Your Pet Fish

Betta Fish

The Origin of Betta Fish and Their Breed Variations Explained

Article by Mike Hickmon

The beautiful colors of Betta Fish that catch our eye did not exist when the species was first discovered. Due to the fact that the Siamese people were solely interested in their fighting ability, breeding practices concentrated more on building endurance, strength, and the typical aggressive attitude that they posses. Most of the Betta Fish in those days were short-finned, so as to give their opponents less to grab on to, and had a greenish-brown color.

In 1840, when the King of Siam made a gift to Cantor, most Betta Fish colors very plain. By the time the Betta Fish began appearing up in North America, some had begun to develop rounded tails and longer fins. Some also developed specks of bright colors.

There are seems to be basic color genes either present or missing in the Beta Fish. The Base color is yellow, which is followed by black, red and then blue. There are also sub colors. The blue gene, for example, can be represented by royal blue, metallic blue, or bluish green. The beautiful royal blue is really a mixture of the other blues.

If you spend some time with Betta Fish experts and you will hear terms like “Veil Tail,” “Delta Tail,” “Crown Tail,” and “Half Moon” hearing all of this you might become confused. So we will give you a quick introduction to the various lines of the glorious Betta Splendens. Actually, the basic difference among the types of Bettas has to do with their tail.

Veil Tail – About 80% of Betta Fishs sold in pet stores are typically VT males. Veil Tail’s are characterized by the bottom fin rays being a bit longer than the top rays. What are Rays? Rays are the little “spines” you see in the fins. With the fins flared out, VT Betta Fish look a bit rectangular or even diamond shaped. Most breeders and Betta care show enthusiasts frown on the VT Betta as an inferior breed. I believe that they are incorrect because I think that the VT Betta Fishs multiple colors and wavy fins are one of the true miracles of creation.

Round Tail – The tail is round in appearance. The circular shape originates from the middle ray of the tail being the longest, with the remaining rays being progressively shorter away from the middle.

Delta Tail – The tail has a triangular shape, which emanates from the outermost rays on the tail being equal in length as the middle ray. In Betta Fish circles the widest tailed of the delta tails are the most desired.

Half Moons – A Delta Tail’s tail can be so wide that it seems to form a half circle, or half moon shape. At this point it becomes known as the Half Moon Betta Fish. Half Moons Betta Fishs are popular among hard-core Betta enthusiasts.

Double Tails – These cute little fish have their tail divide into two halves. Double Tails are genetic rarities that you probably will never find at a pet store.

Crown Tails – With this Betta the rays of the tail actually extend well past the webbing, this gives the tail a spiky appearance. The Crown Tails are the most common among the single rayed. After this breeders bred double rayed Crown Tails which then had tail rays branching off. Since then breeders have developed “double double rays” and “double double double ray” Crown Tails, which are the scarcest and costliest Betta Fishes you can buy.

We hope that this information was of help to you and that it will be beneficial for your Betta Fish care needs.

Bettas and Gouramis: Understanding Siamese Fighting Fish, Paradisefish, Kissing Gouramis, and Other Anabantoids (Fish Keeping Made Easy)

Bettas and Gouramis: Understanding Siamese Fighting Fish, Paradisefish, Kissing Gouramis, and Other Anabantoids (Fish Keeping Made Easy)

Betta Fish question by Spunky 611: How to separate betta fish in a 75 gallon tank?
i want to have a few betta fish in my 75 gallon tank, is there a way i can make dividers or can i buy dividers somewhere for the tank? If so, how do i make them and/or where do i buy them?

i’ve owned many betta fish, so i dont need to know how to take care of them.
thanks!

Betta Fish best answer:

Answer by Elizabeth Bravo
Ok what yoy can do is buy large plastic that is not see-trough so the bettas wont stress, and you cut the large plastic so it goes all the way to the top and divides.reapeat these steps for multiple bettas

My Spazzy Betta Fish

Spazzy: an adjective used to describe someone who spazzes often. Meaning, they are hyper a lot and have these fits of uncontrollable excitement or nervousness… AKA My Betta Spazzy. Spazzy lives in a 5 gallon tank in my dorm room with two zebra danios, a glofish and a couple ghost shrimp. There is a blacklight behind the tank that make the glow in the dark plants in the tank glow! The song is from the Little Mermaid TV Series. I do not own it. I’m using it for entertainment purposes only. Love and Bubbles, Kimberly and Spazzy
Betta Fish Video Rating: 4 / 5

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Betta Fish

Betta Fish Originas – A History of Bettas

Article by Trent Gallamore

Over the last twenty or thrity years, Betta fish have become increasingly popular pets in not only the United States (where there popularity of late has really boomed) but also all over the world. Our finned friends have begun to catch on big-time, but most people don’t even know where these little guys came from. The colorful, beautiful ifsh we keep as pets today have a history, and what a history it is. In fact, the Betta fish of 150+ years ago wouldn’t be recognizable as the same species today. Have I got you curious? Ready to learn the mysteries behind that beauty swimming back and forth in his 10 galllon tank on your desk? Alright, here we go!

As many of you may already know, Betta fish originated in Thailand and bordering nations, and were originally bred for fighting, not for show. In fact, roughly 150 years ago, Betta fish fighting was actually taxed and regulated by the king of Siam (Siam is now called Thailand, and is where the “Siamese Fighting Fish” title comes from). Bets would be placed on a simple fight between two little fish in which men might wager their money, homes, and even children on the outcome. Despite being an understandably opposed practice today, prized-fighting Bettas had relatively cushy lives: After a Betta had won a single fight, he was usually retired and allowed to breed thereafter.

It is also worth noting that these Betta fish fights were not (thankfully) to the death, instead the first fish to retreat was determined the loser. As such, the Siamese would breed these fish based on the “bravest”, largest, and strongest/most aggressive fish instead of the colors and flowing fins they are bred for today. In fact, the Betta of this time were generally dull-colored and flowing fins were seen as undesirable because they were easier for an enemy fish to bite at.

It was not until 1896 that Bettas began to appear outside of Asia, when a few breeding pairs were introduced in Germany, and not until 1910 did the species start to show up in America. Though scientist Frank Locke of San Franciso received several Betta Splendens, he thought he had discovered a new species when one of his fish had longer, red fins. In fact, what he was actually seeing was the first of a natural mutation in the Betta Splendens species that gave them more color. Since then, these fish have been bred increasingly for color, fin size/shape, and a favorable demeanor and raised to be sold as household pets, not fighters.

But it took some time to get here, and Bettas even today are continuously bred for new color combinations and such. What’s more incredible, is that the fish species really only has a few base colors in its genetic code, but combining these has produced the wide array of fish we see today.

Betta Fish For Real

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Marine Fish

How to Successfully Breed Fish

Article by Daniel Millions

For fish to breed successfully in the aquarium, they must be healthy and feel that all conditions are right. Generally, it is difficult to breed fish caught in the wild, as they are much more demanding in their requirements, but usually even the most awkward types can be bred by expert aquarists. After the first few generations have been bred, further breeding is progressively less difficult, as the ‘easy breeders’ become selected out from the population.

Thus fish which, when first imported, commanded very high prices become quite cheap once the principles of breeding have been mastered. For example, the Neon and the Cardinal were originally very expensive and bred only and with great difficulty by the specialist, but now both are standard aquarium fishes, available everywhere at moderate prices, and easily bred.

Among the species which cannot be bred easily are those which become very large, and in which only the immature fish are kept in the aquarium. Some African Catfish fall into this category, as do many marine fish. Usually, however, breeding can be accomplished once the environment and biology of the fish are completely understood.

One curious factor in breeding is that, although the breeder can often select out natural mutations with unusual colors or long trailing fins, and develop new strains, sometimes the general quality deteriorates in captivity. For example, it is seldom possible to preserve the huge dorsal fin on the Sail fin molly or the bright colors of the Cichlid Apistogramma ramirezi when these fish are bred in captivity. Wild stock are larger, more robust and more brightly colored.

Breeding considerations have given rise to much of the interesting behavior of fish. Even coloring can be traced back to breeding needs. Often male and female fish are colored quite differently, and male fish may be brightly colored both to attract females and to frighten off rival males.

Most fish do not breed continually. The experienced eye can pick out fish which are pairing off as they reach peak condition for breeding. The sides of the fish fill out, and females, packed with eggs, become especially plump. Coloring becomes generally more intense, and males may display to the females with rigidly out-stretched fins. When spawning is imminent, there is often a change in the fishes’ behavior: they tend to become very active and to explore possible spawning sites.

The sexual organs of fish are relatively simple, consisting of paired, elongated organs lying along the abdominal cavity these organs produce either eggs or sperm (milt). Nearly all fish shed both eggs and milt together into the water, where fertilization takes place. However, a few,are live-bearers; that is, the male introduces his milt into the female, who retains the fertilized eggs and gives birth to live young. The Guppy is the best known of these fish.

Fish eggs are thin-walled and delicate, and are eaten greedily by most species, many consuming even their own spawn. Various special techniques have been evolved to ensure the survival of fishes’ eggs or, at least, of enough of them to ensure the continuation of the species. Indeed, the method evolved by most fishes is to produce such huge quantities of eggs that some are bound to survive.

These egg scatterers are usually shoaling fish, which spawn in a group. Our common river fish are of this type, and so are their exotic relatives which are kept in the aquarium. Fishes like Barbs, Danios and Rasboras all scatter their eggs among plants. Sometimes the eggs are sticky, and become attached to the plants; others simply drop to the bottom.

OUTDOOR OUTLOOK: Weather changes welcomed by outdoorsmen
Marine fish
Marine areas 8-1 and 8-2 have offered some really tough fishing so far this winter, according to Gary Krein of All Star Charters in Everett, and Area 9, of course, is closed until Jan. 16. Recreational crabbing closes at the end of the day Saturday in …

Marine fish question by Man Ray: what should i feed tropical marine fish?
i am planing on getting a tropical marine tank, and i am pretty good with water chemistry. but i’ve never been very good with feeding a varied diet. what should i feed them?

i know they are a lot of work, but i have two 20 gallon freshwater aquariums. i’ve had them for years. i think i’m ready for a marine tank.
i am planning on one flame angel, 2 royal grammas, and 2 or 3 damselfish.

Marine fish best answer:

Answer by Spinderella
it depends on what type of fish & animals you’re planning on getting.

Video blog 1 of setting up a saltwater tank

This is a series of video blog entries that will allow you to come along with me to set up a beautiful saltwater reef tank. this my first fish tank of any kind. If i can do it so can you.The tank is a red sea max 130D. This is the first entry of my video blog. It covers the process from set up through cycle.
Marine fish Video Rating: 4 / 5

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Discus Fish

Keeping Discus Fish: The Appearance

Article by Michael Hickmon

Before keeping discus fish, it is important to know what a discus fish should look like when they are healthy and fully grown, as well as the various different colors that discus fish can come in so that you are able to keep discus fish happy and healthy, and they can be a rewarding fish for your aquarium.Discus fish are a little like cichlids of the symphysodon species. This means that they have a laterally compressed body shape and they also have a rounded shape to them. Their body shape is where they get their name discus from. The sides of the discus fish have patterned shades which can come in various colors including green, brown, red and blue. The length and height of a fully grown discus fish is between 8 and 10 inches, so they can grow quite big which is why when keeping discus fish you should have a tank large enough for them.There tend to be three layers of color on discus fish which is comprised of the base color which ranges from red-brown to cream, a secondary color which is often a metallic color which is either blue or green and the third layer which is black pigment and makes up the vertical bars and can allow the discus fish to lighten and darken whenever they want to. Most discus fish that you can purchase have a red or yellow base color and the second color is in stripes down the side of the fish although it is possible for different strains of discus fish to have a secondary color which will end up covering most of the body of the fish.There is nothing which constitutes a perfect variety of color or what the name of it is; most of the common breeds of discus fish are true breeds. There are several different color varieties of discus fish and these include; brown which is the commonest color of discus fish in the wild and they tend to have a brown base color with a secondary color on their head and fins, blue or green which is quite similar to the brown wild discus but they do tend to have more of a secondary color, and you can also find a red spotted green discus fish which has a red base color with a green color on top with holes in it which is what produces the spots. This breed is very rare in the wild and is mainly produced specially by breeders.

Back to Nature: Guide to Discus by Dick Au

• Electronic version of the book Back to Nature: Guide to Discus

Back to Nature: Guide to Discus by Dick Au

Discus Fish question by PRIME D: I want to look for Discus fish importer from Europe , Canada and Australia?
I own a Discus fish Farm CV. Prime Discus (Jakarta, Indonesia), we have been exporting to USA and England. We wish to export our discus fish to as many buyers all over the world. And therefore I wish to know and get in touch with as many buyes possible..

Discus Fish best answer:

Answer by 11mz
why not to Singapore….then we can re-export to wherever you want…after all it’s only pricing

Discus Fish / REAL AMAZING DISCUS FISH TANK

125 Gallon Discus Fish Tank – 7 Discus (5-6″) – 15 Black Neon Tetras – 1 Albino Bushynose Pleco
Discus Fish Video Rating: 4 / 5

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