Penang Betta
Betta pugnax
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 7 cm
- Minimum tank
- 72 litres
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C
Species profile
Peaceful Betta
Betta imbellis
Common names: Peaceful Betta, Crescent Betta, Betta imbellis
Recognized speciesBettas
Adult size
Up to 6 cm
Typical adult length 5–6 cm.
Up to 6 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- A quiet, species-focused planted tank
- A keeper interested in natural, wild-type bettas
- Breeding projects with a confirmed line
Think carefully if
- You want a busy community aquarium
- You keep the water hard and cannot soften it
- You cannot separate fish if conflict develops
A wild-type betta from southern Thailand, Malaysia, and Sumatra. It is calmer than the Siamese Fighting Fish, but it is still best kept in a quiet, species-focused aquarium.
Appearance and Identification
A slim blue-green iridescent fish with a red crescent or edge on the tail and red in the fins. Colour is strongest in settled, mature males.
Wild-type bettas are easily confused. This species readily hybridises with Betta splendens, so buy from a seller who can confirm the origin of the fish.
Males are more colourful and develop extended fins as they mature. Females are duller and shorter-finned.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 80–120 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 50–75 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 40 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 45 cm
- Minimum group size
- 1
- Recommended group size
- 2
- Activity level
- Low
- Flow preference
- Very low
- Planting preference
- Heavily planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Moderate
Use dense planting, leaf litter, floating plants, and caves or tubes to break sightlines. Keep a tight lid so the air above the water stays warm and humid.
Behaviour and Tankmates
Calm and rather shy compared with domestic bettas. Males display to each other, usually with less intensity.
Best kept alone or with very peaceful species. More than one male can share a tank when there is enough cover.
Males are mildly territorial, and pairs need separate space when breeding.
Not recommended for standard community tanks. If you do add tankmates, choose very peaceful, small fish that will not nip. Shrimp may be eaten.
Water Parameters
Soft, slightly acidic water suits this species. Change water gently, and avoid sudden swings.
Parameter caveat
Calmer does not mean harmless. Watch for persistent chasing, and be ready to separate fish.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Carnivore, Insectivore
- Feeding frequency
- Once or twice daily
- Preferred foods
- Small granules or betta pelletsWild-type fish may take time to accept these, so offer them alongside other food.
- Frozen or live daphnia and brine shrimpGood everyday variety and useful for conditioning.
- Mosquito larvaeClose to natural prey, and strongly encourages breeding condition.
A micropredator that takes small live and frozen foods, and usually accepts prepared foods too.
Feed small amounts and remove leftovers, particularly in a small tank.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Bubble Nest
- Breeding difficulty
- Moderate
- Brood or egg count
- Typically dozens to a few hundred eggs
- Incubation
- 2 days
- Parental care
- Bubble-nest care
- Baby foods
- Infusoria or parameciumEssential for the first days, because labyrinth fry are tiny and cannot yet take larger food.
- Vinegar eels or microwormsIntroduce as the fry grow, and offer in small amounts to protect water quality.
- Newly hatched brine shrimpIntroduce once the fry can swallow it, usually after one to two weeks.
A bubble nester. The male builds the nest, often in a tube, canister, or under a broad leaf, and spawns with the female in an embrace beneath it. The female catches the eggs, and the male moves them to the nest and guards them. Eggs hatch in 24 to 48 hours, and fry need humid air and infusoria-grade food for their first few days.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Indonesia, Malaya, Malaysia, Southeast Asia, Sumatra, Thailand
- Natural habitat
- Blackwater, Rice Field, Swamp, Vegetated Shoreline
- Aquarium contexts
- Breeding Aquarium, Nano Aquarium, Planted Aquarium, Species-Only Aquarium
- Audience level
- Intermediate
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Betta
- Family
- Osphronemidae
- Species group
- Bettas, Fish, Wild Bettas
Have you kept this species?
You can write a note about what worked for you, or send a photograph. We check everything before it appears here.
Share a note or photo
Slender Betta
Betta bellica
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 9 cm
- Minimum tank
- 72 litres
- Temperature
- 25–30 °C
Snakehead Betta
Betta channoides
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 4 cm
- Minimum tank
- 40 litres
- Temperature
- 23–30 °C