinds of nasty looking stuff. Different bacteria affect fish differently. Some will attack the internal organs while others prefer to munch on the skin.

Treatment: The term "bacterial infection" is very broad, and so you'll have to treat a side range of possible infections. Do a full water change. Clean filter and filtering system if you have them and remove any uneaten food rotting. Isolate any bettas with symptoms if in a community tank.

You should also treat the whole tank. There is a wide variety of antibiotics available for fish. Remove carbon from your filters before you add the medications: the carbon would otherwise absorb all the medication. Use Tetracycline or Ampicillin combined with Fungus Eliminator or whatever you find at your store (look for “broad spectrum” antibiotics, though a good one is Kanamycin if you can find some). You can learn more about all of these in the First Aid section. Follow manufacturer’s instructions and don’t stop the treatment until your bettas are well again. Dose carefully and to the correct proportions, and you'll have to redose after you do water changes, which you should do every three days or so.

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