Apr 02
Colorful, peaceful, hardy, and remarkably easy to breed, Platy Fish have almost everything an aquarist could want in a small freshwater community fish. Platies are livebearers belonging to the genus Xiphophorus. The familiar aquarium Platy is most closely associated with the Southern Platyfish (Xiphophorus maculatus), although the Variable Platy (Xiphophorus variatus) and hybrids between different …
Apr 01
With their brilliant colors, energetic personalities, and unmistakable sword-shaped tails, Swordtail Fish are among the most recognizable freshwater livebearers in the aquarium hobby. The Green Swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) is native to Mexico and Central America, but generations of selective breeding have transformed the relatively understated wild fish into a huge assortment of red, orange, yellow, …
Feb 22
Few aquarium fish display as much visual diversity as the Betta. Domestic Betta Fish (Betta splendens), commonly called Siamese Fighting Fish, can have enormous fan-shaped tails, spiky crown-like fins, compact plakat bodies, metallic scales, koi-like patches, solid jewel tones, or combinations of several traits at once. That variety can make Betta terminology confusing. A “Halfmoon,” …
Feb 22
Few aquarium fish have been transformed by selective breeding as dramatically as the Betta. Domestic Betta Fish (Betta splendens) now appear in colors, patterns, fin shapes, and combinations that would be almost unrecognizable beside their wild ancestors. Brilliant metallic coppers, marble-pattern koi, enormous Halfmoon tails, white Dragon Scale bodies, oversized Dumbo fins, and unusually colored …
Feb 22
If your Betta suddenly spreads its fins, pushes out its gill covers, and seems to double in size, you are witnessing one of the species’ most distinctive behaviors: flaring. Betta Fish (Betta splendens) are naturally territorial animals. Flaring is part of their visual threat display—a way of telling another fish, reflection, or perceived intruder that …
Feb 21
When a Betta suddenly floats at the surface, sinks to the bottom, tilts sideways, or struggles to remain upright, many aquarists immediately say the fish has “swim bladder disease.” But the swim bladder itself is not a disease. It is a normal and important organ that helps a Betta control buoyancy and maintain its position …
Feb 18
Breeding betta fish can be one of the most fascinating experiences in freshwater fishkeeping. From watching a male construct his bubble nest to spotting tiny fry hanging beneath the bubbles, the process offers an up-close look at a surprisingly complex form of parental care. Betta fish (Betta splendens) are bubble-nest spawners. Instead of scattering eggs …
Feb 18
Betta fish are often described as hardy aquarium fish, but that does not mean water chemistry can be ignored. Stable, clean water is one of the foundations of good betta care, and pH is an important part of that equation. Fortunately, bettas are relatively adaptable when it comes to pH. You do not need to …
Feb 17
A betta fish with a suddenly swollen belly can be alarming. Sometimes the explanation is relatively simple, such as eating too much at one meal. In other cases, abdominal swelling can be a sign of a more serious problem involving fluid accumulation, infection, parasites, reproductive issues, or an internal mass. The important thing to remember …
Feb 16
Finding your betta fish lying motionless at the bottom of the aquarium or floating near the surface can be upsetting. Before assuming the worst, however, take a moment to observe carefully. Bettas can rest almost completely motionless, sometimes on the substrate, against a plant, or near the water’s surface. A sick betta may also become …
