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Siamese Fighting FishBetta splendens

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Siamese Fighting Fish profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 45 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

UF/IFAS Extension, University of Florida

Evolution, Culture, and Care for Betta splendens. UF/IFAS Extension, University of Florida.

The page saysbreathes air through a labyrinth organ
The source saysLabyrinth fishes take their name from a specialized air-breathing structure called the labyrinth organ.Note: tagline and superpower
The page sayswhose males flare their gill covers at each other
The source saysMales will almost immediately display aggressive behaviors—spreading their fins and flaring out their gill covers—when they encounter another male.Note: tagline; 'almost' hedges the timing (almost immediately), which the tagline does not state
The page saysTypically shallow ponds, rice paddy fields and puddles in Southeast Asia
The source saysIn the wild, the betta is typically found in standing waters, including shallow ponds, rice paddy fields, and even puddles.Note: habitat; Southeast Asia from the same page: The betta, native to Southeast Asia
The page saysBreathes air through a labyrinth organ above its gills
The source saysLabyrinth fishes have paired chambers located above the gills which are extensions of the first gill arch. These chambers contain complex, folded, bony structures covered with respiratory epithelium (the labyrinth organ), allowing them to breathe air.Note: superpower
The page saysIt belongs to the labyrinth fishes, named for the labyrinth organ
The source saysLabyrinth fishes take their name from a specialized air-breathing structure called the labyrinth organ.
The page saysfolded, bony structures in paired chambers above the gills that let the fish take in air
The source saysLabyrinth fishes have paired chambers located above the gills which are extensions of the first gill arch. These chambers contain complex, folded, bony structures covered with respiratory epithelium (the labyrinth organ), allowing them to breathe air.
The page saysLife in hypoxic (low-oxygen) water appears to have driven the diversification of this group
The source saysLife in hypoxic environments appears to have been the driving force behind the evolutionary diversification of labyrinth fishes
The page saysThe wild betta is typically found in standing water, from shallow ponds and rice paddy fields to puddles
The source saysIn the wild, the betta is typically found in standing waters, including shallow ponds, rice paddy fields, and even puddles.
The page saysthe water averaged 29.9°C and about 5.0 cm deep
The source saystemperature of 29.9°C (about 86°F on average; range from approximately 27.0 to approximately 31.5°C), and depth of about 5.0 cm (2 inches on averageNote: Thailand betta population
The page saysits dissolved oxygen averaged about 3.8 mg/L, swinging between 0.0 and about 7.4 mg/L
The source saysdissolved oxygen can be low (average about 3.8 mg/L), exhibiting extreme variation (dissolved oxygen ranges from 0.0 to about 7.4 mg/L)
The page saysWhen a male meets another male, he spreads his fins and flares out his gill covers almost immediately.
The source saysMales will almost immediately display aggressive behaviors—spreading their fins and flaring out their gill covers—when they encounter another male.
The page saysAs the fight goes on, the fish bite each other, particularly on the fins and flanks.
The source saysAs aggression proceeds, the fish will then bite each other, particularly on the fins and flanks.
The page saysMale bettas are among the most aggressive of the labyrinth fishes.
The source saysbetta males are among the most aggressive
The page saysFights between two males were popular in Thailand for gambling, and the first fish to retreat was deemed the loser.
The source saysEarly on, males were selected for their aggression because fights between two males were popular in Thailand for gambling.
The page saysthe first fish to retreat was deemed the loser
The source saysMales were placed into small containers together to fight, and the first fish to retreat was deemed the loser.
The page saysThe modern aquarium betta is a product of almost 100 years of selective breeding, first for aggression and now for bright colors and elaborate fins.
The source saysThe modern betta is a product of almost 100 years of selective breeding. Early on, males were selected for their aggressionNote: bright colors and elaborate fins: next paragraph says 'selected for bright colors as well as elaborate fins'
The page saysnow for bright colors and elaborate fins
The source saysToday's commercial bettas are much different than these early "fighting" fish, and have now been selected for bright colors as well as elaborate fins
The page saysThe wild betta, by comparison, is dull brown or green.
The source saysCompared to the conspicuous color patterns observed in captivity, the wild betta is dull brown or green.
The page saysallows eggs to develop in water with elevated temperature, low pH and low dissolved oxygen, relatively free of predators
The source saysThe bubble nest allows eggs to develop in environments with elevated temperature and low pH and dissolved oxygen, relatively free of predators.
The page saysPlacing the eggs at the surface increases oxygen exchange, and the nest also keeps them from drying.
The source saysPlacement of the eggs at the surface increases oxygen exchange, while the bubble nest also prevents the eggs from drying.
The page saysthe male wraps his body around the female and fertilizes the eggs as she releases them
The source saysThe male will wrap his body around the female and fertilize the eggs as she releases them, a few at a time.
The page saysThen he picks the eggs up in his mouth as they fall and places them in the bubble nest.
The source saysThe male will then pick up the eggs in his mouth as they fall through the water and place them in the bubble nest
The page saysAbout 300 eggs are released per spawning event.
The source sayswith about 300 eggs released per spawning event
The page saysThe male adds bubbles to the nest when needed and keeps newly hatched larvae in it.
The source saysMales will tend to the fertilized eggs and add bubbles to the nest when needed. Additionally, males will tend to newly hatched larval bettas and make sure they stay in the nest.
The page saysThe wild bettas the University of Florida describes in Thailand lived in shallow water that was hot, acidic and short of oxygen.
The source saysthese habitats were characterized by heavy emergent vegetation, shallow water, low dissolved oxygen, high temperature, and an acidic pHNote: faq 2; 'these habitats' are the Thailand population's
The page saysA floating nest of bubbles lets the eggs develop there with fewer predators around
The source saysThe bubble nest allows eggs to develop in environments with elevated temperature and low pH and dissolved oxygen, relatively free of predators.Note: faq 2
The page saysThe University of Florida describes the wild betta as dull brown or green.
The source saysthe wild betta is dull brown or greenNote: faq 3
The page saysThe bold colors and long fins of pet bettas came from selective breeding in captivity.
The source saysbeautiful, bold colors, and long fins developed by selective breeding in captivityNote: faq 3
The page saysgives them better oxygen exchange at the surface and keeps them from drying out
The source saysPlacement of the eggs at the surface increases oxygen exchange, while the bubble nest also prevents the eggs from drying.Note: faq 2
The page saysthe folded chambers above its gills that let it breathe air
The source saysLabyrinth fishes have paired chambers located above the gills which are extensions of the first gill arch. These chambers contain complex, folded, bony structures covered with respiratory epithelium (the labyrinth organ), allowing them to breathe air.Note: vibe.reason (#1238)

Source
02

FishBase

Betta splendens, Siamese fighting fish. FishBase.

The page saysA fish up to 6.5 cm long
The source saysMax length : 6.5 cm TL male/unsexedNote: tagline
The page saysFishBase gives a maximum length of 6.5 cm
The source saysMax length : 6.5 cm TL male/unsexed
The page saysThe maximum reported age is 2 years
The source saysmax. reported age: 2.00 years
The page saysFishBase lists a maximum length of 6.5 cm for males or unsexed fish, and a maximum reported age of 2 years.
The source saysMax length : 6.5 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 12693 ); max. reported age: 2.00 yearsNote: faq 1
The page sayscan breathe air
The source saysFacultative air-breathingNote: FishBase species-level: 'Facultative air-breathing' means it can, not must, breathe air; EDIS labyrinth-organ quote covers the mechanism
The page saysdangerLevel: Low
The source saysThreat to humans HarmlessNote: stats.dangerLevel (#1165)

Source
03

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database

AnAge entry for Betta splendens. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database.

The page saysAnAge also gives 2 years as the maximum longevity.
The source saysMaximum longevity 2 yearsNote: faq 1; quote joined across a line break

Source
04

USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database

Betta splendens Regan, 1910. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database.

The page saysthe USGS lists the size as 6 cm
The source saysSize: 6 cm.
The page saysThe species is native to Southeast Asia, including the northern Malay Peninsula, central and eastern Thailand, Cambodia and southern Vietnam
The source saysNative to Southeast Asia including the northern Malay Peninsula, central and eastern Thailand, Kampuchea, and southern VietnamNote: Kampuchea is Cambodia

Source
05

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens) Ecological Risk Screening Summary. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The page saysMosquito larvae and other water insects
The source saysBettas are carnivorous fish with a diet consisting of mosquito larvae and other water insectsNote: diet
The page saysBettas are carnivores that eat mosquito larvae and other water insects
The source saysBettas are carnivorous fish with a diet consisting of mosquito larvae and other water insects
The page saysan adult male eats about ten to fifteen thousand larvae per year
The source saysIt is estimated that adult male fish eat about ten to fifteen thousand larvae per year
The page saysalso makes the air bubbles for the male's nest
The source saysThe labyrinth organ is also responsible for the production of air bubbles for nest building.Note: vibe.reason (#1238); USFWS quoting its own sources; males build the nest per edis-fa212

Source
06

Vidthayanon 2011

Vidthayanon (2011). Betta splendens. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011: e.T180889A7653828.

The page saysThe IUCN Red List rates the species Vulnerable, in an assessment published in 2011.
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Vulnerable (VU).Note: status; category read through GBIF's copy of the Red List (current); 2011 from the DOI's Crossref record, issued 2011-02-25

Source
07

Thongprajukaew et al. 2025

Thongprajukaew et al. (2025). Recovery of Male Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens) After Overland Shipping. Animals.

The page saysweightKg: 0.0016
The source saysOne hundred and twenty fish were screened by size (1.56 ± 0.02 g body weight, 5.91 ± 0.04 cm total length)Note: #1229: 1.56 g = 0.0016 kg. The fish are 3.5-month-old males from a betta farm ("Solid-red, short-finned, 3.5-month-old male Siamese fighting fish"), at 5.9 cm against the page's 6.5 cm maximum

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.