Siamese Fighting Fish

Siamese Fighting Fish - Diet

Fighters eat flake or pellet foods, freeze dried foods, frozen brine shrimp and frozen beef heart.

‍

Breeding

Fighters have a fairly short lifespan, and are most successful as breeders when they under a year old They breed in bubble nests and do not require a large tank or special equipment.

The male will blow an elaborate bubble nest when he is ready to spawn. As she expels the eggs, they are fertilised and begin to sink. The male will scoop up the eggs and spit them into the nest. From this point on the male will tend the brood. It is advisable to remove the female, as the male may become aggressive towards her as he tends his young.

‍

Habitat/Care

Fighters originate in the shallow waters in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and parts of China. They live in rice paddies, shallow ponds, and even slow moving streams.

Fighters do well in waters low in dissolved oxygen, as they have a special respiratory organ that allows them to breath air directly from the surface, so Fighters must have access to the water surface to breath air directly from the atmosphere.

Optimally the water for keeping healthy Fighters should be soft, warm, with a neutral to slightly acidic pH. Water movement should be kept to a minimum, which means that power filters and power heads are not suitable.

Fighters can be kept in a community tank as long as the water conditions are met, and if no aggressive or fin nipping fish are present.

However, only one male may be kept in each aquarium, unless they are separated by a barrier.

Females will generally not fight with each other, and may be kept in the same tank.