[PET OHANA]
Keeping tropical fish as pets can be very satisfying. Just ask anyone who has an aquarium! They don't take up much space or demand much of your time, yet the ever-changing aquascape provides a soothing background for your favorite room. Fighting fish more
than decorationBy Hawaiian Humane Society
One of the most colorful types of freshwater fish are known as Siamese Fighting Fish (Latin name Betta spendens). Part of the genus of labyrinth fish, these fish breathe air from above the water's surface. This is just one of the idiosyncrasies that make these fish totally unique.
True to their name, Siamese Fighting Fish will battle it out with most any other fish kept in the same bowl. A traditional fish bowl makes a good home for the solitary betta who will probably be a male. This flashy fish with fluttering fins likes warm water (76 to 80 degrees F) at a consistent temperature and he wants that water to be calm. Forget the fancy filters and pumps.
Your betta prefers smooth marbles on the bowl's bottom -- no gravel, please -- and the marbles should be a different color than the fish. Include a submerged plant that still allows access to the water's surface and provide bright light but not direct sun. Consider a breathable cover for the bowl since this Betta is not only a fighter, he's also a jumper! Your betta's fishbowl looks good in a corner of your desk.
Does brilliant true blue appeal to you? How about blood red, iridescent turquoise, rich black, white, green, yellow, and combinations? Usually 2 to 3 inches in length, the betta is available in a wide color spectrum with males preferred because they're more vividly colored than females. Oahu pet stores have Bettas competitively priced from about $2 to $6 each, depending on color, sex and single- vs. double-fins.
"In our quest to be kind to animals, the Humane Society urges people to learn how to care for bettas properly and keep them apart so they don't injure themselves or other fish," said Kathy Rothschild, administrator of humane education for the Hawaiian Humane Society. "If two males, especially of the same color, are put into the same bowl, they will fight to the death.It is part of their territorial nature. So each fish should have his own bowl and they should also be kept apart so they won't even see each other."
Some local pet stores have noticed that people are buying bettas to decorate the water of a vase of flowers. Remember that this fish breathes air from above the water's surface, so it needs plenty of room below to swim and above to inhale air. The fish also feel stress when their water is changed or disturbed, and fresh flowers require daily water changes, so using fish as a decorative element is really not appropriate care. You'll notice your fish's color will change with its mood.
And the idea that this fish wants to live in a tiny bowl is a myth. Thebowl should be big enough for him to swim around freely. Fifty percent of the water should be replaced each week to keep it clean.
Pet stores have aquarium departments offering the proper shrimp and worms for your carnivorous betta, but be careful not to overfeed.
Male fish build bubble nests within the leaves or at the edge. The fish takes a gulp of air into its mouth, coats it with saliva and spits out individual bubbles which stick together on the surface of the water. The nests are used during spawning when the male places the female eggs in the bubble nest.
"We remember these flamboyant fish swimming alone in giant brandy snifter glasses sitting atop a grand piano," Rothschild said. "They've been popular since the 1920s. With proper care and kindness, these Bettas can provide some relaxing entertainment in a bowl."
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