Breeding and culture of fighting fish

Abstract

Fighting fish (Betta splendens), also known as Siamese fighting fish, belong to the gourami family. Native to Southeast Asia, they build bubble nests for spawning and sexually mature in about six months. Females produce 300–1,000 eggs every 3–4 weeks. Males are aggressive and must be kept separately. Breeding involves courtship, egg fertilization, and fry rearing with infusoria and Artemia. Popular varieties include half-moon, crown tail, delta, super delta, and veil tail. Their brilliant colors and unique fin shapes make them highly sought-after ornamental fish.