As a kid, I had a small aquarium. The Betta fish always mesmerized me.
One fine day the Black mollies gave pups. My Dad explained the miracle.
The following day when I rushed to the aquarium, there was one sole fish; my brilliantly hued Siamese fighter, belly bulging, grinning lewdly.
Hang on, more on this in a while, crocodile. But first things first.
I am a retired sea captain who has hung up his sea boots and willfully plunged into the calm blue inviting waters of freelance writing.
I reside in Kolkata, India, and share space with Rajlakshmi, a media magician who runs a small media outfit and teaches media at management schools.
We have two loving freeloaders- Malcolm T, a fox terrier, and Dollputul, a hyperactive cat who is hellbent on speeding up my descent into dementia.
To get away from it all, I take off for random rambling treks in the sub-Himalayans not far from Kolkata.
Anytime you are in these parts, here is where you can find friends with a whale lot of stories. Try Contact
What I do have is a very particular set of skills. These skills have been acquired over time. As a serial writer, I strive to deliver quality and engaging content to my clients. I do not leap into a writing project and come up with a slapdash copy. Instead, I go through your requirements with a keen comb and do some preliminary research. The next question is can I deliver? I do not forward a bid unless I am convinced that I can pull off a great job.
The net is not my sole source of information -books, periodicals, journals, and so on at the library are also supplemental sources.
My contributions to blogs, website content, articles on varied niches are fairly substantial. My portfolio will bear me out, I hope.
Disclaimer
As a professional freelance writer, I have contributed to unknown sources for a commission. I have never signed any contract papers as such. The content is absolutely the result of my research, and writing skills solely.
No copyright laws have been infringed upon as it is my property by statute.
Betta Fish- Wonder If They Have Teeth?
Do Betta fish have teeth? Sure they do and pretty sharp ones at that..
Another common name for Betta fish is a Siamese fighter. They are native to the far East; Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and thereabouts.
It is a very coveting fish with bright colors and fancy fins. Strange that a fish of such consummate beauty should have such a bloodthirsty pastime. The males are very hostile especially to other males housed in the same tank and a battle to the death is the only decider.
Betta fish exhibit Intelligent traits and like any pet, they can even perform simple tricks.
And yes, they do have teeth. Just like us and very much for the same reasons- to bite and chew. To aid digestion, they chomp whole pellets and worms smaller bits before ingestion.
But do Betta fish bite
If you dip your finger into a tank holding a Betta fish, most likely it will flee. Their jaws are upturned and are very strong. Comparatively, for their size, they’ll give a shark a run for its money. To observe the jaws in action, watch when they feed. The jaw and teeth work in tandem to pulverize the prey into small pieces before ingestion.
The sharp teeth play another role. Being territorial, they are fighters and will bite and nip their adversaries. This behavioral trait is built into their DNA. There is no place two males in the same tank. One will surely be killed. But they behave themselves with a female or when placed with other fish.
Betta fish are carnivores
When not in captivity, their normal diet is larvae and insects. Even in captivity, they should be fed blood worms regularly. Such a menu calls for teeth to feed just as humans chew and swallow their feed.
Some cool facts about Bettas
Bettas like space and stimulation to prosper well. In transportation, they are kept in a tranquilizing solution as they tend to become agitated. Once in the aquarium, the behavior changes dramatically and you will witness a completely different side to your Betta. They do not thrive well in small containers or small fish bowls.
The popularity of Bettas is, of course, their brilliant coloration. That apart, they have some endearing qualities too.
There are some 70 species of Betta fish
- Wild bettas are dull brown and green in color with stunted fins. The vibrant colored bettas in stores are selectively bred.
- The tails and fins come in an amazing wide variety of shapes and colors- comb, delta, half-moon, plakat, etc.
- The males and females can’t be told apart, except that the males are larger and more brilliantly hued as one finds in the animal kingdom for reasons of finding the best mate.
- Bettas can breathe air from the surface as they have a labyrinth organ. This is the reason why they can survive in low oxygen environs such as paddy fields or stagnant ponds. Bettas can breathe out of the water provided they are kept moist. That is the reason why they constantly rise to the surface.
- Bettas build bubble nests. The male gathers the eggs in the mouth after the female deposits a cluster after an elaborate courtship. These eggs are deposited into the bubble nest. Male bettas build these bubble nests even in the absence of a mate.
- Once the eggs are placed in the nest, the female has no role to play. The male keeps a watch on the eggs till they hatch. Typically he sometimes even drives the female away.
- Bettas are amazingly intelligent. They can recognize their owners. Put your finger in and make circles, the betta will follow the finger. They can be taught to swim through hoops or push a ball into a goal. An endearing pet indeed.
Maintain a stimulating surrounding for your Betta fish
- Ample space should be provided
- To keep the water clean and flowing, install a noiseless pump and filter.
- Bettas thrive well in water temperatures of 72-82F
- Provide exploratory avenues- plants, rocks, ceramic objects, etc. But ensure they are non-toxic.
- Keep the tank away from noise sources such as the TV, music system. Keep away from direct sunlight also
- Feed them the right kind of food.
- When changing the water, use pure water. Tap water contains fluorides, chlorine and other impurities that can harm fish.
- Never startle the fish with sudden changes in lighting or sound.
- While most fish do better alone, most prefer to stay in pairs.
Aquarium fish, including Bettas feel more secure interacting with their owners. Visit and spend a little time with your fish. If your fish appears listless, don’t delay taking him to a vet along with a sample of the tank water.
Aquarium fish, including Bettas, feel more secure interacting with their owners. Visit and spend a little time with your fish. If your fish appears listless, don’t delay taking him to a vet along with a sample of the tank water.
Hey, do visit https://www.peta.org/issues/animal-companion-issues/animal-companion-factsheets/fish-tanks-thanks/.
I contribute to their point of view because they condone species that are in the confinement of an aquarium. However, to totally abandon the idea of keeping a pet is a bit too absurd. A fish too can be a pet. A pet destresses, are terrific companions, and they are undemanding.