Optimal water volume for transportation of male Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens)

Thongprajukaew, Karun; Takaeh, Suriyanee; Esor, Noirin; Saekhow, Suktianchai; Malawa, Saowalak; Nuntapong, Nutt; Hahor, Waraporn; Choodum, Aree

doi:10.1016/j.aqrep.2022.101430

Cited by 3 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Large, enriched spaces, however, are insufficient to ensure that multiple males will cohabitate peacefully. It seems unlikely that breeders, wholesalers, and retailers will follow this recommendation due to the higher costs required to house the fish (Saekhow et al 2018 ; Thongprajukaew et al 2023 ), but consumers might do so if their goal as pet owners is not to admire their Bettas as trophies but to nurture them to ensure that they thrive to the greatest extent possible.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One ornamental fish species, the Siamese fighting fish ( Betta splendens ), is aggressive to conspecifics so pet stores keep individual males isolated in small fishbowls around 0.5 L in volume ( Figure 1 ). Producers keep individuals in volumes even smaller, with researchers recommending 150 mL for permanent holding (Saekhow et al 2018 ) and 80 mL for transport (Thongprajukaew et al 2023 ). Organisations such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) consider this practice to be cruel, and have campaigned to end the practice of keeping Bettas in small bowls (The Herald 2009 ; PETA 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Life in a fishbowl: Space and environmental enrichment affect behaviour of Betta splendens

Oldfield,

Murphy

2024

Anim. welf.

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The public has expressed growing concern for the well-being of fishes, including popular pet species such as the Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens). In captivity, male Bettas behave aggressively, often causing injuries and death if housed together. As a result, they are typically isolated in small fishbowls, which has been widely criticised as cruel. To investigate the impact of keeping Bettas in these conditions, we recorded the behaviour of individual males in containers of different sizes that were either bare or enriched with gravel, large rocks, and live plants. When male Bettas were housed individually in small bowls (0.5 L) they spent less time swimming than they did when they were kept in larger aquaria (10, 38, and 208 L). Fish that were kept in enriched containers exhibited more instances of swimming. To determine if two male Bettas housed together might coexist peacefully if given enough space and cover from plants and large rocks, we quantified the behaviour of pairs of male Bettas in bare or enriched aquaria of different sizes (10, 38, 208, 378 L). Fish performed fewer approaches and aggressive displays, but not attacks, and more bouts of foraging, when in larger aquaria. This study shows that the small fishbowls typically used in pet stores suppress swimming behaviour in male Bettas and at least a 10-L aquarium is required to ensure full expression of swimming behaviour. Furthermore, even the use of very large aquaria cannot guarantee peaceful cohabitation between two males.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life in a fishbowl: Space and environmental enrichment affect behaviour of Betta splendens

Oldfield,

Murphy

2024

Anim. welf.

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“…Individual fish were placed in 3 × 5.5 inch plastic bags, containing 40 mL (i.e., one-third full) dechlorinated water with or without the respective amount of clove oil, following the methodology of Thongprajukaew et al ( 19 ). The bags were then filled with pure oxygen and then sealed with an FRD 1,000 LW/S continuous sealer (Brother, China).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These changes encompass, the expression of stress-related genes in fish, varying depending on the species ( 14 – 18 ). In betta fish, an increase in the expression of trypsin, which is potentially associated with stress-related physiological effects, has been observed during transportation in the lowest water volume (40 mL) ( 19 ). However, there is limited literature specifically addressing the transportation of betta fish, particularly in terms of direct stress assessment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of clove oil concentrations on blood chemistry and stress-related gene expression in Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) during transportation

Sintuprom,

Nuchchanart,

Dokkaew

et al. 2024

Front. Vet. Sci.

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Siamese fishing fish (Betta splendens) or betta are usually subjected to a special method of transportation for global trade, where they are individually conveyed in plastic bags containing just enough water to cover their bodies. This study aimed to investigate the effects of transportation on their stress response by measuring hematological values, stress hormone levels, glucose levels, and stress-related gene expression. Betta fish (average body weight 1.91 ± 0.42 g; n = 30) were exposed to simulated transport in a water volume of 40 mL for 12, 24, and 48 h. Baseline levels (pre-transport) were measured prior to the experiment. The control group was transported using water without adding clove oil. Two treatment groups were transported using water with the addition of 1 and 3 mg/L concentrations of clove oil, respectively. The results revealed that transportation can be a factor that affects water quality. The pH and dissolved oxygen levels were significantly lower than baseline, while nitrite and total ammonia concentrations significantly increased. Correlating to the stress responses, significantly increasing total red blood cell counts, plasma cortisol levels, and up-regulating the expression of stress-related genes, including HSP70, GR, MR, and HIF-1α. The addition of 1 mg/L clove oil was found to reduce stress during the transport simulation, as evidenced by a reduction in these stress parameters. Conversely, increasing the concentration of clove oil to 3 mg/L significantly increased plasma cortisol after 12 h of simulated transport, and up-regulated GR, MR, and HIF-1α expression. This study revealed that the transport process can stimulates stress in betta fish but adding a concentration of 1 mg/L clove oil to the transport water could mitigate this stress response and promote animal welfare during their transportation.

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“…Myosin, actin and the sarcoplasmic contents were monitored based on weighing defrosted white muscle (approximately 10 mg each), placing in an aluminum pan, sealing with an aluminum lid and then heating at a rate of 5°C/min relative to an empty pan. Muscle thermal characteristics were assessed through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC7; Perkin Elmer; Waltham, MA, USA) within the temperature range 20-100°C, to identify myosin, actin and sarcoplasmic protein based on the onset (T o ), peak (T p ) and conclusion (T c ) temperatures derived from thermograms as documented in Thongprajukaew et al (2023) concerning betta fish muscle.…”

Section: Muscle Qualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Somatic responses of injured Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) raised using various recipes of Thai herbal fermented water

2024

ANRES

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Importance of the work: Thai herbal remedies offer an alternative to chemicals to help in the recuperation of injured Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens). Objective: To evaluate fish survival and growth, feed utilization, skin coloration, digestive enzyme activity, muscle quality and whole-body composition at the end of herbal treatment for 5 wk. Materials & Methods: Each male fighting fish had one-half of its caudal fin amputated and then was allocated to one of nine experimental groups. Each fish was reared separately for 5 wk in its own small tank. Treatments consisted of two controls, with one using non-fermented water (CT 1), while the other control consisted of fermented water (CT 2) and was mixed with various products-dried lemongrass leaves (1 g/L), dried clay (50 g/L) and salt (5 g/L). Subsequently, CT 2 was added to different combinations of dried Indian almond leaves (0.25 g/L), dried banana leaves (1.5 g/L) or dried papaya leaves (2.5 g/L) to make seven other treatments. Results: No mortality occurred and fish growth performance was not influenced by the herbal treatments. The feed conversion ratio significantly (p < 0.05) increased in association with decreasing amylase-specific activity, whereas protein-and lipid-digesting enzymes remained consistent. Skin coloration parameters were either reduced or preserved due to the herbal treatments. Muscle quality was unchanged, whereas the crude protein, crude lipid and ash contents in whole-body were similar across the nine treatments. Main findings: Whereas entire fish can compensate for growth normally, these findings indicated minor effects of long-term herbal treatments on the somatic changes in the injured fish. The results endorsed the therapeutic approach of fermented water of Thai herbs in Siamese fighting fish.

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Optimal water volume for transportation of male Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens)

Cited by 3 publications

References 43 publications

Life in a fishbowl: Space and environmental enrichment affect behaviour of Betta splendens

Life in a fishbowl: Space and environmental enrichment affect behaviour of Betta splendens

Effects of clove oil concentrations on blood chemistry and stress-related gene expression in Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) during transportation

Somatic responses of injured Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) raised using various recipes of Thai herbal fermented water

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