All fish / Osphronemidae

White-edged Betta

Betta albimarginata

Also known as white seam fighter, whiteseam fighter, albimarginata betta, white-edged fighter, albi, betta albimarginata, channoides albimarginata, ปลากัดป่า อัลบิมาร์จินาต้า, ikan laga liar, ベタ・アルビマルギナータ, cupang alam albimarginata, 白边斗鱼

A small wild betta whose males are a rich rusty red with black-banded fins edged in bright white, while females are duller brown. It suits small, dimly lit planted tanks with leaf litter and is valued for its colour and interesting paternal care.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

4 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

5 to 7

Smallest tank

40 litres

Keep as

A pair, or one male with one or two females

Diet

Carnivore: small live and frozen foods such as daphnia, bloodworm, brine shrimp and mosquito larvae

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Indonesia: East Kalimantan (Sebuku and Sembakung basins, Borneo)

Breeding

A paternal mouthbrooder: after spawning the male holds the eggs and fry in his mouth for around 10 to 14 days. Pairs breed fairly readily in a quiet, soft-water tank with cover, though the fry need very small live foods at first.

Good to know

Males can squabble, so keep only one male per small tank, and use a tight lid as wild bettas jump. It is often confused with the closely related Betta channoides, which lacks the clean white fin edging.