All fish / Osphronemidae

Beautiful Betta

Betta pulchra

Also known as pulchra betta, wild betta pulchra, beautiful fighting fish, ikan laga pulchra, ベタ・プルクラ, cupang pulchra, 丽斗鱼

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

Betta pulchra is a fairly large wild betta from the Betta pugnax group, with a brownish body, dark horizontal banding and blue-green iridescent scales on the gill covers and fins. Keepers value it as a calm, sociable wild betta that suits a dim, planted blackwater tank.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

9 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

4 to 6.5

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

A pair, or a small group in a larger tank

Diet

Carnivore: live and frozen bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp, small insects and good quality small pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Peninsular Malaysia (Johor) and Sumatra, Indonesia

Breeding

It is a paternal mouthbrooder: after a spawning embrace the male holds the eggs and fry in his mouth for around two weeks. It breeds readily in soft, acidic water if the pair is left undisturbed in a quiet tank with plenty of cover.

Good to know

It comes from peat swamp forests that are being lost quickly, so captive-bred fish are preferable; it is listed as threatened by the IUCN. Keep the tank tightly covered as wild bettas jump, and do not confuse it with other pugnax-group species such as Betta pugnax.