1. By Emma Rink

2. What are bettas? They are a part of a group of fish called anabantoids. They have a special organ called the labyrinth organ that allows them to breath atmospheric air. They are sometimes collected a hobby. They are very popular pets. Most bettas are found in parts of southern Asia and africa.

3. Types of bettas The most popular betta is the betta splendens ( aka siamese fighting fish) Wine-red betta Emerald green betta Slim betta Crown betta Crescent betta Mouth brooding betta Half moon betta

4. What bettas eat and where they live Bettas eat prepared fish food or live food, you can get a betta from petsmart, ocean gallery 2 and more. Some bettas come from Thailand and southeast Asia. You can get a tank at petsmart, if you do get a small one you should put 2 -3 small plants in it because bettas like to hide. DO NOT put 2 bettas in the same tank unless you get a divider. A divider is a thin piece of plastic that sometimes comes with a tank, you put it in the tank to separate your two bettas.

5. COLOR Bettas are very colorful, they usually have colors like……. red Yellow Blue Green Purple Black (black bettas are actually rare because the color black is linked to a leathal gene) Sometimes bettas are even transparent!

6. Female Bettas Female bettas are different from male bettas because they don’t have as much detail as the male. Male bettas are more popular than the female because their fins are bigger and they have more color. male female see the difference?

7. Attitude Male bettas are aggressive toward each other, they puff out two fins on the side of their head when they are angry or challenging another male. The male betta will attack the female When bettas fight they will often nip at fins or try to tear them

8. Breeding Breeding a betta is not that easy, you will first have to make sure that the male and female do not fight, so after your female lays eggs seperate her from the male. Females will lay up to 250 eggs When two black bettas mate some of the fish will die before they hatch because, as I said COLOR, black bettas are rare because the color black is linked to a leathal gene

9. Eggs The male betta will make a bubble nest for the eggs to keep them safe or they have floating eggs. Some bettas even hold their eggs in their mouth! The female betta is the one who gaurds the eggs Bubble nest->

10. Sources The ultimate encyclopedia of aquarium fish and fish care by Mary Bailey. Encyclopedia of aquarium fish and pond fish by David Alderton. Tropical aquarium fishes by Douglas Campbell. Aquarium fish by Dick Mills.