It is a type of Siamese Fighting fish that does not carry the genes to display any black spots on its body. Instead, they have a white body with red/ blue accents on them. They are also very active and capable of swimming in all parts of an aquarium with different species.
The Thai flag betta is a color morph of betta fish that displays red, white, and blue colors. The fish was first discovered by an American breeder in Thailand who was working with a group to breed bettas for release into the wild.
It is the result of a genetic mutation that causes them to be born with three colors rather than two. As far as bettas go, this is a very rare color morph.
Got its name because of its colors that are reminiscent of the Thai flag colors(Thai National Flag).
It is believed that this is not a naturally occurring mutation, but is the result of another breed being introduced to Betta splendens in order to create a new color morph. Currently, there is no evidence suggesting which breeds were introduced to Betta splendens in creating this fish.
A Thai flag betta, a beautiful fish can be identified very easily since they have no black on their bodies at all and even their fins appear a bit transparent.
Origin
Thai flag betta fish with red, white, and blue color morph is the result of a genetic mutation of Siamese Fighting fish. A male betta fish was bred with a female Singapore Blue in 1992 by an American Betta Breeders Alliance affiliated with Mr. Kitti Suwankosai living in Bangkok Thailand.
The two fish had produced over 100 Thai flag betta fish, which were sent to breeders worldwide. Some of the offspring were sent back to Thailand.
Today, many breeders are working with this color morph and their numbers are growing steadily. However, they are still rare in comparison to other types of bettas. Finding one can be challenging unless you know where to look.
Size
Thai flag betta fish with red, white, and blue color morph is a bit smaller than most other Siamese Fighting fish. Adult males only grow up to about three inches in length while the females are even smaller at around two inches maximum.
What Is the History of the Thai Flag Betta?
Thai flag bettas with red, white, and blue color morph are one of the newest color morphs in Siamese Fighting fish. Originally were born in Thailand in 1992 by a B.A.I. affiliated breeder who was breeding American and Singapore line of blood bettas with local Thai lines to produce quality fish that can survive in the wild and better adapt to their environment.
The fish were able to be bred into three colors due to a genetic mutation caused by hybridizing different varieties of bettas. After the discovery of this new color morph, breeders have been working with it to produce Thai flag bettas with red, white, and blue color morphs.
A male was bred with a Singapore Blue female which produced over 100 Thai flag betta fish. The offspring were then sent to breeders worldwide.
This new color morph quickly gained popularity in the United States, where they are sometimes called American flag bettas. It also became popular due to its unique appearance which is unlike any other known betta fish.
Lifespan
Thai flag betta fish with red, white, and blue color morphs have a considerably longer lifespan than most other types of bettas. Bettas are known to live up to 2-3 years on average but Thai flag bettas can live up to 5 years or more.
Appearance
Commonly, betta fish display two colors: red and blue. The main difference between Thai flag bettas and their normal counterparts is that they do not display any black on their bodies. They instead have a white body with either red or blue accents on certain parts of their body, depending on the type of Thai flag betta in question.
Their fins appear slightly transparent as well. They also have a horizontal blue line running through their body, though it's not as easily seen as their fins. Male Thai flag bettas are the only ones to display red and blue colors on their bodies, while females aren't able to since they lack the genes that produce those colors.
Thai flag bettas are very active and easily capable of swimming in all parts of their tank. They do not, however, display the same aggression as other types of betta fish. This makes them a good candidate for community aquariums with non-aggressive fish species.
Socialization and Behavior
Thai flag bettas are peaceful fish just like Betta imbellis and they don't display any aggression towards other species or their owners. They can be easily handled without being frightened into attacking the owner or dropping all of their fins, which makes them a good candidate for new fish owners.
Thai flag bettas will also perfect addition to community aquariums though. You should never keep betta fish in a bowl or jar since they will wind up being too crowded for them to survive.
Thai flag bettas are some of the most beautiful types of betta fish out there. Due to their striking colors and unique body shape, they are commonly displayed in aquariums where other types of bettas are not.
Feeding
Thai flag bettas are carnivores, so they mostly feed on bloodworms, brine shrimp, and other meaty forms of seafood. They can sometimes be picky eaters when it comes to the food you give them. However, not all Thai flag bettas refuse to take any foods; many will simply need some time and gentle persuasion to take them.
Thai flag bettas are easily able to adapt to the types of food they're given, so new owners shouldn't worry about their fish not eating right away.
Some of the most common types of foods are brine shrimp, bloodworms, daphnia, tubifex, and even small insects such as mosquitoes or flies. Some fish experts will even recommend that you give your Thai flag betta pellets or flakes twice a day; once in the morning and again at night. This will ensure that they get all of their nutrients and stay healthy.
What Can I Feed Thai Flag Betta?
Thai flag bettas will usually eat anything they are given. However, there are times when certain types of food don't sit well with them, and choosing the wrong type can lead to poor health for your fish. Here is a list of possible foods to feed Thai flag betta
When to Feed Thai Flag Betta?
Feed your betta fish as often as possible. Feeding them once a day is usually sufficient for most fish owners, but twice a day will make the fish healthier.
Be sure to feed them right before you turn out their lights and don't feed them if they haven't eaten for at least 24 hours. This will help prevent overfeeding and the water quality problems that come with it.
Thai flag bettas are some of the easiest fish to take care of due to their small size, unique appearance, and manageable behavior. Whether you want to give them medicine, clean their tank, or feed them, all owners have to follow basic instructions regarding how often they need to do these things.
Tank Conditions
As with other types of Siamese Fighting fish, Thai flag bettas do best in 5 - 10 gallon tanks since they aren't very active and only require the absolute minimum amount of space to live comfortably.
It is highly recommended that you keep your tank temperature no higher than 76 degrees and make sure it maintains a pH level of 6.5 - 7.5 at all times.
Providing a heater is also advisable if you want your Thai flag betta to thrive.
When it comes to decorating your tank, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Since Thai flag bettas are semi-active, they don't need a lot of decorations to keep them entertained. A few live plants, rocks, and driftwood will be more than enough.
Make sure that any decorations you add to the tank are smooth and free of any sharp edges that could harm your fish. Also, avoid adding any metal objects to the tank as they can rust and contaminate the water.
Water Parameters
Thai flag bettas only require average water conditions to live in. They do not need any significant alterations in the pH levels of their tank. Temperatures in the 70s will suffice without making it too hot for them.
Thai flag bettas also don't require strong currents or turbulent water to swim since they are able to survive in all parts of a community aquarium with different species of fish.
Thai Flag Betta Fish Breeding
Breeding Thai flag bettas is a relatively simple process that just requires a bit of preparation and patience.
Selecting Breeding Pair
When selecting a male and female Thai flag bettas to breed, you should avoid choosing ones that are too similar in color. It is best to choose two of the opposite genders with drastically different colors so you can get the biggest range in offspring.
Thai flag bettas will also need plenty of time in peaceful surroundings before they will begin to breed, so don't make any attempts to breed them until they have been in your tank for at least a week.
How to Breed Thai Flag Betta?
The Thai flag betta is a selectively bred variety of betta fish that is prized for its unique coloration and markings. Selective breeding is the process of breeding certain types of fish in order to produce offspring with specific desired characteristics.
The female Thai flag betta should only be introduced into the breeding tank after she has fully matured since they can easily die or be damaged if they are moved too early on in their development.
Introduce the male Thai flag betta to the aquarium where the female is kept, and make sure it is a quiet area free from disturbances.
The male Thai flag betta will start to court the female at this point, and she may drop some of her fins as a form of defense against him. She may even bite him if he gets too close to her during this period, so be prepared for this possibility and never put your hands in the tank when you don't know how they will react to your presence.
After a few days, the female fish will be ready for the mating process and allow the male Thai flag betta to mate with her, as she releases eggs into the water which he fertilizes.
The parents should then be removed from the breeding tank after 2 - 3 days since they become aggressive and may eat their own young after this time.
The fry should hatch within 4 - 7 days and look like tiny versions of the adult Thai flag betta. They will need to be fed baby brine shrimp that has been ground into a fine powder in order to sustain them until they reach an independent age.
The fry will mature in around 4 - 6 weeks.
You should always remove the female fish to prevent her from eating all of her offspring, as most betta fish are cannibals. Also, separating the male and the fry will allow them to grow more rapidly since they won't have to compete with each other for food or space inside their aquarium.
Common Diseases in Thai Flag Betta
Thai flag bettas are usually very healthy fish, but there are some diseases that they may be victim of. They are the same diseases that affect all types of betta fish, though they are usually easier to treat in thai flag bettas than other species due to their hardiness.
Fin Rot
The most common problem you will have with your Thai flag betta is fin rot, which results from a lack of water condition and poor living conditions.
This can easily be treated in adult Thai flag bettas, but the fry will usually die if left untreated since their fins are much more delicate than those of mature fish.
Fish Fungus
Another common betta disease is a fish fungus, which is caused by the Candida Albicans fungus.
The main symptom of this disease is the development of white spots on the fins and body of the betta. Your betta will also begin swimming in abnormal patterns, lose its appetite, and may even scratch against objects in its tank.
This disease is also easy to treat with antibiotics, and the betta will usually be cured within a few weeks if the proper medication is administered.
Swim Bladder Disorder
The most common problem that affects Thai flag bettas which have been selectively bred for their fins is swim bladder disorder.
This can cause problems such as abnormal swimming, difficulty in keeping upright and staying at the surface of your tank, or even an inability to swim vertically.
This is caused by a lack of exercise combined with overfeeding and can be prevented by not overcrowding your aquarium and making sure that you don't feed it too much food.
Clean water conditions are also important for preventing this disease.
The signs of swim bladder disorder are mostly the same as fin rot, so it can be hard to determine which is present without proper diagnosis.
Frequent Questions
What Kind of Fish Would Be Appropriate for a Thai Flag Betta as a Tank Mate?
Thai flag bettas are known for being community fish that don't display signs of aggression during the breeding process. They can be kept in aquariums with other small peaceful species, but they should never be housed with any type of aggressive or predatory fish since these types will eat them.
Some good tank mates for a Thai flag betta include other betta varieties, frogs, snails, shrimp, and tropical fish species that are not aggressive towards each other.
It should be noted that even though Thai flag bettas may live peacefully with certain tank mates, they should always be housed by themselves unless you plan on purchasing several of them to keep as a breeding colony. Even in this case, they should be separated after the mating process starts so one male doesn't kill all of the others.
Also, when housing a betta with other tank mates it is always best to have a larger aquarium since bettas are known for jumping out and injuring themselves if there is not enough water for them to swim around in.
You should avoid keeping them with any species of aggressive or overly large fish, however, as they will either wind up killing your Thai flag betta or being killed by it.
Best Colors for a Thai Flag Betta?
A red and blue color morph is a must for a look. The white is a good addition that really makes the colors pop. The most common color morph is red and blue but there are other color variations as well.
How to Get Rid of Parasites in Thai Flag Betta?
If you believe that your Thai flag betta has contracted parasites, there are certain medications you can use to clear up the problem.
Furan-2 is one of the most common drugs used for this, but you should always follow the dosage instructions on the packaging to avoid harming your fish.
Fish Parasites are tiny organisms that attach themselves to your betta's body and feed off their blood or bodily fluids.
The two main parasites that affect the Thai flag betta are Costia and Chilodonella.
The first is a cold-water parasite that attaches itself to your betta's body, usually near its gills or fins, and begins attacking it as soon as the unsuspecting fish comes into contact with the infected area.
This disease doesn't usually affect the fish all that much, but it can cause serious problems if left untreated.
The other parasite is Chilodonella, which is a tropical water parasite that tends to attack your betta while it sleeps at night or rests during the day.
This disease will usually leave small open sores on your fish until it dies but can be easily cured if treated in time.
What Is the Best Way to Care for a Thai Flag Betta?
The Thai flag betta requires most of the same care as regular bettas with a few exceptions. They are sensitive thrive in warmer waters with a pH of 6. 5 to 7.5 and temperatures between 76°F and 80°F.
They enjoy a diet of live, frozen, or freeze-dried brine shrimp, bloodworms, or beef heart. You should never feed them flake foods because they don't contain the nutrients a betta needs to thrive.
It is highly recommended that you keep your tank in a room that doesn't get too cold and keep your betta away from drafts.
You should also make sure there's at least part of the aquarium covered in order to prevent the Thai flag bettas from jumping out, as they will attempt to do so when they are startled.
How Rare Are Thai Flag Bettas?
Thai flag bettas are not common at all and due to their rarest colors, they can be very expensive. It is currently estimated that 1 in every 100,000 specimens will display the coloration of a Thai flag betta. So why are they so rare? The Thai flag fish get their name from the country where they were first identified.
They are the result of a genetic mutation that is unique to bettas. Bettas, like other animals including humans, each have two sets of chromosomes (diploid). When an animal has more than two sets of chromosomes but less than 38 - it is considered polyploid, and when this happens in fish they can be born with a variety of color mutations.
In Thailand, where many of the Siamese Fighting fish that were discovered originated from, there are still entire bodies of water that have been untainted by human involvement. These bodies of water are where the fish are thought to have mutated.
Final Thoughts
The Thai flag betta is a rare and beautiful fish that can be found in certain parts of the world. They are known for their beautiful red and blue vibrant colors and unique genetic mutation.
While they require similar care to regular bettas, they do best in warmer water with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. It is highly recommended that you keep your tank out of direct sunlight and away from cold drafts, as well as covered to prevent them from jumping out.