1 00:00:01,960 --> 00:00:07,120 Speaker 1: Welcome to brain Stuff production of iHeart Radio, Hey brain 2 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:12,039 Speaker 1: Stuff Lauren Voga bam here with their striking, bold colors 3 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:15,080 Speaker 1: and flashy fins. Beta fish are one of the more 4 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:20,040 Speaker 1: popular types of fish sold for home aquariums, perhaps because, unfortunately, 5 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 1: there are a number of misconceptions about these creatures. The 6 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 1: truth is that they're not as hardy and easy to 7 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 1: care for as many believe. Beta fish, sometimes called fighting fish, 8 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:34,839 Speaker 1: are tropical fish native to Southeast Asia. Wild beta's typically 9 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:38,360 Speaker 1: live in rice patties and other shallow, stagnant bodies of water. 10 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 1: Because these wetlands routinely shrink during the dry season, betas 11 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:46,160 Speaker 1: hop from puddled puddle trying to find a reasonably deep 12 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 1: pool where they can hang out until the rains return. 13 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 1: Due to these conditions, betas developed what's known as a 14 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 1: labyrinth organ that gives them the ability to obtain some 15 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:58,560 Speaker 1: oxygen from the air as well as the water. The 16 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 1: suborder that includes bay is are sometimes called labyrinth fish 17 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:06,120 Speaker 1: or garami. Beta's got the nickname fighting fish due to 18 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:10,120 Speaker 1: their territorial nature. During the eighteen hundreds, perhaps especially in 19 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:12,840 Speaker 1: what's now Thailand. The fish were bred for this purpose 20 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 1: and fights were forced for entertainment. Beta's were first introduced 21 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:20,119 Speaker 1: to the United States in the early twentieth century. Wild 22 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:23,120 Speaker 1: betas generally have small fins and are dull, green or 23 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:26,120 Speaker 1: brown in color, but today's pet betas have been bred 24 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:29,600 Speaker 1: to be quite colorful with elaborate fins. With proper care, 25 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 1: a pet beta can live for two to four years, 26 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 1: but before you buy one, make sure you're aware of 27 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 1: these five common fish tails about the beautiful beta fish. 28 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 1: Perhaps the most widespread myth about beta's is that they 29 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:46,039 Speaker 1: can live in small bowls. The opposite is true. Beta 30 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 1: fish need a tank that's at least five gallons about 31 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 1: twenty leaders and ten gallons or about forty leaders is better. 32 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 1: The origin behind this persistent myth is uncertain, but it 33 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 1: may come from the fact that betas are often sold 34 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 1: in small containers and because they have some ability to 35 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:05,360 Speaker 1: breathe out of the water. But betas can be stressed 36 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 1: if they're housed in close quarters, especially if they share 37 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:12,080 Speaker 1: space with fish perceived as rivals. Small tanks mean there's 38 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 1: nowhere to hide. Even when housed alone or with fish 39 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 1: that they get along with, they still need hideouts to 40 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:20,880 Speaker 1: escape to. But while the tank should be spacious, it 41 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 1: shouldn't be too deep, as beta's are more comfortable swimming 42 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: back and forth, not up and down. We spoke via 43 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 1: email with Matt Layton, a long time beta fish owner 44 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 1: and editor of Vivo Fish, who explained that betas should 45 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 1: be kept in tanks no deeper than twelve inches or 46 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 1: thirty centimeters, noting that their fins aren't that powerful. He said, 47 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 1: if it's too deep, the beta may not be able 48 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 1: to get up to the surfaces easily. It's heartbreaking to 49 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:48,359 Speaker 1: see a beta struggling to climb and then be pulled 50 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:51,360 Speaker 1: down to the bottom by his tail. Another myth is 51 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 1: that beta aquariums don't need a water heater or filter, 52 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 1: but betas are tropical fish that need to be kept 53 00:02:57,040 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 1: in water ranging from seventy six to eighty one degrees 54 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 1: fair height that's twenty four to twenty seven celsius. Unless 55 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 1: your home never veers hotter or colder, you'll need that heater. 56 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 1: A water filter is important too, even though wild betas 57 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 1: live in murky puddles. Without a filter, the fishes excrement 58 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 1: and uneaten food can make the water toxic, though be 59 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 1: sure to purchase a filter with a gentle flow as 60 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 1: beta's delicate fins do better in calm water, in addition 61 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:24,519 Speaker 1: that their fins could be damaged by the section in 62 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:28,959 Speaker 1: higher flow filters. Meanwhile, it's actually true that betas don't 63 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 1: mind being alone and that they tend to have issues 64 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:35,160 Speaker 1: with other fish. If male betas are placed together or 65 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 1: placed with other fish that have bright colors and large fins, 66 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 1: their natural territorialism often prompts them to fight. However, they 67 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:46,600 Speaker 1: can definitely live with other aquatic creatures, such as ghost shrimp, snails, 68 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 1: and African dwarf frogs. They can also live with other 69 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 1: species of fish, but they do best with bottom dwellers 70 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 1: with small fins, as they're less likely to fight over territory. 71 00:03:56,240 --> 00:04:00,080 Speaker 1: Like the coolie loach. Female betas can often live harmoniously 72 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 1: together given adequate space, which means at least five gallons 73 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 1: or twenty liters per fish, but always introduce the new 74 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 1: fish slowly and monitor them. Guides online can help you 75 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 1: acclimate your existing fish to the idea of a new 76 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 1: tank mate. Tricks like rearranging hiding spots and feeding your 77 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 1: current fish before adding a new one can help, but 78 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:23,159 Speaker 1: you should always watch them carefully for a few days 79 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:25,640 Speaker 1: and be prepared to move an aggressor to another tank 80 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 1: or another home. Another misconception is that betas can live 81 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:32,799 Speaker 1: off of plant roots alone. While beta fish are often 82 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:36,480 Speaker 1: sold in small vases with a plant, Betas are carnivores, 83 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 1: not herbivores. In the wild, they chow down on insects 84 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 1: and larva, so feed your pets fish pellets or flakes 85 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:47,320 Speaker 1: specially crafted for beta's. You can supplement with high protein 86 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: treats such as blood worms and brine shrimp, but remember 87 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:53,280 Speaker 1: that fish can become overweight just like any pet, so 88 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 1: feed in moderation, ideally only as much food as the 89 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:59,800 Speaker 1: fish can eat within three to five minutes. Finally, don't 90 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:02,200 Speaker 1: ex spect to beta to be a lay about. Many 91 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:04,920 Speaker 1: people observed betas and pet stores, where they're often kept 92 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 1: in small containers that hinder their activity, and many owners 93 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:11,360 Speaker 1: erroneously keep their beta fish in unheated water, which makes 94 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 1: them lethargic. But Layton says that beta fish are playful 95 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:18,080 Speaker 1: in the proper setting. He said, I've seen them push 96 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 1: moss balls around, dance around their tank, display their tails, 97 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 1: and generally be quite active. Beta's are inquisitive and will 98 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 1: interact with plants toys and structures floating or sinking. Just 99 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 1: make sure they're fish safe and don't have any sharp 100 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 1: edges that could hurt those beautiful fans. Today's episode was 101 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:42,839 Speaker 1: written by Melanie Red Zekie McManus and produced by Tyler Clang. 102 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:45,280 Speaker 1: For more on this and lots of other fishy topics, 103 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:47,839 Speaker 1: visit how stuff works dot com. Brain Stuff is a 104 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 1: production of iHeart Radio. For more podcasts my heart Radio, 105 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 1: visit the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you 106 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 1: listen to your favorite shows.