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Bettas
By: Brandon

Bettas are from Thailand. They are one of the most popular species of fresh water aquarium fish.
When bettas aren’t living in aquariums, the prefer to spend their time in tiny muddy pools. There
are long tail bettas, crowntails, short tails, and half moon bettas. They are a member of the
gourami family. They grow up to be anywhere between 6cm to 2.3 inches, and usually live to be 2-5
years old. The male bettas are bigger and have longer fins, though some male bettas have short fins.
The male bettas are aggressive but some female bettas have proven to be even more aggressive.
Bettas can become aggressive just by seeing their own reflection. You shouldn’t keep aggressive
fish like barbs around bettas. When the bettas get aggressive, their fins spread out and get
bigger and their gills open up. The bettas fight by trying to bite each other’s fins and gills off
and they also bite each other’s mouths until one of them swims away. In general, bettas
are very active fish.

The bettas have been nicked named “The Jewel of the Orient” because of their wide range of
colors. Red and blue bettas are the easiest colors to get. Bettas have good eyesight.
Domesticated bettas eat bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp. Interestingly, it is the male betta fish who
takes care of the fry (baby bettas).

            Short tail betta           Crowntail betta              Long tail betta             Half-moon betta

                                

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