Siamese fighting fish

Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens).

Siamese fighting fish, (Betta splendens), freshwater tropical fish of the family Osphronemidae (order Perciformes), noted for the pugnacity of the males toward one another. The Siamese fighting fish, a native of Thailand, was domesticated there for use in contests. Combat consists mainly of fin nipping and is accompanied by a display of extended gill covers, spread fins, and intensified colouring.

The fish, elongated and slender, grows to a length of about 6.5 centimetres (2.5 inches). In the wild it is predominantly greenish or brown with moderately sized red fins; under domestication it has been bred with long flowing fins and in a variety of colours, such as red, green, blue, and lavender. See also labyrinth fish.