Gallery

Fishing around during the MCO

Like everyone else in the country, Rizam Zakariya became housebound when the Covid-19 lockdown was enforced earlier this year. But the time spent at home allowed him to rediscover his childhood hobby of rearing Siamese fighting fish, also known as betta fish.

Djohan Shahrin

November 26, 2020 1:31 PM2 minute read

Share

Rizam Zakariya holds up an aquarium containing a blue short-fin male betta.

- Advertisement -

Just In

MalaysiaNow banned from Selangor govt's election WhatsApp group

April 29, 2024 9:50 PM

Lawyers condemn arrest of activist, say public has right to answers on casino report

April 29, 2024 12:01 PM

His equipment for rearing the fish, including pails and water hoses, is stored at the back of his house.

There, dozens of plastic containers line the shelves, ready to hold the fish.

Once the containers have been scrubbed clean, Rizam lines them up on another shelf. Male fish must be kept separate as they will otherwise fight with each other, thus earning their name.

He pours a little extract from the leaves of a ketapang tree into each container, which dyes the water brown and gives the fish extra vitamins.

He also feeds them according to a fixed schedule.

In order to breed more fish, the female is placed in a special container so that the male can get to know her. She is only released into the same space as him after 24 hours if they show signs of compatibility.

The male creates a nest of bubbles in which the female lays her eggs. It is then up to the male to keep watch over the nest to make sure the female doesn’t eat her own eggs.

Four days after they hatch, the baby fish are separated from the male and kept in another container.

These young fish, about three months old, are of the Candy Galaxy variety. For now, they can be kept together in a large container. They will only be separated once they are fully mature.