All fish / Osphronemidae

Red Fighting Fish

Betta rubra

Also known as betta rubra, red betta, sumatran red betta, toba betta, rubra betta, ベタ・ルブラ, cupang rubra, ikan cupang merah, 红斗鱼, 红色野生斗鱼

Betta rubra is a small, slim wild betta with a reddish brown body crossed by dark vertical bars, and males show richer red tones and dark-edged fins. It belongs to the Betta picta group and is kept by wild betta enthusiasts who enjoy a rare, subtly coloured species in a planted blackwater setup.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

5 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

5 to 7

Smallest tank

40 litres

Keep as

Pair or small group in a well-planted tank

Diet

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

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Indonesia: northern Sumatra (Aceh and North Sumatra lowland peat swamps)

Breeding

It is a paternal mouthbrooder, with the male holding the eggs in his mouth for around 10 to 14 days until the fry are released. Breeding is achievable in a quiet, dimly lit tank with soft acidic water, but stock is scarce and pairs can be shy.

Good to know

Rarely seen in the trade and threatened in the wild by habitat loss, so captive-bred fish are preferable. Keep the tank tightly covered as bettas jump, and avoid boisterous tankmates.