Betta Bible by Martin Brammah

While flipping through the first pages, I thought about how great it is to have the opportunity to hold such a comprehensive picture of the current categorization of fighting fish, their origins, behavior, and the work of breeders in various countries. Martin Brammah sticks to his goal of encompassing everything he has discovered and tested in his publication. His main effort is to simplify life for those interested in fighting fish, eliminating the need to search through various sources. The reader will learn practical tips that can be immediately applied when breeding betta fish. Whether setting up their first aquarium, dealing with various situations, or directly addressing problems with an already established aquarium or breeding.

Origin of Fighting Fish

I was thrilled to read about the original environment from which the fighting fish originate. The idea of each individual fighting fish defending or hiding in its territory in the flooded rice fields completely captivated me. It is admirable how well they are equipped to survive periods when the fields are harvested and they wait for them to be flooded again. Just a reminder, such an environment can be inhabited thanks to the labyrinth organ, which allows these fish to breathe atmospheric air.

Although bettas are originally from Thailand and surrounding countries, due to their popularity as aquarium pets, bettas have been imported to other countries. Here they have settled in the wild. For instance, bettas can be found in Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, and other countries. Populations of Betta splendens are likely also present in other countries, thanks to the international trade in tropical fish. Bettas have excellent capabilities to adapt to various water conditions. As the author notes, this is probably good for the fighting fish but less so for the local ecosystems, where this predator likes to settle in marshes or rice fields, disrupting the delicate balance of the local ecosystem.

Fights of Fighting Fish and How They Prepare for Battle

In some reactions to the book, the author is criticized for describing the history and present of working with fighting fish to prepare them for battle. I definitely disagree that he supports this tradition. He factually describes the preparation of fighting fish, which lasts 14 days and consists of three main areas:

Isolation
Conditioning
Medication

Under medication, please imagine mainly how various leaves and the timing of their addition to the water affect the fighting fish. For example, if a betta has damaged fins, adding almond leaves to the water after each water change can help with healing, as the leaves release substances with antibiotic effects. The detailed process and the secrets of success with fighting fish are closely guarded by each family.

He explains that the Thai term for a fish that fights is 'Pla Kat' and to this word, types are added: 'Par' = forest/wild, 'Tung' = field, 'Mor' = jug, 'Chin' (or 'Cheen') = Chinese, 'Thai' = Thai.

Valuable Advice

Although I am not an expert in this area, I was guided through the issues of breeding, coloring, practical advice, and actually, I was glad that I could better decipher the various abbreviations that denote what a particular fighting fish looks like.

If you want to be well-prepared for breeding fighting fish, the author offers information about water quality, suitable tank mates, and feeding regimes. This summarizes the most basic foundation:

Clean water
Water temperature between (25-28°C)
Regular supply of suitable, high-quality, and varied feed

He expands on all areas and also advises. He comes up with instructions for making your own filter or how to breed various live feeds or even make your special homemade feed just for bettas:

Ingredients:

Shrimps/frozen worms/raw fish (without added salt or other additives)
Cooked egg
Fresh garlic (1 clove)
Spinach

Take equal amounts of shrimp/fish, egg, and spinach. Blanch the spinach in boiling water and crush the clove of garlic with a garlic crusher. Cut the shrimp/fish finely. Mix the ingredients in a kitchen robot and blend them together to form a smooth paste. Place the paste in a ziplock bag and use a rolling pin to flatten it so that a thin layer forms in the bag. The bag and its contents can now be frozen. To feed the bettas, simply take the frozen sheet of food from the freezer, break off a sufficiently large piece that the bettas can finish within five minutes, and throw it into the tank.*

International Betta Congress

If you belong to those who like to delve into history, the author goes through the entire development from 1967 when a group of breeders founded the IBC (International Betta Congress). "The goal of the IBC was to breed fish with broad and symmetrical fins instead of long ones. This goal arose partly because the founders of the IBC felt that in some bettas the fins were so long that the fish were unable to swim properly, leading to concerns about the animals' living conditions."**

In conclusion

Today, fighting fish of various appearances are available on the market, such as Armageddon, Black Orchid, or even Devil or Monster. Just these names alone tempt us to look them up and admire their beauty.

If this article has piqued your interest and you feel like diving into breeding fighting fish, check out ads for fighting fish from breeders in your area.

Book review: Brammah, Martin. The Betta Bible: The Art and Science of Keeping Bettas. Kindle Edition.

*Brammah, Martin. The Betta Bible: The Art and Science of Keeping Bettas (p. 79). Kindle Edition.

**Brammah, Martin. The Betta Bible: The Art and Science of Keeping Bettas (p. 32). Kindle Edition.

Images (in order):

Photo by The Wandering Angel (flickr.com/photos/wandering_angel/3176135732/

An example of a beautifully decorated betta tank, complete with soil, gravel, bogwood, and live plants. Photo by Joel Carnat (flickr.com/photos/21708387@N02/8431450190)

A stunning red male veiltail. Photo by Neil Mullins (flickr.com/photos/npmullins/7568741246)