The King betta is a popular

aquarium An aquarium (plural: ''aquariums'' or ''aquaria'') is a vivarium of any size having at least one transparent side in which aquatic plants or animals are kept and displayed. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, aq ...

fish of unknown provenance.

Description

The King betta generally grows to about 5–6 cm (2–2 1/2 in). Its pigments are generally vibrant beige to a white. As with most bettas, King betta females are smaller and less colorful than the males. The life span of the King betta is short, generally 2–3 years, rarely reaching four. The King betta is (as are all other bettas) members of the gourami family ( Osphronemidae) and prefers a temperature of 78–82 °F.

History

Hardly anything is known about the King betta. Some people say that ''

Betta raja ''Betta raja'' is a species of betta endemic to the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. It is an inhabitant of swamps in lowland forests. This species grows to a length of SL. It is used as bait by local fishermen and has also been found in the ...

'' and ''

Betta splendens The Siamese fighting fish (''Betta splendens''), commonly known as the betta, is a freshwater fish native to Southeast Asia, namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is one of 73 species of the genus ''Bett ...

'' cross bred in nature to create the King betta we know today. Others suppose that the King betta was bred from wild stock of ''B. raja''.

Diet

King bettas eat fish flakes, pellets, bloodworms and freeze-dried brine shrimp.

Behavior

Male and female king bettas flare or puff out their gills in order to appear more impressive, either to intimidate rivals or attract mates, as well as when they’re startled. Females often flare their gills at other females (rare in ''B. splendens''.) All bettas require a place to hide occasionally, even in solitary tanks. They may set up a territory centered on a plant or rock, which they will guard aggressively. This breed is not appropriate for a typical community tank due to its aggressiveness, particularly towards species of fish with long, flowing fins.

Maintenance

When maintaining the aquariums for this breed, instead of using substrate, breeders go for driftwood roots or branches, bark of

Beech Beech (''Fagus'') is a genus of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia, and North America. Recent classifications recognize 10 to 13 species in two distinct subgenera, ''Engleriana'' and ''Fagus''. The ''Engle ...

oak An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ''L ...

and position them in a way that offers some kind of shades to the fish. To add to the natural environment, dry leaves are also used, which along with the

Tannin Tannins (or tannoids) are a class of astringent, polyphenolic biomolecules that bind to and precipitate proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids. The term ''tannin'' (from Anglo-Norman ''tanner'', ...

from the wood, act as a supplement fish food when decomposed. For king bettas, always dim lighting and aquatic vegetation like '' Microsorum pteropus'' and ''Taxiphyllum barbieri'' is advised. A sprinkling of floating aquatic plants also help to maintain the lighting in the tank. An air-powered sponge filter in place of other forms of filtration gadgets are preferred. As these species tend to make jumps, the tank should be covered, but care should be taken not to fill it to the brim as the fish seek the humid air that develops in the empty space.

References

{{reflist Betta