Betta smaragdina (Emerald Fighting Fish) - In the Wilds of Thailand: Searching for Rare Emerald Fighting Fish

Where does Betta smaragdina (Emerald Fighting Fish) live?

Among fighting fish, the emerald fighting fish holds a special place. It was brought to Germany as early as 1970 by D. Schaller, and then described in 1972 by W. Ladiges. Many speak of a floating gem in connection with the beautiful emerald green color that this up to 7 cm long fish, in the case of the male, has.

This fish is ideal for various types of water, the chemical composition of which is not demanding for it. The temperature can fluctuate between 22-32 °C, although it is better to keep it around 25-27 °C.

Behind the scenes of tourist attractions: Discovering hidden Thailand

On our trip through Thailand, our second goal was to visit the biotope where these fighting fish live. Wandering around the Mekong, we arrived at a village that is known not only for cockfights, but also for fighting fish fights. Especially "emeralds" in these fights are of great importance. Thai experts claim that in the north "emeralds" are the most combative, the most aggressive.

We visited both breeders of cocks and fighting fish. The conditions were very simple. Unfortunately, photographing here was forbidden. From our group, only I took a few pictures, in a typical Czech way. The importance of money for human life is generally known. And if you can get a house for money in Prague, why not a few photos in Thailand?

About half a kilometer behind the village there was an extensive rice field, at the end of which a few pieces of local cattle grazed. But even here there was life interesting for an aquarist!

There were a few puddles with residual water, where we caught both schools of rasboras and Schaller's gourami (Trichopsis schalleri). There were quite a few emeralds here, with females predominating. The water in this area was again soft with a conductivity of 49µS/cm, pH 6.2 and a temperature of 32 °C.

Images (photo: Dr. Vladko Bydžovský):

1. Our guide on the entire trip through Thailand was a collaborator of Katsumo Kubota, Thersdrak. He drove the rented Toyota brilliantly. He knew exactly the places we needed for fishing and where we never came away empty-handed.
2. On the good roads in Thailand you can see a lot of things.
3. Along the Mekong there were many larger and smaller temples.
4. A fighting cock with its owner.
5. In this tank, locals breed emeralds.
6. Our second biotope in Thailand. Here we caught several interesting species of fish.
7. In this pool lived interesting rasboras (Rasbora /Parluciosoma/ paviei).
8. Rasbora (Parluciosoma) paviei up close. They are very shy and very fast.
9. A few Rasbora (Parluciosoma) paviei in the net of the author of the article.
10. In the second and much larger puddle, we mainly caught Schaller's gourami.
11. Trichopsis schalleri (Schaller's Gourami) are not very widespread in our country, and yet they are beautiful fish.
12. Together with gourami (Trichopsis schalleri), Betta smaragdina (Emerald Fighting Fish) also live.
13. In this slightly smelly puddle, probably no one from Europe would have expected life. Here we caught the most emeralds.
14. Female Betta smaragdina (Emerald Fighting Fish).
15. Beautiful male Betta smaragdina (Emerald Fighting Fish).
16. Catch from a smelly puddle.