Siamese fighting fish
Breeding facility

Today, Southeast Asia dominates the industry of breeding and distribution of Siamese fighting fish globally. Initially, male and female fry are raised together in communal tanks up until males begin to display aggression at about 4–5 months of age. Males are then kept isolated in a half-pint liquor flask, where hundreds of these pints may be arranged tightly packed on the ground in the breeding facility. Daily feeding of usually bloodworms are dispensed into each flask. At the shoulder of each flask, there is typically a cut to allow water to flow out for an easy water change. Meanwhile, females may be kept in communal tanks until shipping day. Roughly 100,000 male bettas are shipped each week from Thailand to countries around the world.

According to Dr. Amonrat Sermwatanakul, Head of Senior Fisheries Experts of the Department of Fisheries, Bangkok, Thailand, the Thai government is playing a role in supporting the betta fish breeders. As not only a source of revenue for the country and being a symbol of cultural significance, betta fish breeders have become a focal point of the government's assistance as they lack the capital and resources when wanting to expand their businesses. The DOF and partner agencies created the Ornamental Fish Strategy Plan during 2013-2016. It was created with the intention of making Thailand the number one exporter of aquarium fish in Asia. The three goals of the program included:

1) Improving quality and quantity of ornamental fish

2) Enhancing the ornamental fish trade on a domestic and international level

3) Uplifting ornamental fish farmers to become successful farmer-entrepreneurs

This program also included trainings in basic English, how to navigate advertisement on social media and the internet, pricing and classification of fish, and value-added and creative product. Dr. Sermwatanakul also highlights that around 40% of betta fish farmers registered with the DOF are women, and claims that the industry empowers women. She notes that they are actively engaged in the marketing of their bettas online, alluding to their abilities in speaking other languages and that they succeed in the international market.
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