Question

Why do some people perceive beta fish as mean?

Answer 1

The fish are Siamese fighting fish. It's just their nature to be very aggressive.. . Keeping them as pets is controversial because they are often kept in very small containers and some people believe that is cruel.. . You can learn about them at the site listed below.

Answer 2

They are actually siamese fighting fish. It is thier nature to fight other males, probably in defense and competition for females. Male betas are colorful, while the female does not present colorful markings. It is possible to cohabitate a male and female, just not two males. They are terriltorial and will fight each other to the death (hence siamese fighting fish) wow that other answer put mine to shame...way to go, I learned alot from that.

Answer 3

sparkles2U is exactly right, and they are japanese fighting fish also called. . . no it is neve ok to keep it with a female!! betas have to be by their selves!!

Answer 4

They only fight with other males. It is okay to keep them with females.

Answer 5

The live in small mud holes in the wild. They will fight to the death if another beta is in their mud hole. The holes are small and there often isn't enough food for both fish. It's the old saying... this town isn't big enough for the both of us.

Answer 6

NOOO, it isn't ok to keep a male and female together!! I breed them and the ONLY time I have them together is when they are making babies for me. The male will kill her.

Answer 7

fighting fish, small, freshwater fish of the genus Betta, found in Thailand and the Malay Peninsula. Best known is the Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens. Mature males of this species are about 2 in. (5 cm) long. In its native waters B. splendens is drab with small fins, but several centuries of breeding have produced multicolored varieties with extremely enlarged decorative fins, highly prized as aquarium fishes. Males of this species are extremely aggressive, and in Thailand they are used in fighting contests lasting as long as six hours, with spectators betting on the outcome. Bettas thrive in shallow, sunlit areas with soft or sandy bottoms. Males secrete a mucous, with which they build bubble nests. After the female of a pair lays her eggs, both members transfer them to the nest, which is then guarded by the male. Several hundred young hatch out in 24 to 30 days. Like its relatives the gourami and the climbing perch, the betta is equipped to breathe air as well as water and must surface from time to time. It is classified in the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Osteichthyes, order Perciformes, family Anabantidae.