Betta splendens (Bojovnica pestrá) - Thailand's Colorful Treasure

The Two Faces of Bangkok: Tourist Paradise and Aquarium Destination

Bangkok is a city that you can visit not only as an ordinary tourist, but also as an aquarist. I myself use Bangkok not only as a transit destination on trips to more distant areas, but also as a final destination. The inhabitants are very friendly, nice, no rush. They are happy to advise you, and especially to sell you what you want. Thai cuisine is excellent, varied and offers quality meals. Hotels are affordable, the climate is pleasant.

Thailand: Paradise of Fighting Fish

Thailand is a land of aquaristics, a typical fish for Thais is the fighting fish Betta splendens, called plakat in Thai. I have not met a Thai who did not know it. You can buy it normally on the street, in zoo shops and also in wholesalers. You will always encounter excellent quality fish that are well fed and well grown.

Many different types of fighting fish are imported from Thailand, the most famous are three types, which are also the most similar. From the northern territories of Thailand comes Betta smaragdina (Emerald Fighting Fish), this is the fighting fish in the true sense of the word, with which Thais sometimes fight for a lot of money. We caught this one in rice fields along the Mekong. Here we visited farms engaged in breeding the most combative fighting fish in the country.

From the central areas of the country comes our most famous Betta splendens (Siamese Fighting Fish). This is probably the most widespread in Europe, it is the goal of many labyrinth fish keepers, who strive to develop the most colorful forms with the best finnage. From the southern areas, Betta imbellis (Peaceful Betta) is imported. As the Czech name suggests, it is a peaceful fighting fish, not very widespread in the Czech Republic.

Siamese Fighting Fish in the Hands of the Master: Atison Phumchoosri

The meeting with Mr. Atison Phumchoosri was interesting. But he didn't look his 73 years at all. He began his career in the former West Germany, where he worked as a cameraman and participated in many interesting events, including fighting in Indochina. From there he returned to Thailand in the early 1990s.

At that time, he already had the necessary capital to start his career as a professional fish breeder, especially of fighting fish. It is incredibly interesting to listen to the stories of this humble and enormously wealthy man.

He originally started with a few tanks. He now owns several farms, the largest of which is 180 km south of Bangkok. There are 330 concrete tanks 1.5x2 m and 400 others with a diameter of 1 m. Here, 200,000 fighting fish are bred at one time and at least 20,000 are sold weekly.

In the second farm, which is smaller and located in Bangkok, he also has almost 40 different variants of fighting fish. To this day, he remembers exactly the fishing grounds where he caught the individual fighting fish in his early days. We have visited many places in the north and center of the country. High-quality wild bettas still live there.

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1. Bangkok is very hospitable, suitable for regular tourism, for aquarists, but also for many celebrations. It is one of the metropolises that lives 24 hours a day, both day and night. The best means of transport in Bangkok are "tuk-tuks". Not only are they the fastest, but also the cheapest. Only driving around Bangkok sometimes resembles movie scenes from action movies. But Thai youngsters are masters at driving them, car accidents are extremely rare.
2. In the north of the city lies one of the largest marketplaces in the world, Jatuchak, which has an area of 14 football fields.
3. Mr. Atison is one of the largest traders of fighting fish in Thailand. According to his recipe, high-quality food for fighting fish is produced.
4. Thais produce beautiful color variants of Betta splendens.
5. Betta smaragdina comes from the northern areas of Thailand and is the true "fighting" fighting fish.
6. Betta imbellis is a peaceful fighting fish, which also reflects its calmer nature.
7. But the saleswoman will gladly show you the individual fish, without stress and fuss, you can calmly choose the fish of your heart for long minutes.
8. Fighting fish are often sold in ordinary bottles.
9. In some shops we see fighting fish in small 1-2 liter aquariums.
10. Only one fish is always placed in small aquariums.