Everyone is thrilled to see two small fish in size of the middle finger bristle their fins and lash out at each other like plucky seasoned prize fighters. They belong to the tough and pugnacious species of fish in the world: Thai fighting fish. Like cock fighting, fish fighting is a native sport of Thailand. At present there are still fish-fighting areas to be found in the countryside and on Bangkok's outskirts as no fish-fighting is permitted within the city limits. When fighting is agreed upon, the fish are scooped our of their bottles and carefully put into a large tall jar. Coming face to face, the opponents are transformed into wonderfully beautiful creatures, their colour deepening their gills quivering and widening, their fins and tails spreading out and assuming a warm glow. Every part of the body becomes vibrant. They lose no time in getting at each other, biting fiercely and cruely. With mouths locked for minutes or sometimes even hours, they fit up and down the water in the bottle manoeuvring for positions. Parts of gills, fins, tailsmortal combat, the enthusiasts would bet basing their culculations on the amount and severity of the injury inflicted and received by both sides. Thai fighting fish have attractive colours. They also have some characteristics peculiar to them and the knowledgeable breeders will keep only those with these good points hightly developed. They are well taken care of. The fighting fish which are round in its natural habital today but is bred for sale. The lukmoh is a tought customer that does not know the meaning of defeat. The pah fighting fish which abounds everywhere even in the canals has a longer body and has no stamina for a prolonged battle. In general, the Thai fighting fish is no more than 5 centimetres long and one centimetre wide. When caught, it should be put into a bottle of pond water. Only the male fights. It is distinguished from the famale by its more brilliant colours, longer tails and larger fins. Strange to say, the female after laying eggs, will try to eat them and is only prevented by the male from doing so. The famale must therefore be isolated while the male is left to take care of the spawn. The fry feed on tiny red plankton and later on mosquito larvae. They are ready to fight after six or seven months. Source : Tourism Authority of Thailand. Atraveller's Guide to Thailand. Bangkok.