Tropical Betta Fish Background


by Tropical Betta Fish - Date: 2007-02-15 - Word Count: 464 Share This!

Exotic Tropical Fish are some of the most beautiful fish in the world. Tropical fish are so sophisticated that it takes very special care to keep them as a pet. Tropical Betta fish is not any different. They are beautiful, mean, delicate and very selfish. But they make great pets. In fact, tropical fish of various species make great pets.

Historically speaking, Betta Fish are said to have gotten their name from an ancient clan of Asian warriors called the "Bettah". They were given these warrior's names because about 150 years ago people enjoyed participating in a popular sport that involved the fighting of two of these warrior fish. (In fact, sport was so popular that is was regulated - taxed by the King of Siam).

One interesting note about Betta Fish fighting, is that unlike cock or dog fighting in the west, at Siamese fighting fish tournaments, the actual fight was more to test the bravery of the fish, rather than a fight to see how much damage would be inflicted or a death match.

Speculation on how long a particular fish would fight, and which one would give up first. (In fact, most fish would only fight once or twice, and then live out the remainder of their lives being pampered and used for breeding).

A Tropical Betta Fish's Natural Habitat

Natural Habitat is in shallow tropical water. This is because they need to be able to surface frequently, in order to breathe air. They can be found in nature, in rice paddies, drainage ditches, slow moving streams and fresh water ponds. Betta Fish have even been know to thrive in large puddles.

How Breeding Began

According to historical accounts, a close friend of King Siam, Dr. Theodore Cantor received a pair of breeding betta's from the king in 1840. The doctor bred them and studied them for several years and then wrote a scientific paper about them giving them a Latin name of "Macropodus Pugnax." However, shortly after this paper was published, Dr. Cantor discovered that a species by that name already existed, and so the fish was renamed "Betta Splendens."

Several breeding pair of Bettas was sent to Germany in 1896, and then in 1910 Mr. Frank Locke of San Francisco imported a pair of Betta's to the U.S.A.

One of the fish that he received had unusual red fins - and he excitedly thought he had discovered a new species, and named it "Betta Cambodia." In reality, "Betta Splendens" had naturally developed new colors and characteristics through breeding.

Since that time, the breeders have been able to develop Bettas with all of the vibrant coloring and varied fin shapes that we find today. Betta breeding has become a profitable and ongoing passion for many people today. Many of whom started with just one or two Bettas in a small aquarium.

Related Tags: betta fish, betta fish care, tropical betta fish, breeding betta fish

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