How Do Siamese Fighters Fight?

[betta_grl]

Betta fighting is cruel.
if someone was talking about dog fighting i bet people would be more upset.

 

[RandomWiktor]

::foresees the inevitable debate that always stems from this particular topic::

Actually, it is good to add indian almond leaf to any betta's tank, not just those used for fighting. However, the reason isn't toughening the scales so much as it releases tannins and other chemicals found naturally in the betta's habitat that promote good health. There are trace minerals and antiseptic properties found in IAL-rich water, which aids in healing. Obviously in fishkeeping, the closer we can get to the natural habitat of a species (or their ancestoral species), the betta.

As for fighting... obviously biting and body blows make up most of the activity. What is important to remember is that fighting fish selectively bred for heightened aggression and strength is much different than the natural behavior; Betta splendens do fight in the wild, but have the opprotunity to hide or escape, and do not tend to be as powerful or as exceedingly aggressive. So, when fighting fish in captivity, you get a mixed bag; some will definately have the standard situation of damage done between fish, with one eventually yeilding. Or you will sometimes get a situation where one of the fish dies, either from the injuries, the exhaustion, or the infections afterwords.
I am under the impression that most do live when fought in the traditional style in Thailand, but fighting for betting purposes has been outlawed to the best of my knowledge in that country anyways. Which leaves us with plenty of idiots in other countries who think fighting is "cool" buying fish from overseas and doing it the "wrong" way (obviously, one could say any fighting is the wrong way), resulting in the losing fish being killed.
And there are always the dimwits who throw pet store bettas together, which is ridiculous since they really have no shot of coming out of it ok; they're always in unclean, cold, unsuitable conditions in stores, and haven't been conditioned to recover from those kinds of wounds, so they typically die. I have taken on a few bettas I found in the same cup in pet stores, and it took plenty of effort to recover them from the damage they sustained; they are simply of a weaker line than true fighters. Undoubtedly, fish like these fought by people indescribeable by any term other than "moron" die if not assisted immediately.

 

[corey01]

i agree its not like in the wild where bettas would be able to swim away if they are loosing they are in a tank so they are forced to keep fighting they cant just swim away

 

[wendywc]

Traditionally, a fight will be stopped and the bettas separated when there is an obvious winner... so it is not to the death. Then losers are treated for their wounds and released as Cracker said. Of course, these traditional fights happen where the bettas are local and wild. Boy, would I love to see those rivers and streams of bettas.

 

[HODDY]

if you relase them wouldnt they die anyway? Because they are used to being fed not by lookng for food? or is it natural instinct to go looking for food even in a fish tank?

 

[wendywc]

I think we fishkeepers forget to realize just how wild the fish we keep are.

 

[ryguy]

they will eat eachothers fin off or somtimes strangly they dont fight at all. i for one am opposed to the idea of having bettas fight so i hope to never see them actually fight. its cruel.

 

[The_Dude]

My betta will kill and eat gnats that fall into the tank.

 

[Synirr]

I love how they fight, it's amazing behaviour. I don't fight my fish, but I've seen it in juvies (right before they were jarred, hah!) They square off head-to-tail, display, and judge the other's strength. Finally one will make the first move... serious fighters often lock lips and will hold on for a looong time, until one or the other has to surface for air. I don't advocate it, but it really is poetry in motion . I don't get my jollies from watching animals get injured though, so just seeing my wilds display is quite enough for me.

 

[The_Dude]

Betta fighting is cruel.
if someone was talking about dog fighting i bet people would be more upset.

Dog fighting is tame compared to betta fights. I've never really seen dog fights result in the removal of limbs...or in the case of bettas fins.

 

[starrynightxxi]

Betta fighting is cruel.
if someone was talking about dog fighting i bet people would be more upset.

Dog fighting is tame compared to betta fights. I've never really seen dog fights result in the removal of limbs...or in the case of bettas fins.

fins grow back, legs don't.

as for it being cruel, it IS less cruel than dog fighting. Unlike dogs, the fish are natural fighters, and are not fought to the death, whereas dogs aren't, and often are. Their wounds are properly cared for afterwards, unlike dogs, which are cared for by untrained, unlicensed people. Any wounds on a fish short of a lost eye will eventually heal as though it was never there (torn fins, lost scales). Finally, the fish that loses, once healed, is released into its natural habitat to breed or become food NATURALLY. A dog that loses is outright killed, abndoned, or used to train another dog (which generally results in a violent death).

 

[The_Dude]

OK then, I was speaking from experience. I was just saying that It SEEMED more violent. But the last one I saw I was around 10 and vaguely remember it. I was just stating my opinion but I didn't expect it to warrant me getting jumped on by someone I don't even know, I'm not mad, just confused.Oh, and thanks for the info, teach. Knowledge is power, and knowing is half the battle.

 

[starrynightxxi]

sorry if that sounded like i was jumping on you. i didn't mean it to.

 

[The_Dude]

It's ok. I just overreacted. May've been the way it sounded in my head when I read it though.

 

[Jaded12]

fighting bettas is a tradition in many countries, and the fish are very well taken care of!! I think fightings only really cruel when some dumb a** kids decide it'll be fun to fight 2 walmart veiltails. I hate when people look down upon and judge people who fight bettas as a part of their culture. I'm sure all of you do things that other cultures frown upon, such as eating cows and pigs, or women wearing pants, but you don't see people coming around and putting you down cause they don't agree with it. It really irks me when people can't be more accepting of other peoples cultures and traditions.