{"id":242,"date":"2018-08-01T04:04:01","date_gmt":"2018-08-01T04:01:59","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2022-11-08T02:12:42","modified_gmt":"2022-11-08T02:12:42","slug":"betta-fish-anatomy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bettafishworld.com\/betta-fish-care-guide\/betta-fish-anatomy\/","title":{"rendered":"Betta Fish Anatomy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As I have mentioned before, the fighting fish has a special organ called Labyrinth<\/a>.<\/p>\n This special organ allows them to breathe atmospheric air as we do.<\/p>\n This special organ allows them to live in bad water conditions. Even if the water is polluted and low in oxygen.<\/p>\n Their native habitat is puddles, ditches, slow-moving streams and rice paddies which are found in Cambodia and Thailand.<\/p>\n The average lifespan for the fighting Fish is around 2 to 4 years and grow up to 2 to 2.5 inches.<\/p>\n The betta fish<\/a> have two eyes. Their eyesight is very good and this is used for their fighting nature.<\/p>\n The effectiveness if their eyesight is about 12 to 14 inches away.<\/p>\n If you have noticed, when your finger is on top of the aquarium, they are very responsive and try to play catch up with you.<\/p>\n They see everything in the full-color spectrum but near-sighted.<\/p>\n They are built to for combat and fighting that’s why their nearsightedness is only within 12 to 14 inches. Betta Fish are very curious in nature and very intelligent little fish.<\/p>\n Historically, the Siamese fighting fish have been used in Asian countries specifically to a sport which is very similar to cockfighting.<\/p>\n The betta fish<\/a> that are used for fighting specifically have shorter fins’ and super aggressive.<\/p>\n The male betta fish have very colorful fins’ and because of specialized breeding<\/a>, they have the: half moon, double tail and crown tail varieties. When they betta fish age the fins’ tends to be longer when it will lose it. It does grow back but it will look the same as the original. This loss of tail actually rejuvenates the fish.<\/p>\n On the other hand, the female betta fish<\/a>, as of the same size as the male. It normally has shorter fins’. The original female betta<\/a> fish have very dull fin colors. But because of selective breeding, the female betta fish now has also bright and very showy fins’ and comparable to the male betta fish.<\/p>\n As you would have noticed that the Betta fish<\/a> are small and seems to be very harmless. But actually, if you are of the same size as them it would be terrifying!<\/p>\n Their mouth is full rows of very sharp tiny pointed teeth<\/a>. The strength of their jaws in proportion is more powerful than of the great white shark.<\/p>\n They used their sharp teeth to break down the food to aid ingestion and also they use it for fighting and nipping their enemy.<\/p>\n It is also a surprise that when they are busy about carrying the eyes into the nest, none of the eggs are destroyed.<\/p>\n Betta Fish are carnivores in nature so the pointed sharp teeth help them break down the food. They are very good in controlling the population of mosquitoes where they eagerly eat the larvae s at the surface of the water.<\/p>\n This feature acts as a protective cover or barrier for the gills. Did you notice that sometimes they flare and showing its aggressiveness?<\/p>\n They are similar to cockfighters when they are fighting the operculum is always flaring out to show dominance and makes it look bigger.<\/p>\n The betta fish gills are similar as compared to other aquatic creatures and other fishes.<\/p>\n Did you notice they sometimes just hang on the fish tank decor or plants? They are using their gills to breathe air through water.<\/p>\n It is very nice for the betta fish to have the gills and also the labyrinth for surviving low oxygen water conditions.<\/p>\n This is also named as the pelvic fins’. They are primarily used for steering to left, right, up and down.<\/p>\n The ventral fins’ are smaller on female betta fish<\/a> as compared to the male betta fish.<\/p>\n These fins’ are always moving and is used when they are navigating in the water. They look like ears.<\/p>\n The fins’ come in different size and shapes also have different colors on variations of the betta fish.<\/p>\n This also comes if different sizes and shape on the different variants of the betta fish.<\/p>\n If without this dorsal fin the betta fish would just be traveling in a very awkward straight line.<\/p>\n This fin happens to stabilize the navigation of the betta fish when trying to attack a prey.<\/p>\n This fin also helps in maintaining stability when the betta fish is navigating the water.<\/p>\n This is common for all the fishes. It contains the fish scales or Armour of the fish. As mentioned previously the betta fish can grow up to 2 to 2.5 inches in body length.<\/p>\n If the betta fish is healthy it will noticeably exhibit vibrant colors and very healthy looking scales.<\/p>\n The body, of course, gets injured if the betta fish goes to the arena to fight<\/a>.<\/p>\n If the betta fish is under a lot of stress then there will be a noticeable horizontal line on the body which is more evident on the female betta fish.<\/p>\n The betta fry or babies<\/a> show horizontal lines when it is growing which is of course not of concern.<\/p>\n This is primarily used for propulsion in the water. For the betta fish that are sold in pet stores have long beautiful caudal fins’ which come in many variants as well and come in different sizes and shapes.<\/p>\n Most of the betta that is sold have long and very elegant caudal fins’.<\/p>\n As opposed to the wild, the caudal fins’ are shorter and not that brightly colored otherwise they become the prey and will eventually get nip by other fishes or predator.<\/p>\n By the way, it is also important to sparingly check once in a while for the signs of fin rot.<\/p>\nExternal Betta Fish Anatomy<\/h1>\n
Mouth<\/h3>\n
Operculum<\/h3>\n
Gills<\/h3>\n
Ventral Fin<\/h3>\n
Pectoral Fin<\/h3>\n
Dorsal Fin<\/h3>\n
Anal Fin<\/h3>\n
Body<\/h3>\n
Caudal Fin<\/h3>\n
Internal Betta Fish<\/a> Anatomy<\/h1>\n