A common misconception about the Betta Fish is that they thrive in small containers and that they are extremely low maintenance. This is not so, and as they are tropical fish they do require adequate filtration and should be kept in a heated environment. They are somewhat prone to illness and even death if not properly cared for and put into situations that do not suit their breed. Also, if a drastic temperature change is encountered then it can sometimes prove to be fatal. Just thought I'd get this out of the way before I progress any further.

The Betta Fish is the official name of what is more commonly referred to as the Siamese fighting fish. It is a native to the Mekong river basin in Southeast Asia and its actually known by the name of pla-kad in its native Thailand. The Betta Fish comes in all kinds of beautiful, bright, vibrant colors and these fish will flare out their gill covers in order to intimidate rivals or to assist in the role of their courtship. Vertical lines appear on the fish to signify flirtatiousness and readiness to breed, and similarly; if they are stressed or frightened then horizontal stripes will be displayed.

These fish tend to grow to an overall length of around 6cm, however some varieties will grow to 8cm. They are primarily carnivorous and enjoy to feed on insect larvae and zooplankton also. Their diet is extremely important as those that feed on a variety of foods will tend to live longer, heal more quickly from damage, and appear brighter and bolder in color which is obviously important when in their natural environment. In the home there are a number of foods that can be purchased for your Betta Fish. They enjoy foods such as bloodworms of brine shrimp, however 'Betta pellets' can also be purchased which tend to consist of a combination of mashed bloodworms, brine shrimp, fish meal, shrimp meal, and various vitamins also. Obviously this can be the easiest solution and is one which combines many foods in one, something that can be extremely helpful for your Betta Fish and assist in maintaining its health. Personal preference comes in here as the fish can also be fed for instance finely chopped vegetables that are high in protein. Foods such as soybeans, corn, carrots, green beans, and even broccoli have been suggested by certain Betta Fish hobbyists of the world.

If buying a Betta Fish as a pet for the home then be advised that to purchase two males of the species is not at all a good idea. In the wild, when the

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