THE STEINHART AQUARIUM - Gulf of Guinea Science ...

190 A Docent Field Guide to the Species of the Steinhart Aquarium
parts of China.
Habitat: Shallow, warm freshwater of rice
paddies, ponds, and slow moving streams.
Appearance: Usually grow to about 5cm,
though some varieties reach 30 cm in length.
Known for brilliant colors (red, blue, turquoise,
orange, yellow, and green, as well as marbled
patterns and metallic shades) and large,
flowing fins.
Diet: Carnivorous surface feeder (note the
upturned mouth); in the wild feeds on insects
and insect larvae.
Reproduction: When ready to spawn, the
male builds an elaborate bubble nest at the
water’s surface. He will posture with flared
gills, twist his body and spread his elaborate
fins if interested in a female. She will darken in
color, and curve her body back and forth. The
male then wraps his body around the female
in a “nuptial embrace.” Some 10–40 eggs are
released during each embrace, until the female
is exhausted of eggs. The male fertilizes them,
retrieves the sinking eggs in his mouth, and
deposits them in the bubble nest which he
guards and tends. Incubation lasts for 24–36
hours, and the newly-hatched fry remain in
the nest for 2-3 days before swimming free.
Juveniles can reach sexual maturity at 3
months.
Mortality/Longevity: Life span: 2-5 years in
captivity.
Conservation Status: Not at risk; bred
successfully around the world for the aquarium
trade. Breeders continue to develop new
varieties, often crossing species to enhance
colors, fin size, and combativeness.
Remarks: Betta splendens has been nicknamed
“The Jewel of the Orient” due to its beauty and
wide range of colors.
Males are highly territorial and aggressive,
especially toward trespassing rivals. They are
known to respond aggressively even to their
own reflections in a mirror! Therefore, only
one male should be kept in aquarium tanks.
Several females and other compatible fishes
can complete a peaceful community.
Females will flare their gills at other females,
especially when setting up a pecking order.
Like their allies the gouramis, bettas possess a
lung-like labyrinth organ that allows them take
in oxygen directly from the air, an important
adaptation for fishes that live in warm, shallow,
oxygen-poor water. They can live out of water
for several hours if necessary.
Striped Betta
Betta taeniata (Osphronemidae)
Gouramies
Distribution: Borneo; may also be found in
other parts of South East Asia.
Habitat: The upper parts of fast flowing rivers
and clear-water streams, especially in shallow
areas with vegetation where it hides when
threatened.
Appearance: An elongated fish with short,
rounded fins. Males: brownish color; small
iridescent green scales around the head and
a black horizontal bar across the face close to
eye level. Lower body and fins have a green or
bluish iridescence. The female is smaller and
less colorful. Length: c. 7 cm.
Diet: Omnivore.
Reproduction and Development: Paternal
mouth brooders. During courtship, the male’s
body becomes an iridescent red Between 200 to
300 eggs are laid and fertilized, then the female
spits them into the male’s mouth. The female
defends the male and the territory during
incubation which lasts about 9–12 days.
Mortality/Longevity: Life span: c. 4 years.
Remarks: These fish puff out when aggravated
or to intimidate other males while attracting
females.
When threatened, they can lighten or darken
their color in seconds creating horizontal or
vertical dark bars depending on the degree
of danger.
They have been kept in Thai households in
aquariums since the 1200s, in Europe since
the 1800s.
Pearl Gourami
Trichogaster leeri (Osphronemidae)
Gouramies
Distribution: Asia: Malay Peninsula, Thailand
and Indonesia, including Borneo.
Habitat: Small flowing rivers and lakes in areas
of dense vegetation.
Appearance: Has filamentous pelvic fins. Large
anal fin extends from just behind the pelvic
fins almost to the caudal fin. Length to 12 cm.