Betta
The name Betta is often used to refer to the famous Siamese Fighting fish (Betta splendens), but it is also the name of an entire genus in the family Osphronemidae. The local Siamese name for Betta splendens is “Ikan Bettah” and the scientific name of the entire genus is derived from this. In contemporary Thai, the fish is instead known as “Pla-kad”. The genus Betta contains over 50 described species but only a handful of them are commonly kept by aquarists. As the name suggest, the Siamese Fighting fish is used for fish-fights and have therefore been selectively bred to be as strappy and aggressive as possible. The fish that you can find in pet stores are however very different from those used in South-East Asian fish-fights since traits such as long and elegant fins would only make the fish more susceptible to injury. The Siamese Fighting fish is by far the most popular species, but you may also encounter the Peaceful Betta (Betta imbellis) in your local fish store. This species is native to Malaysia and is not as violent and aggressive as its famous relative. It is usually kept in community aquariums with other peaceful fish and will do best in well planted tanks with lots of hiding spots among dense vegetation.
