The Betta Handbook

by Robert J. Goldstein

Overview

Titles in B.E.S.'s popular series of Pet Handbooks present comprehensive information and helpful advice from breeders, veterinarians, and other pet experts. These full-color books instruct on housing, feeding, healthcare, and more. In The Betta Handbook, those interested in these brilliantly colored beginners' fishes will learn how to keep them well-fed and healthy so they can continue to brighten the aquarium tank. This book covers all the Betta varieties.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781438067247
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	04/01/2015
Series:	B.E.S. Pet Handbooks
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	176
File size:	76 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

Table of Contents

	Preface and Acknowledgments	vi
1.	Introduction	1
	Labyrinth Fishes	1
	Siamese Fighting Fish	2
2.	Characteristics of the Genus	7
	Fin Types	8
	Iridescence and Opaqueness	10
	Colors	11
	Pigments	13
	Carotenoids	20
	Pterins	21
	Overview	21
3.	Bubblenesting Bettas	23
	Bubblenester Basics	23
	Splendens Group	26
	Bellica Group	31
	Coccina Group	34
	Related Species or Possible Variants	43
4.	Mouthbrooding Bettas	45
	Mouthbrooder Basics	45
	Betta dimidiata: A Betta Without a Species Group!	49
	Picta Group	50
	Pugnax Group	58
	Waseri Group	63
	Akarensis Group	69
	Foerschi Group	73
	Albimarginata Group	74
	Patoti-Unimaculata Group	77
	Populations of Uncertain Status	81
5.	Foods and Feeding	83
	Foods for Fry	84
	Foods for Larger Bettas	87
	Prepared Foods	95
6.	Common Diseases and Treatments	97
	Physical and Chemical Effects	97
	Infectious Diseases	100
	Viruses	101
	Responding to an Outbreak	102
	Bacteria	103
	Antibiotics and Antimicrobials	104
	Principal Bacterial Diseases	105
	Protozoa	108
	Gill and Skin Flukes	112
	Internal Flukes and Tapeworms	112
	Nematodes	112
	Arthropod Parasites	113
	General Considerations	113
7.	Zoogeography 101--Where Bettas Live and How They Got There	114
	Betta History	114
	The Geography of Bettas	118
8.	Betta Genetics	132
	The Basics	132
	Mendel Revisited	135
	Alleles	136
	Mutations vs. Alleles	137
	DNA and RNA Triplet Codes	138
9.	Breeding Bettas	140
	Conditioning	140
	The Breeding Tank	140
	The First Date	141
	Spawning	143
	Hatching	144
	Feeding the Fry	145
	Grow-out	146
	Culling	146
10.	Other Anabantoids	147
	Family Helostomatidae	147
	Family Osphronemidae	147
	Family Anabantidae	148
	Glossary	151
	References	160
	Index	165