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 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.
Betta persephone is a species of labyrinth fish endemic to Malaysia where it is only known from Johor. This betta's specific epithet derives from the Greek goddess Persephone, queen of the Underworld, a reference to the largely blackish colouration of this fish.
Betta chini is a species of gourami endemic to the island Borneo where it is only known from the Malaysian state of Sabah. It inhabits very shallow waters of peat swamps. Males of this species can reach a length of 5.1 centimetres (2.0 in) SL while females can reach a length of 5.6 centimetres (2.2 in).
Betta hipposideros is a species of gourami native to Malaysia ; its range extends southwards to the Riau Archipelago. It is an inhabitant of blackwater swamps. This species grows to a length of 7.8 cm (3.1 in).
Betta livida is a species of gourami endemic to Malaysia, where it is only known from the state of Selangor. It is an inhabitant of peat swamps; it grows to a length of 3.6 cm (1.4 in).
Betta tomi is a species of gourami native to the Malaysian Peninsula where it is currently only found in Johor. It previously also occurred in Singapore but has since been extirpated there. It is an inhabitant of shallow streams that are shaded and have plenty of leaf litter and other debris. This species grows to a length of 7 centimetres (2.8 in) SL.
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.
Betta coccina is a species of betta native to Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra, Indonesia. It grows to a length of 5.6 cm (2.2 in). It can be found in the aquarium trade.
Betta bellica. the slim betta or slender betta, is a species of betta native to eastern Sumatra in Indonesia and Peninsular Malaysia. It is an inhabitant of swamp forests and peat swamps. This species grows to a length of 10 cm (3.9 in). It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Betta tussyae is a species of gourami endemic to Malaysia where it is only known from Pahang. It is an inhabitant of peat swamps. This species grows to a length of 3.7 centimetres (1.5 in) SL. The specific name honours Tussy Nagy, the wife of the Austrian aquarist Peter Nagy, in 1979 this couple were the first fish collectors to import this species into Europe.
Betta balunga is a species of gourami endemic to the island of Borneo, and whose species name derives from the location where it was first described - the Balung River in Sabah, eastern Malaysia. It inhabits forest and black water streams, and grows to a length of 4.9 cm (1.9 in).
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.
Betta ibanorum is a species of gourami endemic to southern Sarawak in Malaysia. The species name ibanorum was named after the Iban people, the largest group of people in the Sarawak. This species is a mouthbrooder, and grows to a length of 8.1 centimetres (3.2 in) SL.
Betta obscura is a species of gourami that occurs in the Barito basin in Kalimantan Tengah, Indonesia. This species is a mouthbrooder, and grows to a length of around 9 centimetres (3.5 in) SL.
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 nuluhon is a species of gourami. It is native to Asia, where it occurs in western Sabah on the island of Borneo in Malaysia. The species reaches at least 7.06 cm in standard length. It was described in 2020 by N. S. S. Kamal, H. H. Tan, and Casey K. C. Ng. FishBase does not list this species.
Betta omega is a species of gourami. It is native to Asia, where it occurs in the state of Johor in Malaysia. The species reaches 14.77 cm in total length. It was described in 2018 by Heok Hui Tan and Amirrudin B. Ahmad based on its distinctive patterning. It is believed to be either already extinct or very near extinction, although it has not yet been evaluated by the IUCN. FishBase does not yet list this species.
