Siamese fighting fish thrive in conditions that will kill most other fish. Because they breathe air directly, as well as obtaining oxygen through their gills like other fish, they can survive in a very small container of water. They don’t need a deep tank because they like to stay near the top to breathe. Seeing them for the first time, alone in small tanks, many people think these conditions are cruel, but they can’t be kept with companions because males kill other males, and also kill females after mating, raising their young themselves.

 

They tolerate temperatures as low as 18 degrees Celsius (65 Fahrenheit) and need very little feeding. They have a short life span (2 to 3 years depending upon the variety) but don’t need a lot of attention, so they are ideal pets for busy families. All that is really needed is to keep them warm enough, feed them a teeny quantity of specialized fighter food daily, and change part of their water every few days. They blow bubbles when they are happy, so this is a good indication of how they are feeling.

 

They are a great starter pet for people who don’t have a lot of time or space and don’t want to commit to something that they might not be able to stick at for the long term. There’s only one problem with them – they tend to be a bit addictive, and you may end up with tanks everywhere!