{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "betta",
  "name": "Betta",
  "scientificName": "Betta splendens",
  "category": "Fish",
  "summary": "The betta or Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) is a labyrinth fish from shallow Mekong-basin waters in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Wild fish breathe air at the surface and eat insects and zooplankton; males build bubble nests. Captive strains are famous for vivid fins, while wild populations are listed Vulnerable.",
  "conservationStatus": "Vulnerable",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Actinopterygii",
    "order": "Anabantiformes",
    "family": "Osphronemidae",
    "genus": "Betta"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 0.003,
    "lengthM": 0.07,
    "topSpeedKmh": 5,
    "lifespanYears": 3
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Betta splendens"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Carnivore (insects and zooplankton)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Rice paddies, ponds, and slow streams"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "Around 3 years in the wild (varies by population and captivity)."
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "About 0.003 kg typical adult mass (sex and region vary)."
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to roughly 5 km/h when moving at speed."
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Vulnerable (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Shallow freshwater of the lower Mekong basin in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.",
    "continents": [
      "Asia"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/betta/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/betta/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}