Species profile
Betta pinguis
Betta pinguis
Recognized speciesBettas
Adult size
Up to 8 cm
Up to 8 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- A dedicated species tank with leaf litter, wood and floating plants
- A keeper who enjoys subtle behaviour and is happy to test the water
- Someone interested in the unusual sight of a male mouthbrooding
Think carefully if
- You want a colourful fish for a busy community tank
- Your tap water is hard and you do not want to treat it
- You keep shrimp you want to protect, as small ones are likely to be eaten
From the middle and upper Kapuas watershed in West Kalimantan, it is relatively stocky, with dense dark markings on the gill cover. A wild betta for a quiet species tank rather than a community.
Appearance and Identification
A member of the Betta akarensis group, Bornean mouthbrooders with iridescent scaling on the head and body of mature males. From the middle and upper Kapuas watershed in West Kalimantan, it is relatively stocky, with dense dark markings on the gill cover.
Wild bettas are hard to identify, and fish in the trade are often mislabelled. Ask for the collecting locality, and keep populations separate to avoid crossing them.
Males are usually more colourful, with more-extended fins and a broader head, and they tend to grow larger than females.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 140–220 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 75–100 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 72 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 80 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 wood, leaf litter and floating plants under fairly dim light, with gentle filtration. Add small caves such as clay pots or lengths of pipe, and use a tight lid, because the warm, humid air above the water protects the labyrinth organ. There is no need to use peat, which is unsustainable. Leaf litter does the same job.
Behaviour and Tankmates
Shy and slow-moving compared with domestic bettas, spending much of its time in shade. It becomes bolder in a dim, well-planted tank.
A pair is the usual choice. A compatible pair is best formed from a group, because random pairs do not always get along, and the weaker fish may be killed.
Less aggressive than many bubble nesters, but pairs can still fight when space is short.
Not for a standard community tank. Keep it alone or with very peaceful fish that like the same water, such as some small rasboras and loaches, because bigger or more vigorous fish will intimidate and outcompete it. Do not mix it with long-finned fish, or with fin nippers. Small shrimp may be eaten.
Water Parameters
Soft, slightly acidic water from shaded forest swamps and streams.
Parameter caveat
Wild-caught fish can be sensitive. Change water in small, regular amounts, and match the temperature and chemistry closely.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Carnivore, Insectivore
- Feeding frequency
- Once or twice daily
- Preferred foods
- Small frozen foods such as daphnia and brine shrimpOffer regularly for colour and condition.
- BloodwormRich, so use as a treat rather than a staple.
- Quality small pelletsMost fish accept dried foods once they recognise them as food. Take care not to overfeed.
A small predator of insects and other invertebrates. Offer plenty of small live or frozen foods for colour and condition.
Bettas seem especially prone to obesity, so feed small portions. Mouthbrooding males do not eat while holding eggs.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Mouthbrooder
- Breeding difficulty
- Difficult
- Incubation
- 12 days
- Parental care
- Mouthbrooding
- Baby foods
- Newly hatched brine shrimpMouthbrooded fry are released quite large, and can usually take this straight away.
- MicrowormsA useful alternative in the first week.
A paternal mouthbrooder. After a long courtship the pair spawn in an embrace, and the female passes the eggs to the male, who holds them in his mouth for about 9 to 16 days before releasing free-swimming fry. Stressed or inexperienced males may swallow the eggs early, so use a separate quiet tank, and leave the female and any other fish where they are. Fit the tightest lid you can, because the fry need warm, humid air to develop their labyrinth organ.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Indonesia, Southeast Asia
- Natural habitat
- Freshwater Stream, Swamp
- Aquarium contexts
- Collector Aquarium, Planted Aquarium, Species-Only Aquarium
- Audience level
- Intermediate
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Betta
- Family
- Osphronemidae
- Species group
- Bettas, Fish, Wild Bettas
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