Fightingfish is a small, quarrelsome fish that lives in the waters around the Malay Archipelago. It is often called the Betta or Siamese fightingfish. It has been bred to develop long, waving tails and fins. When the male is excited, it becomes colored with reds, greens, purples, and blues. Most fighting occurs between males, though females will occasionally attack males. Fightingfish dash at one another, biting the opponent’s fins until one of the fish is exhausted. One fightingfish will even attack its own image in a mirror. Watching fights between male fightingfish is a popular sport in Thailand.
