Siamese Fighting Fish… Thailand’s National Aquatic Animal

Siamese Fighting Fish… Thailand’s National Aquatic Animal
The ICONIC Siamese Fighting Fish event presented by ICONSIAM is held on April 19-23, 2019 at Charoen Nakorn Hall, M Floor, ICONSIAM. Visitors will have a chance to admire over 500 beautiful and rare Siamese Fighting Fish, which is also known as the betta fish. The event will share the amazing story of the Siamese Fighting Fish. Visitors will learn interesting details of how this particular species became the progenitor of all betta fish in the world and how it became the national fish of Thailand.
The Siamese Fighting Fish is the most common fish in Thailand and it has been intertwined with Thai culture for centuries. There is evidence of breeding of betta fish since the Thonburi Era. In the reign of King Rama I, documents were found showing that the Three Seal Code forbade the breeding of the betta fish for gambling purposes. Later in the reign of King Rama IV and V, the breeding of the betta fish for gambling was highly popular and widely spread throughout. The prices of betta fish reached astronomical levels.
The Siamese Fighting Fish is a species of fish with unique and beautiful characteristics. The species is known and widely accepted internationally as the “Siamese Fighting Fish” or “Siamese Betta.” The name “Siamese” refers to the betta fish’s country of origin and it is the ancient name of Thailand.

Picture Caption: Drawing of Thais betting on Siamese Fighting Fish in the reign of King Rama V
From the book The Kingdom of the Yellow Robe by Ernest Young & E. A. Norbury
Currently, the breeding of the Siamese Fighting Fish is highly promoted. Many different technologies and systems are being developed to select for betta fish’s special beauty. The Siamese Fighting Fish created a huge commercial following which spans many countries worldwide. It has created tremendous economic value for Thailand. For example, the Siamese Fighting Fish photograph by Mr. Visarute Angkatavanich, a Thai photographer, was selected as the background photos for iPhone 6 and 6s. Furthermore, BBC Earth has praised the Siamese Fighting Fish as the Pride of Thailand for leaving beautiful reverberations in the Thai culture since historical times. After considering these different facets, the ministry has promoted the Siamese Fighting Fish as the national aquatic animal of Thailand.
Many might not know that every betta fish in the world originated from wild betta fish in Thailand. The beautiful and colorful betta fish you see now come from the correct breeding procedures which select the desired attractiveness from the betta fish naturally found in Thailand. We continually see new and colorful betta fish because of this breeding process. Every betta fish in the world is the offspring of the local Thai betta fish. There are 5 different types of local Thai betta fish, which are the forefathers of all betta fish. The 5 different types are:
Plakad Pak Klang (Betta Splendens)
In 1910, this species of betta fish is the first internationally recognized betta fish in the world by British scientist Charles Tate Regan. The differentiating characteristic is the red stripe on the cheeks and green-blue scales sprinkled throughout the body. It can be found in the north of Thailand all the way to Bangkok, and as far south as Chumphon and Ranong.

Plakad E-sarn (Betta Smaragdina)
This betta fish looks like a snake. The green-blue scales are interwoven throughout its entire body. They are found in still or slow-moving shallow water in the northeast of Thailand and in Laos. German researcher Werner Ladigas recognized it as a new species in 1972. The Plakad E-sarn lives in natural bodies of water in Nakhon Ratchasima up to the Laos border, and into Laos itself.

Plakad Pak Tai (Betta Imbellis)
The most striking feature about this species is the green stripes on its cheek and the green scales structured throughout its body. The tail and fin are red and look like the tip of a spear or a water droplet. It lives in natural bodies of water throughout southern Thailand, from Surat Thani to the southern borders and further into Malaysia. In 1975, German researcher Werner Ladigas recognized it as a new species.

Plakad Mahachai (Betta Mahachaiensis)
This species is the first to have its scientific name designated after a Thai word. It was discovered by a group of Thai researchers, led by Dr. Bhinyo Panijpan at Mahidol University. It was locally and internationally recognized as a new species on 19 October 2012. It is only found in Mahachai, Samut Sakhon province and bordering areas. This species has green cheeks and a shiny green body which makes it looks like a corncob. Currently, it is nearly extinct.

Plakad Tawan-ork (Betta Siamorientalis)
This is the second species that was found and recognized by the researchers at Mahidol University. It was internationally registered as a new fish species in 2013. It can be found in Chachoengsao province up to Aranyaprathet, and across into Cambodia. Its unique features are the smoky black head, green scales across its body, red-cut tails, and red fins that make it look like the tip of a spear or a water droplet.

These are the 5 species of Siamese Fighting Fish that are a part of Thai history. Together, they are the forefathers of all betta fish in the world. Everyone can come to celebrate and view these betta fish, which are the national aquatic animal of Thailand, at the ICONIC Siamese Fighting Fish at Charoen Nakorn Hall, M Floor, ICONSIAM from April 19-23, 2019.