The Siamese fighting fish, commonly known as the Siamese fighter, or locally as the betta, is a freshwater fish native to Mainland Southeast Asia, namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is one of more than 70 species of the genus Betta, but the only one eponymously called "betta", owing to its global popularity as a pet; Betta splendens are among the most popular aquarium fish in the world, due to their diverse and colorful morphology and relatively low maintenance.
At a glance
- Scientific name
- Betta splendens
- Category
- Fish & aquatic
- Animal type
- Other
- Other names
- betta
Some species are regulated (CITES, ownership permits) — check the rules before keeping one.
