Anabantids
Anabantids are quite common throughout South East Asia where they have had to adapt to the harsh realities of natural habitats.These have heavy rains and monsoons during part of the year. The dry season then has very dry periods where the ponds and rivers can practically dry right up, often leaving only a muddy damp patch where a water body once was.
This severe variation in conditions has required some adaptation of the standard breathing methods used by most fish.
These species have developed special breathing apparatus to help them survive during the annual periods where the water has evaporated from the place they are swimming and as a result been severely depleted of oxygen.
The concentration of water often has become very dirty and unable to properly support more standard fish.
The adaptation, the labyrinth organ, allows these fish to directly breathe air as their surroundings become more and more difficult for any other fish to live.
The other main way these fishes have differentiated themselves from most other species is the way they spawn.
They are egg-layers, but do not rely on the structure underwater for their spawning ground. Rather, the males usually build a bubble nest on the surface of the water.
In these cases, there has to be very little circulation or water movement that could wreck the nest easily. Often a plant stem or other feature that stays relatively steady is used as a support. It anchors the nest in place and prevents damage from agitation.
In most cases, the male courts the female directly under the nest and forces the female to lay her eggs under it. The eggs are usually fertilized by the male as they rise up into the nest.
The eggs remain in the nest until they are hatched, usually 3 or so days later. The male usually tends the nest to ensure the eggs are never allowed to drop and to repair any damage that may occur.
The most popular types of anabantids are:
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