All fish / Osphronemidae

Hendra's Betta

Betta hendra

Also known as hendra betta, betta hendrai, hendra's fighting fish, wild betta hendra, ベタ・ヘンドラ, cupang hendra, betta hendra, 亨德拉斗鱼

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Hendra's Betta is a small wild fighting fish from the Betta splendens group. Males have a brownish body with turquoise to blue-green iridescent scales and a dark cheek area, while females are duller. People keep it for its bright metallic colour, its small size and the interest of keeping a wild betta from the blackwater peat swamps of Borneo.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

4 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

4 to 6.5

Smallest tank

30 litres

Keep as

A pair, or one male with a few females in a larger tank

Diet

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

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Central Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo (Kahayan river basin near Palangkaraya)

Breeding

It is a bubble nest builder. The male builds a nest at the surface, often among floating plants, and looks after the eggs and fry. Breeding is fairly easy in a quiet, densely planted tank with soft, acidic water and a tight lid, but the fry need very small live foods at first.

Good to know

Males fight one another and should not be kept together in small tanks. It can be mistaken for Betta smaragdina or Betta mahachaiensis, and wild stock needs soft, acidic water. A close-fitting lid is needed because it jumps.