Welcome to the world of the Siamese Fighting Fish. Free tips about keeping Siamese fighting fish. Lots of Siamese fighting fish news and much much more on Siamese fighting fish, your Home and family pet’s home.
A few other tank mates for your Siamese fighting fish could be Platies or Moons, Rasbora’s, Otocinclus, or the White cloud Mountain Minnow which originates in Southern China. Most of these would need to be in groups of 3 or 4 or more. Others could be Loaches or Shrimp.
The African Dwarf Frog is one of the species that some people keep successfully with their Siamese fighting fish. In later posts I will go into more details on this one.
Visit our other Siamese Fighting Fish Companions...the Bronze Catfish is one of them.
Showing posts with label siamese fighters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label siamese fighters. Show all posts
Friday, February 27, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Breeding with your Siamese fighting fish
Welcome to the world of the Siamese Fighting Fish. Free tips about keeping Siamese fighting fish. Lots of Siamese fighting fish news and much much more on Siamese fighting fish, your Home and family pet’s home.
Breeding Siamese Fighting Fish / Betta!
Well they are difficult to breed and are not recommended for beginners. I would suggest that you first get your pet, learn how to take care of him and then when you feel that you are ready and want to take the chance of breeding, get as much help as possible. This is a very exciting time.
You will need two separate tanks, one for the male and one for the female. Another way is to have your male in his tank with a glass divider. This way you segregate the two. You can also put the female in a small jar and position it next to the breeding tank.
When he becomes aware of the female’s presence, he will swim up to the glass and flare his fins, and extend his gill covers. The female will become agitated eventually and she will try to find a way into the male’s tank. The courtship lasts anything from one to twenty four hours.
To condition your Siamese fighting fish for spawning, it is recommended that you feed a variety of foods i.e. live and frozen foods. You could also change their water every other day. Lots of clean water and better foods helps to get a pair into condition to spawn. Lots of live plants and a 50w submersible heater.
The male will begin the process by building a ‘bubble nest’. He does this by swimming to the top and takes a breath of air. While the air bubble is in his mouth he covers it with a mucous and then spits it back again. He will repeat this over and over again until he has a nest floating on the top of the tank about four to six inches across. He likes to have something to stick it to and this is where the favorite bettafish live plants come into it. Your female will let the male know she is ready to begin spawning by swimming beneath the nest. The male will follow and curve his body in a u-shape over her. They both turn upside down and she will begin releasing her eggs with the mail fertilizing them. Fascinating!
She could release anything between 350 - 400 eggs. When the eggs fall down towards the bottom of the tank, the male will swim down and pick them up in his mouth and return them to the bubble nest and gently place the eggs in the nest. In could take him a few hours before he has all the eggs placed in the nest. Try to keep the water in the breeding tank no deeper than 4 – 5 inches. This will make his job much easier. If the female does not help the male, remove her back to her tank.
Within 36 hours your Siamese Fighting Fish baby eggs should begin to hatch. Three or so days after they are swimming horizontally you can take the male out of the tank.
They are tiny - you now have to now take care of them.
You can obtain tablets that are mixed with water to produce ‘baby bettafish food’ from most pet shops. They need to eat lots of tiny food particles. You may find that they won’t usually eat for the first five of six days after hatching. But then you can feed live food and small flakes or pellets. Check with your pet store.
We have no experience with breeding Siamese Fighting Fish. The information that I have gathered is small bits and pieces to give you an idea of what it will involve. I think it will be a fascinating route to take once you decide to go ahead. Can you imagine breeding your own little baby fish! All your friends will be delighted when they come around and your children will have lots to talk about at school as well as to their friends. I’m sure you will derive a lot of pleasure if you go this route. I will be posting some articles on breeding Siamese Fighting Fish/Betta in the near future.
Breeding Siamese Fighting Fish / Betta!
Well they are difficult to breed and are not recommended for beginners. I would suggest that you first get your pet, learn how to take care of him and then when you feel that you are ready and want to take the chance of breeding, get as much help as possible. This is a very exciting time.
You will need two separate tanks, one for the male and one for the female. Another way is to have your male in his tank with a glass divider. This way you segregate the two. You can also put the female in a small jar and position it next to the breeding tank.
When he becomes aware of the female’s presence, he will swim up to the glass and flare his fins, and extend his gill covers. The female will become agitated eventually and she will try to find a way into the male’s tank. The courtship lasts anything from one to twenty four hours.
To condition your Siamese fighting fish for spawning, it is recommended that you feed a variety of foods i.e. live and frozen foods. You could also change their water every other day. Lots of clean water and better foods helps to get a pair into condition to spawn. Lots of live plants and a 50w submersible heater.
The male will begin the process by building a ‘bubble nest’. He does this by swimming to the top and takes a breath of air. While the air bubble is in his mouth he covers it with a mucous and then spits it back again. He will repeat this over and over again until he has a nest floating on the top of the tank about four to six inches across. He likes to have something to stick it to and this is where the favorite bettafish live plants come into it. Your female will let the male know she is ready to begin spawning by swimming beneath the nest. The male will follow and curve his body in a u-shape over her. They both turn upside down and she will begin releasing her eggs with the mail fertilizing them. Fascinating!
She could release anything between 350 - 400 eggs. When the eggs fall down towards the bottom of the tank, the male will swim down and pick them up in his mouth and return them to the bubble nest and gently place the eggs in the nest. In could take him a few hours before he has all the eggs placed in the nest. Try to keep the water in the breeding tank no deeper than 4 – 5 inches. This will make his job much easier. If the female does not help the male, remove her back to her tank.
Within 36 hours your Siamese Fighting Fish baby eggs should begin to hatch. Three or so days after they are swimming horizontally you can take the male out of the tank.
They are tiny - you now have to now take care of them.
You can obtain tablets that are mixed with water to produce ‘baby bettafish food’ from most pet shops. They need to eat lots of tiny food particles. You may find that they won’t usually eat for the first five of six days after hatching. But then you can feed live food and small flakes or pellets. Check with your pet store.
We have no experience with breeding Siamese Fighting Fish. The information that I have gathered is small bits and pieces to give you an idea of what it will involve. I think it will be a fascinating route to take once you decide to go ahead. Can you imagine breeding your own little baby fish! All your friends will be delighted when they come around and your children will have lots to talk about at school as well as to their friends. I’m sure you will derive a lot of pleasure if you go this route. I will be posting some articles on breeding Siamese Fighting Fish/Betta in the near future.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Why keep a Siamese fighting fish?
Why you should consider keeping a Siamese fighting fish!!
The reasons why you should consider keeping a Siamese fighting fish are numerous. They are inexpensive to keep and straightforward to care for! They also come in a variety of spectacular colors. But, you say “I don’t know anything about them”! “Where do they come from?” Well, they originated in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and certain areas of China. You say “but I live in the United Kingdom, surely it’s too cold in winter to keep them here”! Well, people now keep them everywhere around the world. Also known as a Bettafish in the States!!
Siamese fighting fish are relatively easy to keep no matter where you are! The temperature of the water should be between 75-80 degrees or 24-30c and as long as the tank is in a warm spot they should be ok. They are tropical freshwater fish and are usually found in shallow waters, such as rice paddies and shallow ponds. They do not need heaters unless it’s very cold, nor do they need expensive filtration plants. They also prefer little or no water movement. Remember they are used to living in small bodies of water.
Some interesting facts= The SIAMESE FIGHTING FISH has been raised in households in Thailand since the Sukhothai Period, more than 700 years ago. Records from the reign of King Lithai of Sukhothai allude to fighting fish being reared for sport. Aquarists in Asia first kept them approximately 150 years ago. The wild versions are nothing like the ones we get today in pet shops. They are a dull brown in color and unattractive. Thai breeders are constantly developing new species.
I know that a lot of people will think that keeping a fish is going to take a lot of their time and effort. Well, you have to have some informed care. Like any other pet you have to prepare beforehand. Siamese fighting fish generally live between two and three years. Some have been known to live for four or five years. Make sure your tank or bowl that you keep him in is big enough so that he can swim around and not bump or tear his fins or scales.
Do not fill your tank or bowl, because your fish actually breathes air! He does that through the use of his labyrinth organ, which is located just behind his gills. He also gets oxygen from the water using his gills, but they are poorly developed and cannot supply him with all the oxygen he needs. Fascinating Hey!! You will also see him swim to the top of the tank every few minutes to take a breath of air. Watch out now, because your fish can also jump out of the tank, so put on a lid with holes for air and he will be fine. I told you, your new pet has some wonderful and amazing facts that will keep you or your children seeking more information a lot of the time.
“How big is this fish” you say? Well, the Siamese fighting fish grows to only 5-6 cm. So, you do not need a big tank as I said before. Many or most pet shops that sell fish have special hexagonal tanks created just with these fish in mind. Most pet shops will sell you a suitable tank with rocks, a plant and some starter food and water cleaner. They are freshwater fish so no salty sea shells or other sea plants must be put in your tank. You can get a friendly plant such as a Chinese evergreen or small lucky bamboo plants.
Best Live Plants for Siamese Fighters also known as a Bettafish
Best Companions for Siamese Fighters
The reasons why you should consider keeping a Siamese fighting fish are numerous. They are inexpensive to keep and straightforward to care for! They also come in a variety of spectacular colors. But, you say “I don’t know anything about them”! “Where do they come from?” Well, they originated in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and certain areas of China. You say “but I live in the United Kingdom, surely it’s too cold in winter to keep them here”! Well, people now keep them everywhere around the world. Also known as a Bettafish in the States!!
Siamese fighting fish are relatively easy to keep no matter where you are! The temperature of the water should be between 75-80 degrees or 24-30c and as long as the tank is in a warm spot they should be ok. They are tropical freshwater fish and are usually found in shallow waters, such as rice paddies and shallow ponds. They do not need heaters unless it’s very cold, nor do they need expensive filtration plants. They also prefer little or no water movement. Remember they are used to living in small bodies of water.
Some interesting facts= The SIAMESE FIGHTING FISH has been raised in households in Thailand since the Sukhothai Period, more than 700 years ago. Records from the reign of King Lithai of Sukhothai allude to fighting fish being reared for sport. Aquarists in Asia first kept them approximately 150 years ago. The wild versions are nothing like the ones we get today in pet shops. They are a dull brown in color and unattractive. Thai breeders are constantly developing new species.
I know that a lot of people will think that keeping a fish is going to take a lot of their time and effort. Well, you have to have some informed care. Like any other pet you have to prepare beforehand. Siamese fighting fish generally live between two and three years. Some have been known to live for four or five years. Make sure your tank or bowl that you keep him in is big enough so that he can swim around and not bump or tear his fins or scales.
Do not fill your tank or bowl, because your fish actually breathes air! He does that through the use of his labyrinth organ, which is located just behind his gills. He also gets oxygen from the water using his gills, but they are poorly developed and cannot supply him with all the oxygen he needs. Fascinating Hey!! You will also see him swim to the top of the tank every few minutes to take a breath of air. Watch out now, because your fish can also jump out of the tank, so put on a lid with holes for air and he will be fine. I told you, your new pet has some wonderful and amazing facts that will keep you or your children seeking more information a lot of the time.
“How big is this fish” you say? Well, the Siamese fighting fish grows to only 5-6 cm. So, you do not need a big tank as I said before. Many or most pet shops that sell fish have special hexagonal tanks created just with these fish in mind. Most pet shops will sell you a suitable tank with rocks, a plant and some starter food and water cleaner. They are freshwater fish so no salty sea shells or other sea plants must be put in your tank. You can get a friendly plant such as a Chinese evergreen or small lucky bamboo plants.
Best Live Plants for Siamese Fighters also known as a Bettafish
Best Companions for Siamese Fighters
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