wild betta fish

An Analysis Of Betta Fish In The Wild

Even though betta fish are really cute and they are considered vital pets which can be kept in homes, offices, or even at schools. Betta fish have long been a favorite choice for many people because of their peaceful nature and lovely appearance. But can we keep wild betta fish as a pet? This article will shed light on the life of betta fish in the wild so that you can decide whether or not you want to avail them as your best friends. So let’s start with the most basic and obvious question:

Do Betta Fish Exist In The Wild?

The simple answer is yes, Betta fish exist in the wild. The more complicated answer is no, not really. You see, the domesticated Betta splendens that you keep in your home aquarium or at the pet store are not the same as the wild Bettas you find in nature. The only thing they have in common is that they are both called “Bettas”.

In fact, there are actually several different species of wild Betta living throughout Asia and other parts of the world. The most common variety is the Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens), which is also what we usually refer to when we say “Betta” today. 

Where Betta Fish Live In The Wild?

Betta fish are originally from Thailand and Cambodia where they are found in slow-moving streams, ponds, and rice paddies. They have also been introduced to other areas of Southeast Asia including Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

How Betta Fish Live In The Wild?

wild betta fish

Their natural habitat is very different from an aquarium setting. In the wild, betta fish are found in slow-moving waters with no currents or strong water flow. They prefer shallow water with soft bottoms like mud or sand. Their large labyrinth organ allows them to breathe air when they’re out of the water so they can survive dry periods if there’s not enough rain to fill up their habitat.

What Betta Fish Eat In The Wild?

Betta fish are carnivores. They eat insects, worms, crustaceans, and other small fish in the wild.

Insects: Cockroaches, crickets, grasshoppers, and mealworms can be added to the diet of your Betta. They are nutritious, high in protein, and low in fat.

Worms: Earthworms are a good source of vitamins and minerals for your Betta. They can be fed live or frozen/thawed.

Crustaceans: Shrimp can be fed to Bettas as it is rich in calcium and protein. You can feed them live or frozen/thawed shrimp from your local fish store or supermarket.

Other Small Fish: Bettas will hunt for other smaller fish in their natural habitat but this is not recommended for captive-bred Bettas as they may become aggressive towards each other.

Wild Betta vs Domesticated Betta

The wild and domesticated betta fish are two different types of fish. And they have many things uncommon between them. Here are some of the differences between wild betta fish and domesticated betta fish.

1- Size Of Body

The size of the body is one of the most important differences between these two types of fish. The size of the body is different because they have different diets and habitats. 

2- Behavior

Another difference between the two types of fish is their behavior. Wild bettas are aggressive towards humans while domesticated ones are not aggressive at all. 

3- Color

The color also differs between these two types of fish because their environment has an impact on their coloration. Wild ones have bright colors while domesticated ones have duller colors due to being kept in an aquarium with limited space for swimming around freely.

4- Tail

The tail is another difference between wild betta and domesticated betta fish. Wild bettas have long tails and their tails are used for swimming in water whereas domesticated bettas don’t have long tails and their tail does not help them in swimming in water.

5- Body Shape

Another difference between wild and domesticated bettas is that wild bettas have a rounder body shape than domesticated ones. This is because they have more muscle mass and more fat to help them survive in harsher conditions.

6- Personality

It has been proved that domesticated betta fish show better personalities than wild ones do! This may be due to the fact that they were raised differently from their parents when they were young

Do Betta Fish Fight In The Wild Or Are They Aggressive?

siamese fighting fish

Wild Bettas are not aggressive to humans. They do not have any natural predators, so they are not afraid of humans or other animals. In fact, they are very curious and may come to investigate what you are doing with your hand in the tank.

They can be aggressive towards other fish and should be kept with their own species or other optimal fish species. If you choose to keep them with other fish, it is important that there are no differences in size or aggression level between the two species. If there is a difference in size or aggression level, then one of the fish may become bullied by the other and this can lead to health problems for both fish.

Are Wild Bettas Rare?

The answer is yes, wild bettas are rare, but it depends on what you mean by “rare”.

There are a few different ways to define rarity. If we’re talking about the number of bettas in the world, then wild bettas are definitely not rare. There are thousands of them in nearly every body of water on earth.

If you want to know whether wild bettas are rare in relation to other species, then the answer is also no. There are many more species of fish than there are species of betta fish, so even if we focus only on those species that live in water, there will be more types of fish than there are types of betta fish.

Where Can I Find Wild Betta for Sale?

The most important question from an aquarium hobbyist’s perspective is whether it’s difficult or expensive to find wild-caught fish for sale at your local pet store or online retailer. In this case, the answer is yes: it’s difficult and expensive!

Wild-caught bettas can be very hard to find because they’re not always legal and they’re often expensive because they’re illegal (or because they come from remote places). To make matters worse, many people who sell them at local pet stores don’t know how to care for them.

Popular Wild Betta Fish Species

1- Betta Splendens

The Betta Splendens is the most common and popular wild betta fish species. It’s also the most common pet store betta fish. This species is native to Thailand and Vietnam, but they can now be found almost anywhere in the world. They are one of the most popular aquarium fish because they have beautiful colors and can live for several years if cared for properly.

2- Betta Channoides

Betta channoides is another popular wild betta species that comes from Thailand and Cambodia. This species is often referred to as the celestial pearl dwarf fighter, but it can also be called celestial dwarf fighting fish or celestial dwarf single-tailed fighter. These beautiful fish have long flowing fins and come in many different colors including red, blue, green, and orange. The body coloration may change slightly over time depending on diet, environment, and overall health condition.

4- Betta Rubra

The Betta Rubra or Siamese Fighting Fish is probably the most well-known species of betta. The female Betta Rubra is usually more colorful than other female varieties of betta, but both sexes have beautiful markings and coloration. The male Betta Rubra has a more elongated and pointed face than other male bettas, which makes it easier to sex them at an early age.

5- Betta Uberis

This species is also called the Betta Splendens. It gets its name from its coloring, which includes a blue line on each side of its body. These fish can grow up to 6 inches long and can live for up to 5 years. They are native to Thailand but have been introduced into other parts of Asia as well as Europe and North America through the pet trade industry.

6- Betta Macrostoma

The Giant Fighting Betta is also known as the Gourami Dwarf Betta or Dwarf Gourami Betta. This species is native to Thailand and Malaysia, but it can now be found in many other countries around the world. It was first introduced into Europe by Dr. Albert Koehler in 1875, who bought some from a German merchant named Carl Ernst Ahlborn in Bangkok.

7- Alien Betta

The alien betta has a striking appearance with its long finnage, but it is not considered to be a good beginner fish because it requires more care than most other types of wild-caught bettas. It requires at least 30 gallons of water and the aquarium should be kept at 76 degrees Fahrenheit or higher for optimal health. The alien betta should also be fed a variety of foods including freeze-dried bloodworms, live worms, and brine shrimp.

8- Betta Unimaculata

The Betta Unimaculata is a colorful species that comes from Thailand. It has a long tail, which can reach up to two inches in length, making it one of the most attractive species available today. The female version of this species is known as the Siamese Fighting Fish because they flare their gills when they’re feeling threatened or scared. These fish are easy to care for and they don’t require much space to swim around in, making them ideal for beginners who are looking for something simple but fun to have around the home!

9- Betta Mahachaiensis

This is a beautiful wild betta species, with a light blue body and a deep blue finnage. The male has a red spot at the base of its dorsal fin. It originates from Thailand and is one of the most popular species in the aquarium trade.

10- Betta Smaragdina

This is another beautiful wild betta species, with a yellow body and an orange to red finnage. The male has a black spot at the base of its dorsal fin. It originates from Cambodia and is also one of the most popular species in the aquarium trade.

11- Betta Imbellis

Betta Imbellis is a beautiful betta fish species with a striking color pattern. It has a unique color combination that makes it stand out from other species. Betta Imbellis has a white body with blue and purple stripes on its head and back. The fins are also marked with different shades of blue and purple.

12- Betta Albimarginata

Betta Albimarginata is another popular species of wild betta fish. It is characterized by its large eyes and long fins. The body of the betta is white with two vertical stripes on its sides and red highlights on the fins. This species can grow up to 4 inches long, making it one of the largest types of wild bettas available today.

13- Betta Pugnax

The Betta Pugnax is another popular wild betta fish species. It is a species of gourami that is widely kept as an aquarium fish. It originates from waters in Myanmar and Thailand, where it inhabits streams and small rivers with slow-moving water and dense vegetation cover. 

14- Betta Brownorum

Betta brownorum is another wild betta fish species that comes from Thailand. The males of this species are very beautiful and colorful, while the females are not so colorful. The males of this species have a dark brown or black body with a greenish tint on their sides and a red tail fin. The females have a brownish body with a white belly and yellow fins.

15- Betta Miniopinna

Betta miniopinna is another wild betta fish species that come from Thailand as well. This species has similar characteristics to Betta brownorum, but it has more colors on its body than its sister species. The male Betta miniopinna has an orange head, blue eyes, and an orange body with small black spots on the back part of its body and large black spots on the front part of its body. The female Betta miniopinna has an orange head with blue eyes, but she doesn’t have any spots on her body at all!

16- Betta Ocellata

Betta ocellata is also known as the jewel orchid betta fish. It is one of the most popular wild betta species. It is a beautiful and colorful fish that can grow up to 3 inches long. The male is more colorful than the female, and they both have thin bodies with long tails.

17- Betta Coccina

Betta coccina is another popular wild betta fish species that grows up to 4 inches long. They have a brown body color with red fins and blue eyes. These beautiful fish are perfect for small tanks because they don’t require much space or maintenance, but they will need plenty of hiding places so they feel safe in their tank environment.

Conclusion

My conclusion is, however, that bettas are better off in captivity. This is because the males can be really awful to each other in the wild and in competition for a female’s attention. That said, I do think that people should be more thoughtful about buying wild betta fish at pet stores.