All fish / Osphronemidae

Brunei Beauty

Betta macrostoma

Also known as brunei beauty betta, spotfin betta, peacock betta, brunei betta, macrostoma, ปลากัดบรูไน, ikan pelaga brunei, ベタ・マクロストマ, cupang brunei, 文莱斗鱼, 大口斗鱼

No free-to-use photo of this fish yet. Took one yourself? Send it to us and we will credit you.

A large wild betta from clear, soft forest streams in Borneo. Males are bright orange-red with a dark eye bar, white-edged fins and a black-ringed spot in the dorsal fin, while females are browner with dark stripes. Keepers prize it as one of the most striking and rarely seen wild bettas.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

22 to 26 °C

pH

4.5 to 6.5

Smallest tank

80 litres

Keep as

A single pair

Diet

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

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Northern Borneo: Brunei and northern Sarawak, Malaysia

Breeding

It is a paternal mouthbrooder; the male holds the eggs and fry in his mouth for around two to four weeks. Pairs need soft, acidic, cool water and quiet surroundings, and spawning in captivity is possible but not easy, with males sometimes swallowing broods if disturbed.

Good to know

The species is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is protected in Brunei, so buy only captive-bred fish. It jumps readily and dislikes warm or hard water, so use a tight lid and keep it with only very calm tankmates or on its own.