Betta
Encyclopedia
Betta is a large genus
of small, often colorful, freshwater
ray-finned fishes in the gourami
family
(Osphronemidae). The type species
is B. picta, the spotted betta
.
By far the best known Betta species, however, is B. splendens, the Siamese fighting fish
.
Bettas are anabantoids, which means they can breathe atmospheric air thanks to a unique organ called the labyrinth. This accounts for their ability to thrive in low-oxygen water conditions that would kill most other fish, such as rice paddies, slow-moving streams, drainage ditches, and large puddles.
The various bettas can be divided into two groups, based on their spawning behaviour: some build bubble nest
s, like B. splendens, while others are mouthbrooder
s, like B. picta. The mouthbrooding species are sometimes called "pseudo bettas", and are sometimes speculated to have evolved
from the nest-builders in an adaptation
to their fast-moving stream habitats.
Betta pellets are small, round edible pellets that are food for most betta species. Betta pellets are made out of crude protein
, crude fat, crude fiber
, crude ash, moisture, phosphorus
, certain vitamins, and other ingredients.
, B. splendens, are frequently sold in the United States
simply as bettas. Fish fanciers are thus often unaware that, , there are around 65 species classified within the genus Betta. A further source of confusion is that while the generic
name Betta is italicized and capitalized, when used as a common name it is usually not capitalized.
The common name
of Betta pugnax, for example, is thus Penang betta
.
The name Betta (or betta) is pronounced ˈ. That is, the first part is the same as the English word bet. By confusion with the name of the Greek letter
beta
, the name is often pronounced /ˈbeɪtə/ in American English
, and may be misspelled with one t. The name of the genus is unrelated to that of the Greek letter, being derived from the Malay
word ikan betah ("persistent fish").
classifies several Betta species as Vulnerable. In addition, B. livida
is Endangered, and B. miniopinna
, B. persephone
, and B. spilotogena
are Critically Endangered.
The United Nations Environment Programme
lists an unconfirmed species, Betta cf. tomi, as having become extinct in Singapore
between 1970 and 1994.
This likely refers to the extirpated Singaporean population of B. tomi
, which continues to exist in the wild in Indonesia
and Malaysia as well as in captivity; the Red List classifies it as Vulnerable.
The currently described Betta species can be grouped into complexes for conservation purposes. (This grouping of species makes no claim at representing a phylogenetic reality.) The complexes of the associated species are:
There are also several known populations without a valid species status, like Betta sp. machachai from the splendens complex. These may be described as valid species in the future.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of small, often colorful, freshwater
Freshwater
Fresh water is naturally occurring water on the Earth's surface in ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, bogs, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, and underground as groundwater in aquifers and underground streams. Fresh water is generally characterized by having low concentrations of dissolved salts and...
ray-finned fishes in the gourami
Gourami
Gouramis are a family, Osphronemidae, of freshwater perciform fishes. The fish are native to Asia, from Pakistan and India to the Malay Archipelago and north-easterly towards Korea. The name "gourami" is also used for fish of the families Helostomatidae and Anabantidae. "Gouramis" is an example of...
family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
(Osphronemidae). The type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
is B. picta, the spotted betta
Spotted betta
The spotted betta or Javanese fighting fish is a freshwater ray-finned fish in the gourami family of order Perciformes. The type species of genus Betta, it is native to relatively cool, 22‒25 °C , highland streams of Java and Sumatra.In 1967, D. S...
.
By far the best known Betta species, however, is B. splendens, the Siamese fighting fish
Siamese fighting fish
The Siamese fighting fish , also known as the betta , is a popular species of freshwater aquarium fish. The name of the genus is derived from ikan bettah, taken from a local dialect of Malay...
.
Characteristics
All the Betta species are small fishes, but they vary considerably in size, ranging from under 2.5 cm (1 inch) total length in B. chanoides to 12.5 cm (5 inches) in the Akar betta (B. akarensis).Bettas are anabantoids, which means they can breathe atmospheric air thanks to a unique organ called the labyrinth. This accounts for their ability to thrive in low-oxygen water conditions that would kill most other fish, such as rice paddies, slow-moving streams, drainage ditches, and large puddles.
The various bettas can be divided into two groups, based on their spawning behaviour: some build bubble nest
Bubble nest
Bubblenests, also spelled bubble nests or bubble-nests, created by some fish species, are floating masses of bubbles blown with an oral secretion, saliva bubbles, and occasionally aquatic plants, or an area for egg deposit attached at the bottom. Fish that build and guard bubble nests are known as...
s, like B. splendens, while others are mouthbrooder
Mouthbrooder
Mouthbrooding, also known as oral incubation and buccal incubation, is the care given by some groups of animals to their offspring by holding them in the mouth of the parent for extended periods of time. Although mouthbrooding is performed by a variety of different animals, most notably Darwin's...
s, like B. picta. The mouthbrooding species are sometimes called "pseudo bettas", and are sometimes speculated to have evolved
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
from the nest-builders in an adaptation
Adaptation
An adaptation in biology is a trait with a current functional role in the life history of an organism that is maintained and evolved by means of natural selection. An adaptation refers to both the current state of being adapted and to the dynamic evolutionary process that leads to the adaptation....
to their fast-moving stream habitats.
Food
Betta fish are not big eaters but should be fed a small amount once a day to once every other day. They can be fed floating flake food, freeze dried blood worms, live black worms, or frozen brine shrimp.Betta pellets are small, round edible pellets that are food for most betta species. Betta pellets are made out of crude protein
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
, crude fat, crude fiber
Fiber
Fiber is a class of materials that are continuous filaments or are in discrete elongated pieces, similar to lengths of thread.They are very important in the biology of both plants and animals, for holding tissues together....
, crude ash, moisture, phosphorus
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is the chemical element that has the symbol P and atomic number 15. A multivalent nonmetal of the nitrogen group, phosphorus as a mineral is almost always present in its maximally oxidized state, as inorganic phosphate rocks...
, certain vitamins, and other ingredients.
Name
There is often much confusion in terminology regarding these fish. Siamese fighting fishSiamese fighting fish
The Siamese fighting fish , also known as the betta , is a popular species of freshwater aquarium fish. The name of the genus is derived from ikan bettah, taken from a local dialect of Malay...
, B. splendens, are frequently sold in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
simply as bettas. Fish fanciers are thus often unaware that, , there are around 65 species classified within the genus Betta. A further source of confusion is that while the generic
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
name Betta is italicized and capitalized, when used as a common name it is usually not capitalized.
The common name
Common name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
of Betta pugnax, for example, is thus Penang betta
Penang betta
The Giant Betta Betta pugnax, is a species of freshwater spiked rayed fish in the gourami family of order Perciformes. It is native to and common in swiftly flowing forest streams of the Malay Peninsula, Cambodia, Thailand, Borneo, and Sumatra, having originally been described from a population...
.
Greek alphabet
The Greek alphabet is the script that has been used to write the Greek language since at least 730 BC . The alphabet in its classical and modern form consists of 24 letters ordered in sequence from alpha to omega...
beta
Beta (letter)
Beta is the second letter of the Greek alphabet. In Ancient Greek, beta represented the voiced bilabial plosive . In Modern Greek, it represents the voiced labiodental fricative ....
, the name is often pronounced /ˈbeɪtə/ in American English
American English
American English is a set of dialects of the English language used mostly in the United States. Approximately two-thirds of the world's native speakers of English live in the United States....
, and may be misspelled with one t. The name of the genus is unrelated to that of the Greek letter, being derived from the Malay
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
word ikan betah ("persistent fish").
Conservation
While many Betta species are common and B. splendens is ubiquitous in the aquarium trade, other bettas are threatened. The IUCN Red ListIUCN Red List
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , founded in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species...
classifies several Betta species as Vulnerable. In addition, B. livida
Betta livida
Betta livida is a species of fish in the Osphronemidae family. It is endemic to Malaysia.-References:* Kottelat, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
is Endangered, and B. miniopinna
Betta miniopinna
Betta miniopinna is a species of fish in the Osphronemidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia.-Source:* Kottelat, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
, B. persephone
Betta persephone
Betta persephone is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish in the gourami family of order Perciformes. First described in 1986 from a population near Ayer Hitam in Johor state, Malaysia, B. persephone is a rare and elusive species....
, and B. spilotogena
Betta spilotogena
Betta spilotogena is a species of fish in the Osphronemidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia.Betta Spilotogena is a fish species first discovered in Indonesia. This species is classified as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened species.Habitat: These fish are often found in...
are Critically Endangered.
The United Nations Environment Programme
United Nations Environment Programme
The United Nations Environment Programme coordinates United Nations environmental activities, assisting developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices. It was founded as a result of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in June 1972 and has its...
lists an unconfirmed species, Betta cf. tomi, as having become extinct in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
between 1970 and 1994.
This likely refers to the extirpated Singaporean population of B. tomi
Betta tomi
Betta tomi is a species of fish in the Osphronemidae family. It is endemic to Malaysia.-References:* Kottelat, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
, which continues to exist in the wild in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
and Malaysia as well as in captivity; the Red List classifies it as Vulnerable.
Species
- Akarensis complex:
- Betta akarensis Regan, 1910 – Akar betta
- Betta antoni Tan & Ng, 2006
- Betta aurigans Tan & Ng, 2004
- Betta balunga Herre, 1940
- Betta chiniBetta chiniBetta chini is a species of fish in the Osphronemidae family. It is endemic to Malaysia.-References:* Kottelat, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
Ng, 1993 - Betta ibanorum Tan and Ng, 2004
- Betta obscura Tan & Ng, 2005
- Betta pinguis Tan and Kottelat, 1998
- Albimarginata complex:
- Betta albimarginata Kottelat and Ng, 1994
- Betta channoides Kottelat and Ng, 1994
- Anabatoides complex:
- Betta anabatoides BleekerPieter BleekerPieter Bleeker was a Dutch medical doctor and ichthyologist, famous for his work on the fishes of East Asia – Atlas Ichthyologique des Orientales Neerlandaises – which was published 1862–1877....
, 1851 – giant betta - Betta midas Tan, 2009
- Betta anabatoides Bleeker
- Bellica complex:
- Betta bellica Sauvage, 1884 – slim betta
- Betta simorum Tan and Ng, 1996
- Coccina complex:
- Betta brownorum Witte and Schmidt, 1992
- Betta burdigalaBetta burdigalaBetta burdigala is a species of fish in the Osphronemidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia.-References:* Kottelat, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007.*...
Kottelat and Ng, 1994 - Betta coccinaBetta coccinaBetta coccina is a species of fish in the Osphronemidae family. Its closest relatives are Betta channoides, Betta albomarginata, and the Siamese Fighting Fish ....
Vierke, 1979 - Betta lividaBetta lividaBetta livida is a species of fish in the Osphronemidae family. It is endemic to Malaysia.-References:* Kottelat, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
Ng and Kottelat, 1992 - Betta miniopinnaBetta miniopinnaBetta miniopinna is a species of fish in the Osphronemidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia.-Source:* Kottelat, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
Tan and Tan, 1994 - Betta persephoneBetta persephoneBetta persephone is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish in the gourami family of order Perciformes. First described in 1986 from a population near Ayer Hitam in Johor state, Malaysia, B. persephone is a rare and elusive species....
Schaller, 1986 - Betta rutilans Witte and Kottelat in Kottelat, 1991
- Betta tussyae Schaller, 1985
- Betta uberis Tan & Ng, 2006
- Dimidiata complex:
- Betta dimidiata Roberts, 1989
- Betta krataios Tan & Ng, 2006
- Edithae complex:
- Betta edithae Vierke, 1984
- Foerschi complex:
- Betta foerschi Vierke, 1979
- Betta mandorBetta mandorBetta mandor is a species of Betta. Prior to 2006, the trade names Betta sp. "Mandor" or Betta sp. "ninja" were used in the aquarium trade....
Tan & Ng, 2006 - Betta rubra Perugia, 1893 – Toba betta
- Betta strohi Schaller and Kottelat, 1989
- Picta complex:
- Betta falx Tan and Kottelat, 1998
- Betta picta (ValenciennesValenciennesValenciennes is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It lies on the Scheldt river. Although the city and region had seen a steady decline between 1975 and 1990, it has since rebounded...
, 1846) – spotted bettaSpotted bettaThe spotted betta or Javanese fighting fish is a freshwater ray-finned fish in the gourami family of order Perciformes. The type species of genus Betta, it is native to relatively cool, 22‒25 °C , highland streams of Java and Sumatra.In 1967, D. S... - Betta simplexBetta simplexBetta simplex is a species of fish in the Osphronemidae family. It is endemic to Thailand.-References:* Kottelat, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
Kottelat, 1994 - Betta taeniata Regan, 1910 – Borneo betta
- Pugnax complex:
- Betta apollon Schindler & Schmidt, 2006
- Betta breviobesus Tan and Kottelat, 1998
- Betta cracens Tan & Ng, 2005
- Betta enisaeBetta enisaeBetta enisae, or the Blue band mouthbrooder, is a species of fish in the Osphronemidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia. First described in 1995 from Kalimantan, Indonesia ....
Kottelat, 1995 - Betta ferox Schindler & Schmidt, 2006
- Betta fusca Regan, 1910 – dusky betta
- Betta kuehnei Schindler & Schmidt, 2009
- Betta lehi Tan & Ng, 2005
- Betta pallida Schindler & Schmidt, 2004
- Betta prima Kottelat, 1994
- Betta pugnax (Cantor, 1849) – Penang bettaPenang bettaThe Giant Betta Betta pugnax, is a species of freshwater spiked rayed fish in the gourami family of order Perciformes. It is native to and common in swiftly flowing forest streams of the Malay Peninsula, Cambodia, Thailand, Borneo, and Sumatra, having originally been described from a population...
- Betta pulchra Tan and Tan, 1996
- Betta raja Tan & Ng, 2005
- Betta schalleri Kottelat and Ng, 1994
- Betta stigmosa Tan & Ng, 2005
- Splendens complex:
- Betta imbellis Ladiges, 1975 – crescent betta
- Betta smaragdinaBetta smaragdinaBetta smaragdina, or the Emerald green betta is a species of Betta. They are anabantoids, and breathe air.-Importance to humans:Betta smaragdina is relatively uncommon in regular aquarium trade, however, among Betta hobbyists, is a relatively commonly kept species.-External links:**...
Ladiges, 1972 – emerald green betta - Betta splendens Regan, 1910 – Siamese fighting fishSiamese fighting fishThe Siamese fighting fish , also known as the betta , is a popular species of freshwater aquarium fish. The name of the genus is derived from ikan bettah, taken from a local dialect of Malay...
- Betta stiktos Tan & Ng, 2005
- Unimaculata complex:
- Betta compuncta Tan & Ng, 2006
- Betta gladiator Tan & Ng, 2005
- Betta ideii Tan & Ng, 2006
- Betta macrostomaBetta macrostomaBetta macrostoma is a species of fish in the Osphronemidae family. It is endemic to Brunei and some parts of Borneo.-References:* Kottelat, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
Regan, 1910 – spotfin betta - Betta ocellata de Beaufort, 1933
- Betta pallifinaBetta pallifinaBetta pallifina is a species of fish in the Osphronemidae family . It is endemic to Indonesia. This fish was described in 2005. Their adult size is up to 4 inches . Coloring is very vivid, especially in the males. They are a tan/brown, with green and blue iridescence, especially in the males...
Tan & Ng, 2005 - Betta patoti Weber and de Beaufort, 1922
- Betta unimaculataBetta unimaculataBetta unimaculata is the largest Betta species, and is found in the Indonesian province of East Kalimantan, Borneo. The male is stockier in head form, due to that they're responsible for mouthbrooding, which is holding the eggs in the mouth...
(Popta, 1905) – Howong betta
- Waseri complex:
- Betta chloropharynxBetta chloropharynxBetta chloropharynx is a species of fish in the Osphronemidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia.-References:* Kottelat, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
Kottelat and Ng, 1994 - Betta hipposiderosBetta hipposiderosBetta hipposideros is a species of fish in the Osphronemidae family. It is endemic to Malaysia.-References:* Kottelat, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
Ng and Kottelat, 1994 - Betta pardalotos Hui, 2009
- Betta pi Tan, 1998
- Betta renata Tan, 1998
- Betta spilotogenaBetta spilotogenaBetta spilotogena is a species of fish in the Osphronemidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia.Betta Spilotogena is a fish species first discovered in Indonesia. This species is classified as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened species.Habitat: These fish are often found in...
Ng and Kottelat, 1994 - Betta tomiBetta tomiBetta tomi is a species of fish in the Osphronemidae family. It is endemic to Malaysia.-References:* Kottelat, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
Ng and Kottelat, 1994 - Betta waseri Krummenacher, 1986
- Betta chloropharynx
There are also several known populations without a valid species status, like Betta sp. machachai from the splendens complex. These may be described as valid species in the future.
External links
- The Aquarium Wiki category on Betta care information for sub varieties