The Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens) is a fish in the Gourami family.
The Siamese Fighting Fish can be green, brown, and grey in the wild. In the aquarium, it is bred to include many colours, such as red, orange, yellow, blue, black, and multi-coloured. The male has long, flowing fins, whereas the female has shorter fins.
It can grow to about 6 centimetres (2.5 inches) long.
The Siamese Fighting Fish is native to the waters of the Mekong basin in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. It prefers still waters in canals, rice paddies, and flood plains.
It feeds on zooplankton, mosquito larvae, and insects.
The male makes a bubble nest at the surface of the water. The female lays 10-40 eggs. The male collects the eggs and puts them in the bubble nest. The male looks after the eggs until they hatch after 24-36 hours.
The larvae remain in the nest for 2-3 days until they become small fish, called fry.
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM