Siamese Fighting Fish

Beta Splenden also referred to, as Siamese fighting fish are native to Southeast Asia .

The Siamese fighting fish natural habitat includes flooded rice field, stagnant ponds, ditches, and slow flowing streams.

In the wild Siamese fighting fish are inherently territorial and would protect their territory from other Siamese fighting fish.

Intrigued by the Siamese fighting fish instinctive aggression towards the male of its own species, the Siamese through the centuries used these betas in fighting contests.

The Siamese begin to domesticate the wild betas at around the year 1850 in which betas are selectively bred primarily for their fighting abilities rather for their color. The Siamese call them plakat, which means biting fish. Fish fighting today continues to be a popular pastime in Thailand , as well as in many country of Asia .

As popular as beta hobby was in Asia, it did not spread to the West until 1874 when Siamese fighting fish were first introduced in France .

By 1910 betas were wide spread throughout Europe and consequently to America . The years following the introduction of Siamese fighting fish to the West, we begin to see emphasis place on selectively breeding betas for their beauty and color rather than their fighting ability.

The Siamese fighting fish we see today are very distinct from the dulled color short fins betas found in the wild. The vibrant color and long flowing fins betas of today are results of selective breeding by beta breeders and hobbyists in Asia and throughout the world. Today organizations are established to promote beta-keeping as a hobby.