Page 108 - Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish, 3rd Edition

106 FRESHWATER FISH DIRECTORY

Betta splendens (continued)
It is the responsibility of the male Siamese
Fighting Fish to construct a bubble nest. Spawning
occurs nearby, with the pair wrapping around one
another. The female will then float upside down,
as though stunned, while the male collects the 15
or so eggs in its mouth and carries them to the
bubble nest. Mating resumes once he has gathered
all the eggs. This sequence is repeated until some Long ventral fin
500 eggs have been produced, with the entire
process lasting about two hours. It is then best to
remove the female while the male guards the nest; Body is paler Split-Tailed Betta In good specimens, the divided
otherwise, he may attack her. If the tank is very than the fins caudal fin is symmetrical, with both branches of the
large and well planted, however, it may be safe for tail being equal in size and shape.
her to stay put. Round-Tailed
Hatching occurs 48 hours after mating, and the Cambodian Betta Rounded
young fry are free-swimming within a further four Some individuals are dorsal fin
days. Rear them on fry foods at first, and gently paler than others, being,
circulate the water with an airstone to convey food in effect, albinos. The
particles to them. Powdered flake and brine shrimp dark-eyed form retains
can be provided as they grow. The large number some color pigment.
of fry means that gentle filtration is needed to
maintain water quality, and partial water changes
are required every three days. Once the males in Round-Tailed Betta
The caudal fin of this fish
the brood can be identified, usually at about two is relatively small and
months of age, they should be moved to individual rounded, rather than long
accommodation to prevent fighting. Prior to this, and trailing as in most
keep the aquarium covered to keep the young fish strains. The colorful rays add Prominent
pelvic fins
from becoming chilled, since this will impair the to its appeal, as does the
development of their labyrinth organs (see p.110). dark edging on the fins.
Betta smaragdina Betta pugnax
Emerald-Green Betta for spawning approaches. Males can be mixed with Mouth-Brooding Betta
unrelated fish, but if they are housed together,
ORIGINS Southeast Asia, present in Cambodia they will fight, with potentially fatal consequences. ORIGINS Southeast Asia; occurs widely on the Malay
(Kampuchea), Laos, and eastern parts of Thailand. In the wild, Emerald-Green Bettas inhabit shallow Peninsula.
SIZE 2 ⁄4 in (7 cm). areas of water that flood during the wet season, SIZE 4 in (10 cm).
1
DIET Prepared foods and live foods. and this flooding marks the onset of the breeding DIET Prepared foods and live foods.
WATER Temperature 75–82°F (24–28°C); soft period. A significant partial water change in their WATER Temperature 73–77°F (23–25°C); soft
(50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.0–6.5). tank may thus trigger spawning. The male builds (50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.0–6.5).
TEMPERAMENT Males may quarrel. a bubble nest among vegetation. After spawning, TEMPERAMENT Males likely to be pugnacious.
remove the female in case the male becomes
The body of the male Emerald-Green Betta aggressive toward her, and leave the male to guard
displays areas of red, blue, and green. The female the nest, which contains up to 100 eggs. Give the Faint
is plainer but will develop stripes as the time young fry food at first and then brine shrimp. banding
on body
Green edge
on gill covers
Mixed coloration of male

The appearance of these
fish is highly variable,
depending partly on their
origins and partly on their
overall condition. They tend to have a
reddish-brown background color, with green spots
evident on the individual scales. Cooler water
conditions suit this mouth-brooder, which often
occurs in flowing waters. The young are sexually
mature by about six months.

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