Betta Fish

Betta fish, also known as Siamese Fighting Fish, once bred for their aggression to compete fish fights, are now often used as starter fish for an unknowing audience. Pet stores line shelves with cup after cup of Betta, purposefully making the hobby seem as simple as possible to sell as many as they can. Most of the Bettas on those shelves are sick or dying. While comparatively simple to many other kinds of aquatic animal care, Betta fish are living beings that require research and effort into their well-being.

Living

A common misstep in Betta care is the belief that they come from “puddles” tank measurements and parameters are often less than ideal. The puddles Betta’s supposedly come from are actually rice patties, flood plains and other large bodies of shallow water. While they can survive in small amounts of water and temperature changes for some time, to thrive, a Betta should have at least 5 gallons, a consistently warm tank/heater, and plenty of places to dart in and out of.

Tail

Siamese Fighting Fish are typically classified by their tail shapes: