All fish / Osphronemidae

Red Fire Betta

Betta rutilans

Also known as fire betta, red fire betta, rutilans betta, betta rutilans, wild betta rutilans, ベタ・ルティランス, cupang rutilans, 火焰斗鱼, 红火斗鱼

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A tiny wild betta from the Betta coccina group, adults are a deep rusty red all over, and some males have a faint green sheen on the fins. Keepers like it for its rich colour and calm nature, and it suits a dim, heavily planted blackwater nano tank.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

3.5 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

4 to 6.5

Smallest tank

30 litres

Keep as

A pair or small group in a well planted tank

Diet

Carnivore: small live and frozen foods such as daphnia, bloodworm, brine shrimp and grindal worms; may take small dry foods

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Indonesia: Kapuas River basin, West Kalimantan (Borneo)

Breeding

Males build small bubble nests, often in sheltered spots like film canisters or under leaves, and guard the eggs and fry. Breeding is quite achievable in soft, acidic water with good cover and live foods for the fry.

Good to know

Needs very soft, acidic, clean water and a tight lid as it can jump; it is easily outcompeted by boisterous tankmates. It looks very like Betta coccina, B. persephone and B. brownorum, so wild stock is often mislabelled.