Betta History
The Betta Fish is a colourful freshwater tropical fish known as “Siamese Fighting Fish”. Betta fish originate in the shallow waters of Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and parts of China. The natural habitats of this fish is in slow flowing and standing waters, which are often densely planted, and have a muddy bottom.
The people of Siam (now Thailand) are known to have collected these fish prior to the 19th century. Back then, the betta fish weren’t as colourful as you see it now. They were originally boring, dull looking little things that would hang out in ponds, ditches, sluggish streams and rice paddies. The Siamese people would fight betas, much like in today's culture of dog fighting and cock fighting. People would wager everything they owned, even their families! These betta fish fights were popular, so much so that the King of Siam decided to license them and to collect on them as well. In 1840, he gave several of his prized fighting fish to a man who then gave them to Dr. Theodor Cantor, who was a doctor in the Bengal medical service. Nine years later, Theodor published an article in which he describes those fighting fish and names them: Macropodus Pugnax.
In 1909, Mr, Tate Regan realized that there was already a species with the name Macropodus Pugnax, and renamed the Siamese fighting fish to Betta splendens.
The first betta fish were introduced into Germany in 1896, and to the US in 1910.
The people of Siam (now Thailand) are known to have collected these fish prior to the 19th century. Back then, the betta fish weren’t as colourful as you see it now. They were originally boring, dull looking little things that would hang out in ponds, ditches, sluggish streams and rice paddies. The Siamese people would fight betas, much like in today's culture of dog fighting and cock fighting. People would wager everything they owned, even their families! These betta fish fights were popular, so much so that the King of Siam decided to license them and to collect on them as well. In 1840, he gave several of his prized fighting fish to a man who then gave them to Dr. Theodor Cantor, who was a doctor in the Bengal medical service. Nine years later, Theodor published an article in which he describes those fighting fish and names them: Macropodus Pugnax.
In 1909, Mr, Tate Regan realized that there was already a species with the name Macropodus Pugnax, and renamed the Siamese fighting fish to Betta splendens.
The first betta fish were introduced into Germany in 1896, and to the US in 1910.