What are plakat bettas?

Plakat Thai are developed from wild caught bettas originating from the low water of rice paddies fields in Thailand (once known as Siam)...hence they are sometime referred to as Siamese Fighting Fish or otherwise known as plakat morh. The males of this species are very aggressive and will engage in fights with other males of his kind. The local farmers and their children specifically bred them for staged fighting due to this aggressive nature for decades.

The beauty of any bettas can only be fully appreciated when it "Flares" up and extend its fins and gill plates in a menacing, yet beautiful appearance. These tropical beauties thrives in the warm and humid climate of Thailand where the water temperature during the day is approximately 80 to 82 degree. Bettas belong to the Anabantoid family of tropical fishes. Bettas are equipped with a unique organ known as the labyrinth. The labyrinth organ allows Bettas to inhale and exhale atmospheric oxygen just as humans would. All tropical species belonging to the Anabantoid family has this unique organ. Due to the need to breathe oxygen directly from the atmosphere, you will occasionally see your betta(s) swim up to the surface and breathe.