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Betta Facts Overview
Many people know Betta fish as territorial and aggressive fish species; little wonder they are known as Siamese fighting fish. In fact, the males often attack one another if you keep them in the same tank. If there is no means of escape, these attacks will lead to deaths.
On the other hand, the females are less aggressive than their male counterparts, but they can be territorial toward one another in confined spaces. However, these are basic things everyday people know about them.
In this article, I will show you 24 interesting facts about betta and double tail betta fish facts that only those who have bred them know. Now, let’s get started…
24 Interesting Facts about Betta and double tail Betta Fish
Check out the interesting facts
1. Bettas flare at their reflection
They always flare when they see their own reflection or when two bettas sight each other. Well, they do so because they always try to defend themselves and their territory. That’s why they are known as Siamese fighting fish. If yours don’t flare, it could be that they are laid back, they aren’t excited, or it could be that other bettas don’t threaten them.
2. They are always curious
Because they love to explore their environments, they are naturally curious. No doubt, this curiosity makes them fun to look after. They keep close tabs on everything happening around them and often want to see what’s happening outside the aquarium.
3. The females make bubble nests
Female bettas make bubble nests. Sure, that’s another interesting fact about them. In fact, males and females make bubble nests, and the natural attribute is more common among the mature fish. Nonetheless, the females make the much better ones. By and large, bubble nests play a pivotal role in their reproductive process.
4. Bettas sometimes act like dolphins and jump out of their aquarium
The primary causes of jumps among them could be the rise of the level of ammonia in the aquarium (poor water quality), especially in small tanks. Another reason is if the fish is terribly bored because the aquarium is too small for them. So, always house them in an aquarium with a lid and ensure the water level is not close to its top. Keep the water clean and ensure you have a 5-gallon tank or more.
5. They have different taste preferences
Some love bloodworms, while others turn down bloodworms. Likewise, some prefer specific brands of pellets over others. That’s because they have an excellent sense of taste and smell. They are also picky eaters. Although they are near-sighted, they can see when you drop food in the tank. The moment you drop the food, they approach the food to eat it.
6. They make sounds with their mouths
Yes, they make different sounds. It could be a clicking sound, popping sound, grunting sound, sighting or breathing sound, or crunching sound. When they make any of these sounds, it signifies healthiness. The most common sounds they make are clicking or chomping sounds due to their rows of tiny teeth. Some sounds indicate some actions.
For instance, they make clicking noises when they open and close their jaws. Experts believe that they make different sounds for different reasons, such as communication, entertainment, swimming, splashing, eating, etc.
7. Bettas learn
I bet you didn’t know that they are intelligent fish; they learn virtually everything. They recognize you as the owner, which explains why sometimes they could be staring at you. Once they know you and get used to you, they get excited whenever they see you. They also learn about their feeding time and always get ready for it. However, they differ. Some just show little or no enthusiasm toward everything.
8. Some male bettas have false egg spots
You probably didn’t know that male bettas develop false egg spots. Yes, they do that to hide from other males and to avoid harassment and attacks. However, the difference between the female’s real egg spots and the male’s false egg spot is that the former’s ovipositor will never disappear, while the latter’s spot fades away with time.
9. Some merely snack on Peace Lilies when they are hungry
Most times, aquarists grow plants in their tanks to make the aquariums conducive for the inhabitants. If you grow peace lily in your tank, your bettas won’t eat it until they are hungry.
To be clear, despite being carnivores, they don’t fancy the plant because it produces sap with a high amount of calcium oxalate crystals that can cause severe internal problems when they eat the plant in large quantities. Hence, they don’t like eating this plant.
10. Bettas yawn
Furthermore, you probably think that only humans yawn, right? I hate to burst your bubbles, but bettas yawn too! They often yawn when they don’t have enough oxygen. Poor water quality is almost always the primary cause of inadequate oxygen in tanks. Apart from insufficient oxygen, bettas yawn when they feel stressed or anxious.
The most uncommon time they yawn is when they have a bacterial infection. Indeed, these are main circumstances that compel them to yawn.
11. Bettas beg for food
Do you want to know if bettas beg for food? If so, first of all, you have to know your betta’s favorite food. Last month, I did that test and realized that they beg for food. My betta loves frozen brine shrimp. I had the food in a spoon and held it over my tank with the lid removed.
My betta stood still and stared at the food for a while in frustration. I was surprised when it grabbed the food from the little spoon. Moments later, I brought another food in the spoon and held it over the open tank. He tried to grab the food again, but I wouldn’t let him. He attempted it thrice before I let him have the food. So, yes, bettas beg for food. You can do this test yourself!
12. Bettas can eat their tank mates
You see, if you intend to pair bettas with other tank mates, you have to pay attention to their temperaments because the fish can eat their tank mates. Yes, you read that right! Because they are carnivores, they not only attack small fish, but they can also eat them. In short, I have seen where a betta ate up a rainbowfish (guppy). They also pick and nibble at the fish carcass in the tank. So, always remember that before pairing guppies with bettas.
13. Bettas eat human food
Did you know that bettas eat human food? I can tell that you probably didn’t know, but they do. You can give the fish boiled peas, corn, cucumber, sweet corn, lettuce, etc. Although they will eat those, I won’t encourage you to do that because they are not a natural diet for the fish. You can only do that if you run out of fish food.
14. Bettas can stay for two weeks without food
They are hardy fish species and can go for two weeks or more without food and still survive it. They become weak and vulnerable to diseases when you subject them to that condition. If starvation doesn’t kill them, stress or some unknown disease will. So, you must never starve them for a long time.
15. Bettas cough
You are probably surprised that bettas cough, but you shouldn’t be! Come to think of it, if territorial animals can cough when they swallow something, why can’t fish? Sure, betta coughs when something is stuck in their gills and it prevents them from breathing as much water as they would love to. In other words, coughing is usually a sign of mouth issue or gill irritation. Other causes of cough could be water quality, parasites, pathogens, high CO2, etc. That’s another amazing fact about them.
16. They can live for a decade
Many aquarists believe that domesticated bettas’ lifespan is between 3 and 6 years. Some bettas have lived 10 years. Nonetheless, the most popular one was a lab betta. Despite that, you can achieve that feat if you provide yours with the best possible environment and care.
17. Bettas are insensitive to pH values
Are Bettas insensitive to pH values? That can only hold true if your aquarium has a stable pH balance. In their natural habitat, they live in water that is mildly acidic to neutral. So, the most appropriate pH value of the fish is between 6.5 (slightly acidic) and 8 (slightly alkaline).
18. They can change their gender at a young age
That’s another fascinating fact! Several studies have shown that bettas change their sex when they are little. They can change from female to male, generating fertile progeny in the process. Those that have undergone this change develop teste-like organ (similar to gonads) that produces sperm for fertilizing female eggs.
19. Bettas experience depression
I know that fact sounds weird, but it is true. Over the years, aquarists did studies to show that Bettas undergo depression if you put them in an environment they are not used to. They are usually quiet when they slide into depression. If they are not depressed, they will dart around the whole tank, exploring every nook and cranny.
20. Over 70 species of betta fish exist
Today, there are over 70 species of betta. Much as most people are familiar with the Splendens or Siamese fighting fish, many others exist. Due to selective breeding, different tail shapes exist, including the veil-tail, half-moon, crown-tail, comb-tail, etc.
Double Tail Betta Fish Facts
21. Double Tail Betta
Similar to normal Betta fish, the double tail betta takes the same attributes but are emphasis by a beautiful tail shaped like two half moons.
22. Double Tail Betta Life Span
Double tail betta fish generally have a 2-4 year life span. But this can vary depending on many factors. I have seen some last as long as 6+ years. Maintaining a good healthy environment is important for all double tail betta fish.
23. What is the rarest betta fish
I have seen many betta fish varieties, but nothing stands out more than a fantail variety. These fish have two caudal fins side by side joined at a single point. In my opinion they do look very similar to a fantail goldfish.
24. How big Do double tailed betta fish get
Even with their special tail, double tail betta fish don’t generally get much bigger than standard (splendens) betta. You can find them around 2-3 inches long and around 2-4 ounces in weight. I have seen a couple of rare larger double tailed betta’s but this
Conclusion
In conclusion, I have shown you 24 interesting facts about Betta fish you probably didn’t know. Is there any fascinating fact you think I should know? If so, feel free to add it to the list.
If you are looking to pair a snail in with your Betta, I have lots of knowledge in this space and written several articles for your reference.
