Wild fighting fish species in the genera Betta and Trichopsis occupy freshwater habitats in Southeast Asian countries. The former’s paternal care for the fertilized eggs and hatchlings differ: one type, the nest-builders, uses a bubble nest built by the male for protection of the eggs and the hatchlings, whereas the male of the other type puts the eggs and the young in its mouth. The latter share the same habitats with bubble-nester Betta, with similar morphology and behavioral patterns. A previous study showed that during their speciation, one type of paternal care could be succeeded by the other. Our in-depth study generally agrees with the overall conclusion of the above study but with some differences in ancestry. By fixing the first speciation event among the Betta to about 22 million years (Ma—megaannus) before present (BP), we found that the bubble nesters in Thailand appeared around 14 Ma BP, while the northeastern variety emerged about 7 Ma BP. The three recognized Trichopsis species separated from each other approximately 5–6 Ma BP. In addition, attempts were made to address the fish evolution in the context of present geography and more recent geological events.