air

[brownie]

if my wife,s betta fish breaths air, why do I see little gills on it that seem to be moving like gills on regular fish do?

[1fish2fish]

Bettas (and other anabatoids... hope I spelled it right) use both oxygen from the water and the air.. they do have gills (they are still fish after all ).

[brownie]

thanks 1fish2fish

[doggyhog]

Gouramis and bettas, are both anabantoids. They have a organ called a labyrinth that makes them able to breath air. They will suffocate if they can't get to the surface.

[bloo97]

I read a book about that anabatoids thing. The labrynith is a maze-like respatory organ located behind their mouth (the same way you can breath out of your mouth.)