Betta Fish Natural Habitat and Behavior: Beyond the Bowl

The wild betta fish (genus Betta) occupies shallow, slow-moving freshwater habitats across Southeast Asia, including rice paddies, marshlands, peat swamps, and small canals. These environments share common traits of low dissolved oxygen, dense herbaceous vegetation, and warm water temperatures. Understanding the natural habitat and behavior of betta fish is essential for students, researchers, life-science professionals, and informed general readers who seek to interpret captive observations through an ecological lens. This article describes the native environments of several Betta species, territorial and reproductive behaviors, physiological adaptations to challenging water conditions, and practical parameters for recreating betta conditions in research or educational settings.

At a Glance: Wild Betta Habitat Parameters

The following table summarizes key environmental parameters documented across wild Betta habitats and the corresponding considerations for captive recreation. Values reflect published field observations and laboratory studies.

Geographic Distribution and Native Habitats

Southeast Asian Marshlands and Rice Paddies

The Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) is native to Southeast Asia and inhabits low-flow freshwater ecosystems that are increasingly threatened by habitat destruction and pollution. Field studies in Chiang Rai province, Thailand, characterized five marshland habitats of B. splendens, ranging from lentic waterbodies to small canals near a lake. All habitats exhibited common traits of low dissolved oxygen and dense herbaceous vegetation. These conditions reflect the broader ecological niche of bubble-nesting bettas, which have evolved to thrive in environments where many other fish species cannot survive due to oxygen depletion.

The peaceful betta (Betta imbellis) has been collected from its native habitat in Southern Thailand, where it occupies similar shallow, vegetated waters. The Krabi mouth-brooding fighting fish (Betta simplex) is endemic to Krabi province in Southern Thailand and is considered adaptable, tolerating lower alkalinity and higher hardness compared to its natural environmental conditions. The Mahachai Betta (Betta mahachaiensis) is endemic to brackish habitats in Bangkok, Samut Sakhon, and Samut Prakan, where rapid urbanization and industrial growth threaten its persistence.

Peat Swamp Forests and Brackish Waters

The critically endangered Betta persephone is the subject of a sustainable conservation management system in the Ayer Hitam Peat Swamp Forest Reserve in Muar, Johor. Peat swamp forests present unique challenges including acidic, tannin-stained water and extremely low oxygen levels. The white-edged fighting fish (Betta albimarginata) represents another threatened species whose breeding biology has been documented through hobbyist observations, including the use of Terminalia catappa leaves to influence water quality.

Species Distribution and Endemism

Betta siamorientalis, a species in the Betta splendens group, inhabits four provinces in eastern Thailand. Its description highlights the morphological diversity within the genus and the importance of geographic isolation in driving speciation. The blacker appearance of B. siamorientalis relative to B. imbellis results from a higher proportion of black body area relative to blue-green iridescence of the scales. Based on morphological similarity, fin color pattern, and opercle bar color, this species appears more closely related to B. imbellis and B. splendens than to other members of the B. splendens group.

The reproductive biology of native and endangered wild betta species from Aceh waters, Indonesia, has been documented for Betta dennisyongi and Betta rubra. These ornamental fish face population declines due to overexploitation and environmental changes. Approximately 1,099 samples were collected from January to December 2020, comprising 600 B. dennisyongi and 499 B. rubra. Both species were continuous spawners throughout the year, with mature gonads observed in each month of observation. The peak spawning period for B. dennisyongi occurred in October, while B. rubra peaked in January.

Respiratory Adaptations to Low-Oxygen Environments

The Labyrinth Organ

Betta splendens is an air-breathing species characterized by the presence of a suprabranchial labyrinth organ that enhances auditory sensitivity. This adaptation allows bettas to supplement aquatic respiration with atmospheric air, enabling survival in oxygen-depleted waters where other fish cannot persist. The labyrinth organ is a defining feature of the suborder Anabantoidei and represents a significant evolutionary innovation for life in tropical freshwater habitats.

Ventilatory Responses to Temperature and Hypoxia

Laboratory studies have measured ventilation frequencies of the gills and the air-breathing organ in juveniles and adults of Betta splendens and the blue gourami (Trichopodus trichopterus) in response to temperature and hypoxia. Ventilatory rates were evaluated after one hour of exposure to 27 °C as control, 23 and 31 °C at constant oxygen, after acute temperature changes, and under progressive hypoxia from approximately 21 to 2.5 kPa oxygen partial pressure.

Complex, multi-phased ventilatory alterations were evident across species and experimental groups, revealing different stress responses and shock reactions. Juveniles of both species showed higher temperature sensitivity for air-breathing organ ventilation than for gill ventilation. Adult fish exhibited variable temperature sensitivity values for both gill and air-breathing organ ventilation as a function of temperature, suggesting a switch from aquatic toward aerial ventilation in response to thermal stress. During progressive hypoxia, juveniles from both species showed higher gill ventilation than adults at all oxygen levels. Females from both species showed higher gill ventilation compared with males.

These findings indicate that environmental cues modulate ventilatory responses throughout development, but the actual responses reflect species-specific differences in natural habitat and ecology. The study strongly suggested assessing physiological differences between male and female fish to avoid masking relevant findings and to facilitate result interpretation.

Auditory Sensitivity and Soundscapes

The natural acoustic environment of wild B. splendens has been characterized across five marshland habitats in Chiang Rai province, Thailand. Soundscapes were relatively quiet with sound pressure levels around 102 to 105 dB re 1 µPa and most spectral energy below 1,000 Hz. Sound recordings captured diverse biological sounds, including potential fish vocalizations, but primarily insect sounds.

Hearing thresholds determined using auditory evoked potential recordings revealed a best hearing range within 100 to 400 Hz. Males exhibited lower hearing thresholds than females at 400 and 600 Hz. This low-frequency tuning highlights the potential susceptibility of B. splendens to anthropogenic noise activities. For researchers and hobbyists, this suggests that minimizing vibration and low-frequency noise near betta enclosures may reduce auditory stress.

Territorial Behavior and Aggression

Male Territoriality and Resource Defense

In their natural habitat, male Betta splendens are territorial resource defenders, whereas females are non-territorial opportunistic foragers. This ecological difference has behavioral consequences beyond aggression. Studies on impulsive choice in B. splendens compared preferences for a smaller-sooner reward of one pellet immediately versus a larger-later reward of three pellets after 15 seconds. Males were significantly more likely to develop a stable preference for the larger-later option, whereas females were equally likely to choose either reward. These findings indicate that most males demonstrated spontaneous behavioral self-control without specialized training, while females were collectively indifferent.

Aggressive Visual Communication

Research on Siamese fighting fish has discovered dynamic visual features of an opponent and behavioral sequences that drive visually driven turn-taking aggressive behavior. Lesions of the telencephalon show that this brain region is unnecessary for coordinating turn taking but is required for persistent participation in aggressive interactions. Circumscribed lesions of the caudal dorsomedial telencephalon, the fish pallial amygdala, recapitulated the telencephalic lesions. Ventral telencephalic regions and the thalamic preglomerular complex, which project to this region, show increased activity during aggressive interactions.

This work highlights how dynamic visual cues shape the rhythm of social interactions at multiple timescales. The results point to the vertebrate pallial amygdala as a region with an evolutionarily conserved role in regulating the persistence of emotional states, including those that promote engagement in social interactions.

Stress Responsiveness in Wild and Domesticated Strains

Behavioral and physiological measures have been combined to compare coping styles in wild-type Betta splendens and a domesticated strain selectively bred for sports fighting. The fighter strain is more aggressive than the wild type during experimental conditions that most closely resemble an actual fight. Researchers predicted that compared to the wild type, the fighter strain would show a more proactive coping style, characterized by lesser cortisol and greater sympathetic responses to non-social challenges.

Males were introduced to an unfamiliar environment and spatial confinement as challenges that may resemble some of those that B. splendens may encounter in its natural habitat. A non-invasive stress assay enabled repeated individual measures of water-borne cortisol. Sympathetic activation was estimated through opercular beat rate, and the duration of behavioral immobility was recorded.

Exposure to an unfamiliar environment raised cortisol levels in the wild type but not in the fighter strain. Confinement raised cortisol levels in both strains. In both strains, opercular beat rates were significantly reduced during the latter stages of confinement compared to during the early stages. The fighter strain, but not the wild type, adopted a behavioral strategy of immobility from the very beginning of confinement.

Pharmacological Modulation of Aggression

Cannabidiol has been tested for effectiveness in reducing aggression in Siamese fighting fish induced by territorial interactions. Fish were exposed to controls of water or acetone and CBD treatments ranging from low, medium, and high concentrations of 2, 10, and 20 mg CBD per liter. Behaviors after the visual introduction of an intruder fish were recorded.

CBD reduced the odds of aggressive behavior in treated fish. Seventy-five percent of all control fish exhibited aggressive behaviors, while only 17 percent of CBD-treated fish displayed aggression. The low CBD dose appeared effective at preventing aggressive behaviors, but fish also appeared more lethargic than in any other treatment. When CBD-treated fish displayed aggressive behaviors, CBD did not appear to reduce the amount of time fish spent being aggressive compared to aggressive fish that did not receive CBD treatment. Long-term effects of CBD still require examination.

Bubble Nest Construction and Reproductive Behavior

Bubble Nesting Species

Bubble nest construction is a defining reproductive behavior of the Betta splendens group. Males build nests of bubbles at the water surface, often anchored to floating vegetation or other surface structures. The importance of temperature, individual size, and habitat arrangement on bubble nest construction has been documented for Siamese fighting fish. These factors influence whether and how readily males engage in nest building.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the peaceful betta (Betta imbellis) has been assembled using next-generation sequencing. The mitogenome sequence was 16,897 base pairs in length, containing 37 genes with identical order to most teleost mitogenomes. Overall nucleotide base composition showed an AT bias. Phylogenetic analysis of B. imbellis showed a closer relationship with bubble-nesting fighting fish. This annotated mitogenome reference serves as a bioresource for phylogenetic studies to support betta conservation programs.

Mouth-Brooding Species

Not all betta species build bubble nests. The Krabi mouth-brooding fighting fish (Betta simplex) exhibits flaring and mating behavior similar to bubble-nesting fighting fish but does not involve bubble-nest building. Instead, fertilized eggs and pre-flexion larvae are nurtured in the mouth cavity of parental males within 11 to 12 days after fertilization. First-release offspring developed to the post-flexion stage with a body size of 4.39 mm standard length and then to the juvenile stage within 30 days after release with 11.72 mm standard length.

A linear regression equation for growth prediction by age and body size was proposed for B. simplex. The findings deepen knowledge of reproduction and ontogeny of this critically endangered species and contribute to its future conservation and management.

The white-edged fighting fish (Betta albimarginata) is also a mouth-brooding species. Analysis of hobbyist videos documented mouth-brooding males keeping eggs for 14 to 21 days. Breeding set-ups ranged from large breeding tanks to the use of coconut shell caves for spawning. Spawning behaviors featured a breeding hug but differed in the use of caves for egg placement.

Embryo Cooling and Hatchery Applications

A cooling-embryo protocol has been developed for Betta splendens embryos to provide advantages in transportation, embryonic synchronization, and optimization of hatcheries. Embryos of 24 hours post-fertilization at 26 °C could be stored without cryoprotectants at 5 °C for at least 6 hours without negative effects. Cryoprotective solutions were tested for storage for 9 hours at 5 °C or 24 hours at 14 °C, obtaining 77 percent hatching and 52 percent normal larvae in the first case or 88 percent hatching and 81 percent larvae with mild abnormalities in the second case.

A method to isolate embryos from the bubble nest constructed by the male and to incubate them without parental care was applied in this study. This represents the first report about the cooling of B. splendens embryos and establishes conditions for further studies in this field.

Reproductive Parameters in Wild Populations

Reproductive analysis of Betta dennisyongi and Betta rubra from Aceh waters, Indonesia, revealed sex ratios of 1:5 and 1:6 for males to females, respectively, indicating a predominance of females. Only 15 percent of female B. dennisyongi samples had mature gonads out of 505, and 3.7 percent of males among 95. Female B. dennisyongi showed first mature gonads at a size of 3.86 cm, while males had maturity at 3.99 cm. For B. rubra, only 11.1 percent of females and 26.9 percent of males showed mature gonads out of 432 and 67, respectively. Female B. rubra first matured gonads at a size of 3.86 cm, while males had maturity at 3.90 cm.

Both species were continuous spawners throughout the year, as indicated by mature gonads in each month of observation, with fluctuating percentages. Researchers recommended not catching these species during their spawning months to maintain the sustainability of these endangered species.

Practical Workflow for Habitat Assessment and Recreation

Step 1: Identify Target Species and Native Conditions

Determine which Betta species you are working with and research its specific native habitat. Betta splendens occupies freshwater marshlands with low dissolved oxygen and dense vegetation. Betta mahachaiensis inhabits brackish habitats. Betta simplex tolerates lower alkalinity and higher hardness than its natural conditions. Betta persephone is found in peat swamp forests. Species-specific requirements differ substantially across the genus.

Step 2: Measure and Document Baseline Parameters

Record water temperature, pH, hardness, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, and conductivity for both wild reference sites and captive enclosures. Field studies of B. splendens habitats in Thailand documented low dissolved oxygen and dense herbaceous vegetation across all sites. Laboratory controls commonly use 27 °C with experimental ranges of 23 to 31 °C. Document these parameters systematically to establish baselines for comparison.

Step 3: Design Enclosure to Match Habitat Structure

Provide dense vegetation, surface cover, and minimal water flow. Research on B. splendens behavior in containers of different sizes found that fish housed individually in small bowls of 0.5 L spent less time swimming than when kept in larger aquaria of 10, 38, and 208 L. Fish kept in enriched containers with gravel, large rocks, and live plants exhibited more instances of swimming. At least a 10 L aquarium is required to ensure full expression of swimming behavior.

Step 4: Monitor Behavioral Indicators

Observe swimming activity, foraging behavior, aggressive displays, and bubble nest construction. Males housed in larger aquaria performed fewer approaches and aggressive displays and more bouts of foraging. Even the use of very large aquaria cannot guarantee peaceful cohabitation between two males. Document behavioral changes following environmental modifications.

Step 5: Evaluate Reproductive Readiness

For breeding programs, monitor gonadal maturity, sex ratios, and spawning periods. Wild B. dennisyongi and B. rubra populations showed continuous spawning throughout the year with species-specific peaks. Bubble nest construction in B. splendens is influenced by temperature, individual size, and habitat arrangement. Mouth-brooding species such as B. simplex and B. albimarginata require different reproductive management than bubble nesters.

Records and Measurements

Environmental Monitoring Records

Maintain a log of water parameters measured at consistent intervals. Record temperature daily, pH and hardness weekly, and dissolved oxygen at least monthly or whenever respiratory distress is observed. Note any equipment changes, water source changes, or environmental disturbances that could affect measurements.

Behavioral Observation Records

Document swimming time, foraging frequency, aggressive display frequency, and bubble nest presence or absence. Use consistent observation periods and note the time of day, observer, and enclosure conditions. Behavioral records are essential for detecting responses to environmental changes and for evaluating welfare.

Reproductive Records

For breeding programs, record spawning dates, clutch or brood sizes, incubation periods, and offspring survival. For B. simplex, mouth-brooding males nurture eggs within 11 to 12 days after fertilization. For B. albimarginata, mouth-brooding males keep eggs for 14 to 21 days. For bubble nesters, record nest construction timing, location, and size.

Health and Pathogen Records

Document any signs of disease, parasite infestation, or bacterial infection. A study of parasitic and bacterial pathogens in ornamental and wild populations of Betta splendens in a region of Thailand highlights the importance of pathogen monitoring in both captive and wild contexts. Record treatments administered, including doses and dates, and note any withdrawal periods relevant to food fish if applicable.

Common Failure Patterns in Habitat Recreation

Overly Small Enclosures

Housing bettas in small bowls suppresses swimming behavior. Research demonstrated that male B. splendens in 0.5 L bowls spent less time swimming than those in 10 L or larger aquaria. Small enclosures also limit the ability to provide environmental enrichment and temperature stability.

Excessive Water Flow

Wild betta habitats are lentic or slow-moving. Strong filtration currents create conditions outside the natural range and may increase energy expenditure and stress. Use sponge filters or other low-flow filtration methods.

Inadequate Surface Access

The labyrinth organ requires atmospheric air access. Enclosures must provide unobstructed surface access. Floating plants or dense surface vegetation in the wild do not prevent air breathing, but solid covers or surface films can interfere.

Temperature Instability

Ventilatory responses in B. splendens change with temperature, and acute temperature changes produce different stress responses than gradual changes. Maintain stable temperatures within the tropical range and avoid rapid fluctuations.

Inappropriate Social Grouping

Male B. splendens are territorial and aggressive. Even very large aquaria cannot guarantee peaceful cohabitation between two males. Females are non-territorial opportunistic foragers but may still exhibit social dynamics that require monitoring.

Noise and Vibration Exposure

Wild B. splendens soundscapes are relatively quiet with most spectral energy below 1,000 Hz. Best hearing range is within 100 to 400 Hz. Anthropogenic noise may cause auditory stress. Place enclosures away from pumps, motors, and high-traffic areas.

Welfare and Safety Context

Behavioral Indicators of Welfare

Swimming activity, foraging behavior, and aggressive display frequency serve as behavioral indicators of welfare. Fish in enriched containers exhibited more swimming. Fish in larger aquaria performed fewer approaches and aggressive displays and more foraging. Reduced swimming in small bowls indicates compromised welfare.

Stress Physiology

Water-borne cortisol measurement enables non-invasive stress assessment. Wild-type B. splendens showed elevated cortisol in response to unfamiliar environments, while a fighter strain did not. Confinement raised cortisol in both strains. These findings demonstrate that different strains respond differently to identical challenges.

Non-Invasive Monitoring Technologies

Radio frequency near-field coherent sensing has been demonstrated for monitoring vital signs of small conscious animals, including a betta fish, in a noninvasive manner. This technology can measure heartbeat and respiration without close skin contact, avoiding the discomfort and stress associated with electrocardiogram, ultrasound, and auscultation. Such approaches may revolutionize vital sign monitoring of small conscious animals in laboratory living quarters or natural habitats.

Conservation Context

Many wild betta species face population declines due to overexploitation and environmental changes. Betta dennisyongi and Betta rubra from Aceh waters are endangered ornamental fish. Betta mahachaiensis faces genetic erosion under urbanization pressure, with simulations predicting severe erosion of diversity within the next 12.5 to 37.5 years. Betta simplex is critically endangered and endemic to Krabi province. Betta persephone is critically endangered in the Ayer Hitam Peat Swamp Forest Reserve.

Habitat loss and fragmentation are associated with reduced gene flow and decreased genetic diversity in B. mahachaiensis. Mean allelic richness was 2.65 and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.20 to 0.46, with fixation index values up to 0.400. Improving habitat connectivity and intensifying local community engagement are priority actions to enhance resilience and long-term persistence.

Professional Escalation Criteria

Consult a veterinarian or aquatic animal health specialist when you observe any of the following: persistent lethargy or immobility lasting more than 24 hours, visible lesions, fin damage, or discoloration, abnormal swimming patterns such as listing or spiraling, reduced appetite lasting more than 48 hours, rapid breathing or frequent surface air gulping despite adequate surface access, or unexplained mortality in a breeding or research population. For conservation programs, escalate to relevant authorities when wild population declines, habitat destruction, or illegal collection are observed.

Limitations of Current Knowledge

Species-Specific Data Gaps

Most behavioral and physiological research has focused on Betta splendens. Other species such as B. imbellis, B. mahachaiensis, B. simplex, B. persephone, B. dennisyongi, B. rubra, and B. albimarginata have received less attention. Extrapolating findings from B. splendens to other species requires caution.

Captive Versus Wild Comparisons

Domesticated strains selectively bred for sports fighting differ behaviorally and physiologically from wild types. The fighter strain showed different cortisol responses and adopted immobility strategies that the wild type did not. Findings from domesticated strains may not reflect natural behavior.

Pharmacological Research Limitations

Studies on CBD and other pharmacological agents in betta fish are preliminary. Long-term effects remain unexamined. Findings should not be interpreted as treatment recommendations.

Genetic and Conservation Data Gaps

Genetic assessments exist for some species but not others. The mitogenome of B. imbellis provides a reference for phylogenetic studies. Integrated genetic and landscape-based assessments exist for B. mahachaiensis but are lacking for most other species.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do wild betta fish live?

Wild betta fish inhabit shallow, slow-moving freshwater environments across Southeast Asia, including rice paddies, marshlands, peat swamps, and small canals. Field studies of Betta splendens in Chiang Rai province, Thailand, documented habitats ranging from lentic waterbodies to small canals near a lake, all with low dissolved oxygen and dense herbaceous vegetation. Some species such as Betta mahachaiensis occupy brackish habitats in Bangkok, Samut Sakhon, and Samut Prakan.

Why do betta fish build bubble nests?

Bubble nest construction is a reproductive behavior of the Betta splendens group. Males build nests of bubbles at the water surface, often anchored to vegetation. The importance of temperature, individual size, and habitat arrangement on bubble nest construction has been documented. Not all betta species build bubble nests. Mouth-brooding species such as Betta simplex and Betta albimarginata incubate eggs in the male mouth instead.

How do betta fish survive in low-oxygen water?

Betta fish possess a suprabranchial labyrinth organ that enables air breathing. This adaptation allows survival in oxygen-depleted waters where other fish cannot persist. Ventilatory studies show that bettas modulate gill and air-breathing organ ventilation in response to temperature and hypoxia, with juveniles and adults showing different responses.

Are male betta fish always aggressive?

Male Betta splendens are territorial resource defenders in their natural habitat. Aggression is context-dependent and influenced by brain regions including the pallial amygdala. Research shows that aggression involves dynamic visual cues and turn-taking behavior. Environmental factors such as enclosure size and enrichment affect aggressive display frequency. Even very large aquaria cannot guarantee peaceful cohabitation between two males.

What is the difference between bubble-nesting and mouth-brooding bettas?

Bubble-nesting bettas such as Betta splendens and Betta imbellis build bubble nests at the water surface where eggs are incubated. Mouth-brooding species such as Betta simplex and Betta albimarginata incubate eggs in the male mouth. Betta simplex males nurture eggs within 11 to 12 days after fertilization. Betta albimarginata males keep eggs for 14 to 21 days.

How does temperature affect betta fish behavior?

Temperature affects ventilatory responses, stress responses, and bubble nest construction. Laboratory studies use 27 °C as control with experimental ranges of 23 to 31 °C. Acute temperature changes produce different stress responses than gradual changes. Adult fish show variable temperature sensitivity for gill and air-breathing organ ventilation, suggesting a switch from aquatic toward aerial ventilation in response to thermal stress.

What is the conservation status of wild betta fish?

Several wild betta species face population declines. Betta dennisyongi and Betta rubra from Aceh waters are endangered ornamental fish facing overexploitation and environmental changes. Betta simplex is critically endangered and endemic to Krabi province. Betta persephone is critically endangered in the Ayer Hitam Peat Swamp Forest Reserve. Betta mahachaiensis faces rapid genetic erosion under urbanization pressure.

How can I recreate natural betta conditions in captivity?

Provide at least a 10 L aquarium for full expression of swimming behavior. Use low-flow filtration, dense vegetation, and surface cover. Maintain stable tropical temperatures. Minimize noise and vibration. Monitor water parameters including temperature, pH, hardness, and dissolved oxygen. Enriched containers with gravel, large rocks, and live plants increase swimming behavior.

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References and Further Reading

• NCBI Literature Resources. National Center for Biotechnology Information.
• PubMed. National Library of Medicine.
• Reproductive aspects of native and endangered wild Betta fish (Betta dennisyongi and Betta rubra) from Aceh waters, Indonesia.. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia, 2025.
• Next-generation sequencing yields complete mitochondrial genome assembly of peaceful betta fish, Betta imbellis (Teleostei: Osphronemidae).. Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources, 2020.
• Exploring freshwater soundscapes of tropical marshland habitats in Southeast Asia: insights into auditory sensory adaptation of wild Siamese fighting fish Betta splendens.. PeerJ, 2025.
• No-touch measurements of vital signs in small conscious animals.. Science advances, 2019.
• Saving the Mahachai Betta: Genetic Erosion and Conservation Priorities Under Urbanization Pressure.. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI, 2025.
• Can online videos posted by hobbyists be useful for conservation and science? A YouTube case study of the reproduction of the endangered white-edged fighting fish, Betta albimarginata.. Journal of fish biology, 2026.
• Development and sex affect respiratory responses to temperature and dissolved oxygen in the air-breathing fishes Betta splendens and Trichopodus trichopterus.. Fish physiology and biochemistry, 2025.
• Variable stress-responsiveness in wild type and domesticated fighting fish.. Physiology & behavior, 2008.
• Oral L-Dopa Disrupts Behavioral Self-Control in Male Fighting Fish (Betta splendens). 2025.
• Oral L-Dopa Disrupts Behavioral Self-Control in Male Fighting Fish (Betta splendens). 2025.
• Cannabidiol on aggression in betta fish ( Betta splendens ).. 2025.
• An Integrative Brain and Behavior CURE (Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience) Using Immunohistochemistry in the Fighting Fish Betta splendens.. 2024.
• Coordination and persistence of aggressive visual communication in Siamese fighting fish.. 2025.
• The magic of mushrooms: psilocybin influences behavior in the mangrove rivulus fish, &lt,i&gt,Kryptolebias marmoratus&lt,/i&gt,.. 2026.
• Life in a fishbowl: Space and environmental enrichment affect behaviour of Betta splendens.. 2024.
• Betta siamorientalis, a new species of bubble-nest building fighting fish (Teleostei: Osphronemidae) from eastern Thailand. Vertebrate zoology, 2012.
• Reproductive Ecology and Early-Life Morphological Development of Krabi Mouth-Brooding Fighting Fish Betta simplex Kottelat, 1994 (Actinopterygii: Osphronemidae). Diversity, 2025.
• The Importance of Temperature, Individual Size and Habitat Arrangement on the Bubble Nest Construction of Siamese Fighting Fish ( Betta splendens Regan, 1910). 2008.
• Kavgacı siyam balığı (Betta splendens regan, 1910)'nın köpük yuva oluşturmasında su sıcaklığı, birey büyüklüğü ve ortam düzenlenmesinin önemi / The importance of temperature,individual size and habitat arrangement on the bubble nest consruction of siamase fighting fish (Betta splendens regan, 1910). 2006.
• "Bubble-Nest Building and Visual Reinforcement in Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens)". 1967.
• Cooling of Siamese fighting fish Betta splendens (Teleostei, Osphronemidae) embryos at low temperatures.. Cryobiology, 2021.
• Identificación de componentes de las burbujas protectoras producidas por el macho del pez betta (Betta splendens) Identification of bubble's protective components produced by male betta fish ( Betta splendens). 2013.
• Betta Fish Image Identification using Feature Extraction GLCM and K-Nearest Neighbour Classification. 2022 International Conference on Information Technology Research and Innovation Icitri 2022, 2022.
• Sustainable Conservation Management System for The Critically Endangered Betta Persephone in Ayer Hitam Peat Swamp Forest Reserve Muar Johor. International Journal of Integrated Engineering, 2023.
• Occurrence of Parasitic and Bacterial Pathogen in Ornamental and Wild Populations of Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens) in a Region of Thailand. Asean Journal of Scientific and Technological Reports, 2025.
• Oral L-Dopa Disrupts Behavioral Self-Control in Male Fighting Fish (Betta splendens). Fishes, 2025.

This article is educational and does not replace institutional policy, professional advice, or applicable safety and regulatory requirements.