Breeding of these fish started in Thailand, where they were bred more for aggression then for their beauty. Although the aggressiveness makes them spunky and gives them the personality that fishkeepers love, sadly, in Thailand the reason they were bred for aggression was to fight them and gamble over which is the best fish. It's the plakat, or short-finned betta, that is mainly used for this. Fortunately however, selective breeding has more recently been focused on the long, graceful fins and vibrant colors we know today. Now the betta Splenden is the spunky, colorful, and graceful living underwater gem we love to keep in our homes.