Beta Fish History

Beta,Bleeker, 1850, is a genus of freshwater fish in the gourami family, found predominantly in Southeast Asia. The type species is the spotted beta, but the best-known species is the Siamese fighting fish. Many Beta fish species are well-suited as aquarium specimens.

Until recently, Beta was a member of the anabantid (Anabantidae ) family, and many older references continue to use that classification.

The term "beta" is used as a common name for species of the genus, but it often refers specifically to B. splendens. The first syllable of the name is formally pronounced as the word bet, not bait; even though the name has no connection to the Greek letter beta , it is commonly pronounced as the Greek letter, to the consternation of purists.