All fish / Osphronemidae

Peaceful Betta

Betta imbellis

Also known as crescent betta, peaceful fighting fish, imbellis, wild betta imbellis, betta imbelis, ปลากัดภาคใต้, ปลากัดป่าภาคใต้, ikan laga liar, ikan pelaga, ベタ・インベリス, cupang imbellis, cupang alam

A small wild fighting fish with a dark body that shows iridescent blue-green scales and a red crescent band on the rounded tail of males. Keepers like it because it is much more tolerant of its own kind than domestic Betta splendens while still showing beautiful natural colours.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

5 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

5 to 7

Smallest tank

40 litres

Keep as

A pair, or one male with several females in a well planted tank

Diet

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

Swims

Top of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 4 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra (Indonesia)

Breeding

Males build a bubble nest among floating plants and wrap around the female during spawning, then guard the eggs and fry. Breeding is fairly easy in soft, slightly acidic water with calm surface conditions, and the tiny fry need infusoria first.

Good to know

Males can still fight in small tanks, so give plenty of cover and space. It hybridises readily with Betta splendens and wild populations are threatened by habitat loss, so keep lines pure.