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From the order of Perciformes and labyrinth fish suborder, the fighting fish are best known for their explosive male rivalries. In some areas of their natural habitat, these aggressive fish have been used as entertainment with spectators even betting on the outcome of their fight. Found in the Belontiidae family and formerly of the Anabantidae family, the fighting fishes include such species as the Siamese fighting fish, Malayan betta, Sumatra fighting fish, Java fighting fish, veiltail fighting fish and Barneo fighting fish. Of these the Siamese fighting fish is known to be one of the most beautiful species due to its brilliant color variations. The fighting fishes are also known as bettas, which means warrior. Certainly they have earned this name with their tireless displays of aggressively protective behavior. Fighting fish are long with a thin body that is somewhat uncommon in other labyrinth fish. In most species the anal fin is quite colorful and greatly extended. The average length of the fighting fish rarely reaches over two to two and a half inches. Like other labyrinth fish the fighting fish takes in oxygen from the water but can also rise to the waters surface to take in air. Although the coloration of most fighting fish which still live in their native habitat often varies from those kept in aquariums, much of this is caused by different forms of artificial breeding that are used to enhance or change the colors of the fish. For instance, depending on its natural habitat the Siamese fighting fish will maintain either red or green coloration. But in the aquarium where colors are cultivated, species of this fish may be blue, red, turquoise, pink, orange and even some shades of purple.
In most cases fighting fish are not picky eaters, accepting their food dead or alive. They are amazingly adaptable fish, surviving in numerous different water conditions from the rice paddies in southeastern Asia to polluted pools of water. The mating habits of the fighting fish are known to vary in the different species. Some such as the Sumatra fighting fish, Java fighting fish and Borneo fighting fish are mouth brooders. With each of these species the female will produce a small number eggs and the male takes them into his mouth. The male will carry the eggs, going without food, until they hatch. Even then, the male will continue to carry the young in his mouth until they can swim freely in their habitat. Other species of the fighting fish are bubble nest builders with the males forming large soapy like nest on the waters surface. The females of these species lay numerous tiny eggs and as the eggs exit the female, the male snatches them up in his mouth and places each in one of the bubbles of his nest. The males of these species will continue to guard the nest until the young hatch. After hatching the young hatch are minute creatures appearing to consist mostly of a rather large head and tiny tail.
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