In the Wild
Native Location:
Native Location: Southern, central and eastern Thailand, Cambodia and southern Vietnam
Environment:
- Overgrown ponds
- Shallow rice paddies
- Stagnant pools
- Polluted streams
- Lowland swamps and other stagnant water with low-oxygen content
Physical Appearance:
- Shades of brown and gray
- Some red, blue and green coloration
Food:
Mainly insects that have fallen into the water, some algae
Water pH:
Low values
In Aquaria
Physical Appearance:
- Vibrant reds
- Greens
- Yellows
- Blues
Finnage:
- One caudal and dorsal fin
- Two pelvic fins
- One anal fin
- Two pectoral fins
Newest Varieties:
- Pineapple Betta is tan with shorter, yellow fins
- Copper Betta is gold-brown, deep copper and deep red
- Indo Betta is blue-black – uniformly dark
Size:
Average 3 inches in length
Feeding in Captivity:
- Live foods
- Brine shrimp
- Blackworms
- Mosquito larvae
- Prepared foods which are flaked and/or dried
Water
Calcium-magnesium hardness
Water Temperature
78-82 degrees Fahrenheit
Water pH
7 or just below
Breeding:
This species, ideally, should have a 20-gallon tank only filled 6 inches high with water. Cover the tank and add twigs, peat moss and hardwood leaves to help lower the pH.