Mouthbrooding, also known as oral incubation and buccal incubation, is the care given by some groups of animals to their offspring by holding them in the mouth of the parent for extended periods of time. Although mouthbrooding is performed by a variety of different animals, such as the Darwin's frog, fish are by far the most diverse mouthbrooders. Mouthbrooding has evolved independently in several different families of fish.
Gouramis, or gouramies, are a group of freshwater anabantiform fish that comprise the family Osphronemidae. The fish are native to Asia—from the Indian Subcontinent to Southeast Asia and northeasterly towards Korea. The name "gourami", of Indonesian origin, is also used for fish of the families Helostomatidae and Anabantidae.
The Penang betta is a species of gourami native to Southeast Asia and common in swiftly flowing forest streams of the Malay Peninsula, Thailand, Sumatra, and the Riau Islands. In addition to its native range, the species has been introduced to Guam. It can be found amongst the vegetation growing along the banks. This species can reach a length of 6.7 centimetres (2.6 in) SL. It is one of the mouthbrooding Betta species. This species, as a natural predator of mosquito larvae, has found use in mosquito control efforts. Prior to its being eclipsed in Western public recognition by the mass-imported B. splendens, B. pugnax was well known as a fighting fish, as denoted by the specific epithet of pugnax, attracting the interest of scientists studying animal behaviour at least as long ago as the 1880s.
The Siamese fighting fish, commonly known as the betta, is a freshwater fish native to Southeast Asia, namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is one of 73 species of the genus Betta, but the only one eponymously called "betta", owing to its global popularity as a pet; Betta splendens are among the most popular aquarium fish in the world, due to their diverse and colorful morphology and relatively low maintenance.
Bubble nests, also called foam nests, are created by some fish and frog species as floating masses of bubbles blown with an oral secretion, saliva bubbles, and occasionally aquatic plants. Fish that build and guard bubble nests are known as aphrophils. Aphrophils include gouramis and the synbranchid eel Monopterus alba in Asia, Microctenopoma (Anabantidae), Polycentropsis (Nandidae), and Hepsetus odoe in Africa, and callichthyines and the electric eel in South America. Most, if not all, fish that construct floating bubble nests live in tropical, oxygen-depleted standing waters. Osphronemidae, containing the Bettas and Gouramies, are the most commonly recognized family of bubble nest makers, though some members of that family mouthbrood instead. The nests are constructed as a place for fertilized eggs to be deposited while incubating and guarded by one or both parents until the fry hatch.
The spotted betta or Java fighting fish is a species of gourami endemic to Indonesia where it inhabits relatively cool, 22‒25 °C (72‒75 °F), highland streams of Java. In 1967, D. S. Johnson reported the species to be common in blackwaters of southern Malaya.
Betta miniopinna is a species of gourami endemic to Bintan Island in the Riau Archipelago of Indonesia. The species reaches 2.4 cm in standard length and is believed to be a facultative air-breather.
Betta smaragdina, commonly known as the emerald green betta, blue betta or Mekong fighting fish is a species of gourami native to Southeast Asia. The species gets its green and blue colors due to refraction and interference of light that results from hexagonal crystals that are less than 0.5 micrometres. It is found in the aquarium trade.
The peaceful betta or crescent betta is a species of gourami native to Southeast Asia.
Betta is a large genus of small, active, often colorful, freshwater ray-finned fishes, in the gourami family (Osphronemidae). The best known Betta species is B. splendens, commonly known as the Siamese fighting fish and often kept as an aquarium pet.
Primarily known as long-fin tetra, Brycinus longipinnis is also described as African long-finned tetra among other terms.
Betta gladiator is a species of gourami endemic to Sabah, Malaysia. It is an inhabitant of the acidic waters of heath forest. It is known as a particularly territorial and aggressive species, especially in captivity. This species grows to a length of 5.6 centimetres (2.2 in) SL and are facultative air-breathers.
The dusky sleeper or brown spinecheek gudgeon is a species of fish in the family Eleotridae found in many Indo-West Pacific regions, from the coast of eastern Africa to Hawaii, where it can be found in lagoons, estuaries, and freshwater streams with muddy bottoms. This species can reach a length of 26 cm (10 in).
Betta akarensis, the Akar betta, is a species of gourami endemic to south-east Sarawak, and whose species name akar was so named after where it was originally found in the river Sungai Akar. This species is a mouthbrooder, and grows to a length of 10 centimetres (3.9 in) SL. According to Linke, they "live predominantly in mineral-poor, slightly acid water enriched with humic substances".
Betta mahachaiensis is a species of bubble-nesting betta native to Thailand, where it occurs naturally near the Gulf of Thailand. It is typically seen in stagnant waters in swamps, pools, and ponds. The species can be found in brackish waters, with salinity levels between 1.1 and 10.6 parts per thousand. Betta mahachaiensis is capable of living in both fresh water and brackish water, a trait unique among fish in the genus Betta. This species grows to a length of 5 to 6 cm. It is found in the aquarium trade.
Betta midas is a species of gourami in the genus Betta. It is native to Asia, specifically the island of Borneo, where it occurs in the Kapuas River basin in West Kalimantan in Indonesia, as well as western Sarawak in Malaysia. It is typically found in acidic blackwater rivers in remnant and intact peat swamp forests. The species reaches 6.6 cm in standard length and is known to be a facultative air-breather.
Betta pardalotos is a species of fish in the family Osphronemidae. It is native to Asia, where it occurs in the Musi River basin on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. The species reaches 7.2 cm in standard length and is known to be a facultative air-breather. It feeds on insects and other small invertebrates such as zooplankton.
Betta prima is a species of gourami. It is native to Asia, where it occurs in southeastern Thailand, and Laos. It is typically found among plants in marshes and slow-flowing streams. The water that the species occurs in is typically clear, with a pH of 6.6, a conductivity of 180 µS/cm, and a temperature of 25.8 °C. The species reaches 5 cm in standard length and is known to be a facultative air-breather.
Betta schalleri, sometimes known as Schaller's mouthbrooder, is a species of gourami. It is a freshwater fish native to Asia, where it is known only from Bangka Island in Indonesia. It is typically found in hillstreams and peat swamp forests. The species reaches 4.5 cm in standard length and is known to be a facultative air-breather.
Betta patoti, sometimes known as the tiger betta or zebra betta, is a species of gourami. It is a freshwater fish native to Asia, where it occurs in the southern part of East Kalimantan on the island of Borneo in Indonesia. The species reaches 10.7 cm in total length and is known to be a facultative air-breather.
