Betta
Betta, is a large genus of small, often colorful, freshwater ray-finned fishes, known as "bettas", in the gourami family. The best known Betta species is B. splendens, commonly known as the Siamese fighting fish.
Glycera
The genus Glycera is a group of polychaetes commonly known as bloodworms. They are typically found on the bottom of shallow marine waters, and some species, are extensively harvested along the Northeastern coast of the United States for use as bait in fishing. Another c…
Daphnia
Daphnia, a genus of small planktonic crustaceans, are 0.2–5 millimetres in length. Daphnia are members of the order Cladocera, and are one of the several small aquatic crustaceans commonly called water fleas because their saltatory swimming style resembles the movements of fle…
What do I Feed my Betta mahachaiensis?
Betta mahachaiensis are carnivores and insectivores and can be fed all types of meat-based foods as well as insects. They enjoy critters such as bloodworms, mosquito larvae, aselles, daphnia and red daphnia, which can improve the color of the fish. When it comes to dry food, flakes and pellets are just fine though they may not always accept it.
What is the best betta fish food?
Ranked in order, the best betta food is live, frozen, freeze-dried, pellets, and flakes. Feeding a variety of different foods will provide the array of nutrients a betta fish needs to thrive. How much to feed your betta fish can depend on their individual activity level, but 2-3 pellets 1-2 times daily is a safe amount.
What kind of fish is a Betta Mahachai?
Its structure varies in complexity between species, tending to be better-developed in those inhabiting harsher environments. Betta mahachaiensis, a new species of bubble-nesting fighting fish (Teleostei: Osphronemidae) from Samut Sakhon Province, Thailand.
What size tank does a Betta Mahachai need?
A single betta mahachaiensis is best kept in a 5 to 12 gallon tank. If you are adding a pair of fish to a tank, make sure to add them to a tank of at least 20 gallons to give them enough space and prevent them from fighting. No matter the size of tank, always secure a lid on top of the tank!
How do I keep my betta Mahachai?
Mahachai can be housed in pairs, species tanks, and community tanks. Pairs can be housed in a 10 gallon tank, groups should be housed in a 30 gallon tank or larger. Pairs should be given cover such as caves and plants. In a pair or species situation it is possible that fry could be discovered in the tanks.
What do you feed your betta fish?
Frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms make for especially welcome and tasty betta food treats. You can feed your betta fish live food as well, as a way to stimulate them. You can also feed your betta fish flakes for food. Fish flakes are an inexpensive and easy to store food option.
What do betta fry eat in the wild?
Wild betta fry eat a variety of small organisms such as infusiora and small zooplanktons. These are mostly very common in the wild habitats due to the ideal environment with low water-levels, and no current.
What should I feed my Hendra Betta?
Hendras are carnivorous. In the wild, the Hendra will feed primarily on insects and invertebrates. In captivity, some may be able to feed on flakes, however, this depends on the fish. Preferably, Hendra's should be fed a variety of live foods including daphnias, blackworms, and brine shrimp.
Do betta fish get lonely?
Do They Get Lonely? Betta fish are naturally territorial and should not be housed with any other betta fish because they will fight and injure each other, often resulting in death. They are unlikely to get lonely in their tank; however, if they are in a small tank, they may get bored.
How long can betta fish go without food?
Betta fish can survive up to 10 days without food, however, this is not recommended! It is possible they may even survive a few more days than this, however, this is merely surviving and you are actually slowly starving your betta fish which can cause them to die easily.
Can I feed egg yolk to betta fry?
Is Egg Yolk Good For Betta Fries? Egg yolk is good for Betta fries during the first few days of their lives. However, you won't want to feed them yolks after that point because they contain a lot of fat and cholesterol. Egg yolks contain plenty of nutrients, which are essential for growth.
What can I feed my 2 week old betta fry?
Step-by-Step Fry-Feeding GuideStart by feeding the fry with nematodes. ... When the fry are a few days old, they should be large enough to cope with eating baby brine shrimp.After a week, continue feeding the fry with baby brine shrimp. ... At three to four weeks, you can continue feeding your fry with baby brine shrimp.More items...
When should I start feeding my betta fry?
You can begin introducing worms into your betta diets around 5-6 weeks after hatching. Live Grindel and blackworms are two perfect choices full of the nutrients your Betta still needs. You can now discontinue nematodes, but baby Brine Shrimp should still be provided.
Can Betta Hendra live together?
Hendra are great as solitary fish but can be kept in pairs and larger groups. If kept in anything larger than a pair it is recommended to supply many hiding spots. Males can be kept together but expect to see some fighting.
How do you preserve a wild betta fish?
Diet should consist of mainly live foods or dry foods with plenty of protein. Bettas are carnivores in nature and providing live food once in awhile would be great for your betta. If they see something moving, they will try to eat it. Smaller bettas can eat daphnia, baby brine shrimp and blackworms.
How often do you feed a betta fish?
It is recommended to feed your betta fish two to four pellets, once or twice per day. Pellets expand when placed in water and are very filling for your betta fish. Freeze-dried or fresh food can be substituted for their pellet feeding 1 to 2 days per week.
When should you feed your betta fish?
You should feed a betta fish two small feeds per day. Feeding your betta fish once in the morning and once at night every day is great. Making these feeds around 12 hours apart and at the same time, every day will help you and your betta get in a routine.
Can betta fish eat regular fish food?
Can Betta Fish Eat Goldfish Food? The simple answer to this question is yes, betta fish can eat and digest goldfish food. However, this kind of food should only be given to them occasionally and not be the main ingredient in their diet. In fact, betta fish thrive on a diet that boasts a high quantity of protein.
How can I tell if my betta is happy?
Effortless Swimming A happy betta will swim around their tank daily. Sometimes they will move almost lazily about, and other times they'll flit from side to side quickly. If the betta appears to have no trouble swimming and isn't leaning to the side or struggling, your betta is healthy and happy.
Why do betta fish overeat?
Overfeeding and overeating can lead to constipation, bloating, obesity (that’s right betta fish can get fat), swim bladder problems, contracting diseases because of the bacteria feeding on the excess food breaking down, and even death.
Why won't my betta fish eat?
If your betta fish won’t eat or seems completely uninterested in food don’t worry. A lack of appetite may mean that they are not hungry or have recently undergone some type of stress (e.g. tank cleaning, new home, abrupt water temperature changes).
What is the best food for a betta fish?
Ranked in order, the best betta food is live, frozen, freeze-dried, pellets, and flakes. Feeding a variety of different foods will provide the array of nutrients a betta fish needs to thrive. How much to feed your betta fish can depend on their individual activity level, but 2-3 pellets 1-2 times daily is a safe amount.
Why do betta keepers feed pellets?
Most betta keepers decide to feed pellets because they are simple and effective. Pellets create less mess and you can easily portion them out for feedings. Live, freeze-dried, or frozen foods can be used as treats or implemented into their daily feeding routine too.
What is the nutritional value of a betta fish?
Providing the best nutritional value focuses on a betta’s need of protein, fat, fiber, phosphorus, carbohydrates, calcium, and vitamins (A, D3, E, K, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, C, H, M). Make sure your betta food is natural and contains protein as the first ingredient. Do not purchase or feed flakes made for goldfish or other tropical fish.
Why is my betta fish not eating?
If your betta isn’t eating it may also be a sign of illness. Just like when we are sick, betta fish also won’t have big appetites while they are ill. Make sure to monitor for signs of illness and disease, and initiate the proper treatments as soon as possible.
What are fruit flies?
Also known as the vinegar fly, the common fruit fly is something you are probably very familiar with. Have you ever left bananas, apples or other fruit out in your kitchen, and all of a sudden there’s swarms of little bugs flying around them? Those are fruit flies and betta fish love them because they are insectivores. While you can technically drop them in for feeding, you don’t know what diseases they may have and they may fly out. Instead, there is a wingless and flightless variety that is ideal for feeding betta fish and can even be bred and harvested in a small container inexpensively.
What If My Betta Won’t Eat?
Do not freak out if your betta fish is refusing to eat everything that you’re feeding them. Their lack of appetite could be from stress or because they are not hungry. You shouldn’t worry unless they have not eaten for a few days.
What is the best food for betta fish?
Opossum shrimp or Mysis shrimp are excellent sources of fiber for betta fish and help with the digestion of their protein-rich foods. Their hard exoskeleton provides the little boost bettas need to help out their digestive system.
Why are betta fish so sensitive to food?
Unlike most other fish, bettas are very sensitive to eating and is the leading cause of dietary health issues. Typically, when betta fish are overfed, they suffer from digestive blockage or constipation.
Why does my betta swim upside down?
In severe cases, your betta may suffer from SBD or “Swim Bladder Disorder.” It is a condition that causes your betta to be unable to right itself in the water, making it swim sideways and possibly upside down.
How big should a betta's stomach be?
Instead, you should feed your betta according to their stomach size. In general, a betta’s stomach size is just about as big as one of his eyeballs.
Why is it important to have a regular feeding routine for a betta?
And having consistency in your feeding regimen also helps you determine what other habits and behaviors are regular to your betta, when food is consistent. And helps you know when something seems “off.”
What happens if you underfeed a baby?
Underfeeding can cause them to suffer from malnutrition and lead to odd behavior changes, like increased aggression and decreased activity.
What color are the ventrals of Betta mahachaiensis?
The ventrals of Betta mahachaiensis are black with green or blue accents, Betta smaragdina has orange to red ventrals with most likely white tips. The anal fins wich are typical to be very big hold a blue green color with Betta mahachaiensis and an orange, sometimes blue accented color for Betta smaragdina.
Why is Betta Mahachaiensis endangered?
Due to human activities and the population who keeps growing, the wild habitats of Betta mahachaiensis are under extreme threat. The habitats where it lives are in great danger due to farmers and have to move aside for human infrastructures and farming grounds. In addition to that, fish are caught for selling on markets or to the western aquarium trade. Betta mahachaiensis is one of the most endangered species due to these humanly caused threats.
How to breed Betta Mahachaiensis?
First off, you will need to condition the pair. This can be done with live foods to give extra proteins and make them stronger for spawning. When you have conditioned the pair for about one to two weeks, you can put the male in the breeding tank and let him build his nest. Make the pair meet each other by using something like a bottle where the female can be put in.
What is wild betta fish?
What are wild bettas? Wild Betta Fish are the collection of all Betta species living in the wild. The domestic Betta, which has been crossbred
What is the temperature of tap water?
Temperature can range between 72° and 80° F.
Where does Mahachaiensis live?
The name mahachaiensis is a derivation of a sub district called ‘Maha Chai’ in the Samut Sakhon province where it lives.
How long do fish live?
If you can provide good care, you will enjoy an amazing and beautiful fish who can live upwards to four years.
How many members does Betta have?
The genus Betta is the most speciose within the family Osphronemidae with almost 70 recognised members and looks set to grow further with new ones continuing to be described on a regular basis since the turn of the century.
Where is Betta mahachaiensis from?
References. Betta mahachaiensis, a new species of bubble-nesting fighting fish (Teleostei: Osphronemidae) from Samut Sakhon Province, Thailand. Molecular and morphological evidence supports the species status of the Mahachai fighter Betta sp. Mahachai and reveals new species of Betta from Thailand.
Where did B. mahachaiensis get its name?
mahachaiensis has been considered a hybrid in the past, but molecular and morphological analyses have confirmed it to represent a distinct species. The specific name is derived from the coastal subdistrict of the same name in Samut Sakhon province, just south of Bangkok, where it was first discovered.
What organ does a fish have to breathe?
Like others in the suborder Anabantoidei this species possesses an accessory breathing organ known as the labyrinth. So-called due to its maze-like structure this organ allows the fish to breathe atmospheric air to a certain extent.
Where is the Samut Songkhram?
Distribution. Known only from a handful of localities in Bangkok, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram and Samut Prakan provinces in central Thailand, all of which lie on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand. Most habitats are in close proximity to Bangkok, which continues to expand rapidly, are considered under extreme threat, ...
How long do squid eggs stay in the nest?
The eggs hatch in 24-48 hours, remaining in the nest for a further 3-4 days until the yolk sac is fully-absorbed, while the male continues to collecting and return any that fall. If threatened the entire nest may be moved elsewhere. Once the fry begin to swim freely the male will lose interest, but the adults do not usually eat their offspring.
How many males can a squid have in a tank?
Provided with sufficient cover and broken lines-of-sight it’s possible to keep more than one male per tank, though it’s best to isolate pairs for breeding purposes in most cases.
Distribution
Habitat
- Inhabits brackish, frequently tidal, coastal swamps and is often associated with the mangrove palm Nypa fruticans, commonly-known as the nipa palm, the only species of palm specifically adapted to estuarine environments. Males build their bubble nests between the palm branches or within the bracts at the base of the trees, these providing protection and shelter. Although bracki…
Maintenance
- Can be maintained in medium-hard to hard fresh or slightly brackish conditions, and does best in a well-planted, shady tankwith plenty of surface cover in the form of tall stem or floating plants. Driftwood can also be used and other plants such as Microsorum or Taxiphyllumspp. can be attached to it. Small clay plant pots, lengths of plastic piping or empty camera film cases can al…
Diet
- Likely to prey on insects and other small invertebrates/zooplankton in nature. Captive fish will normally accept dried products once they’re recognised as edible, but should be offered plenty of small live or frozen foods such as Daphnia, Artemia or bloodwormregularly to ensure development of optimal colour and condition. Small insects such as cric...
Behaviour and Compatibilitytop ↑
- Not recommended for the standard community set-up for reasons already touched upon. It’s requirements and disposition mean it’s best kept alone or with very peaceful species since much bigger or more vigorous fishes are likely to intimidate and outcompete it. Some small cyprinids and loaches that inhabit similar environments in nature are compatible, but the presence of any …
Reproduction
- Bubble-nester. Organise a separate tank for breeding purposes unless the fish are already being maintained alone, setting this up as suggested above. The tank should have the tightest-fitting cover you can find (some breeders use clingfilm instead to ensure no gaps) as the fry need access to a layer of warm, humid air without which development of the labyrinth organcan be im…
Notestop ↑
- B. mahachaiensishas been considered a hybrid in the past, but molecular and morphological analyses have confirmed it to represent a distinct species. The specific name is derived from the coastal subdistrict of the same name in Samut Sakhon province, just south of Bangkok, where it was first discovered. It can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of ch…
References
- Kowasupat, C., B. Panijpan, P. Ruenwongsa, and N. Sriwattanarothai, 2012 - Zootaxa 3522: 49-60 Betta mahachaiensis, a new species of bubble-nesting fighting fish (Teleostei: Osphronemidae) from Sam...
- Sriwattanarothai N., D. Steinke, P. Ruenwongsa, R. Hanner and B. Panijpan, 2010 - Journal of Fish Biology 77(2): 414-424 Molecular and morphological evidence supports the species stat…
- Kowasupat, C., B. Panijpan, P. Ruenwongsa, and N. Sriwattanarothai, 2012 - Zootaxa 3522: 49-60 Betta mahachaiensis, a new species of bubble-nesting fighting fish (Teleostei: Osphronemidae) from Sam...
- Sriwattanarothai N., D. Steinke, P. Ruenwongsa, R. Hanner and B. Panijpan, 2010 - Journal of Fish Biology 77(2): 414-424 Molecular and morphological evidence supports the species status of the Maha...
- Tan, H. H. and P. K. L. Ng, 2005 - Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement (13): 43-99 The fighting fishes (Teleostei: Osphronemidae: Genus Betta) of Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei.
