TankBud

Akar betta

Betta akarensis

Also known as Betta climacura

FreshwaterFish

Akar betta (Betta akarensis)

Care at a glance

Temperature
70–81°F
21–27°C
pH
5.5–7.0
Adult size
3.1 in
8 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Mouthbrooder · Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Osphronemidae
Origin
Borneo

Overview

The Akar betta is a wild betta for a dim, shady blackwater tank. It suits a keeper who is past the beginner stage.

Did you know

The Akar betta is named after the Akar river system in Sarawak, on the island of Borneo, where it was first collected.

Caring for the Akar betta

Give the Akar betta at least 20 gal (75 L), with a very tight lid to stop it jumping. Keep the tank dimly lit and shady, with leaf litter, driftwood, a few hardy shade-tolerant plants and a soft, dark substrate. It stays near cover and drifts out to hunt.

Keep the water soft and acidic, at 70 to 81°F (21 to 27°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. A layer of oak or almond leaves helps recreate the tannin-rich blackwater it prefers. Feed small meaty foods such as frozen bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp, plus a good dry food built for carnivores.

Keep it as a single fish or a compatible pair. It is generally peaceful toward other fish, but it will eat anything small enough to swallow. Choose calm tank mates of similar size, or keep it in a species tank.

Unlike the bubble-nesting Siamese fighting fish, the Akar betta is a paternal mouthbrooder. After a rolling embrace, the male gathers the eggs and holds them in his throat pouch for roughly two weeks. He then releases fully formed fry. Breeding is hard, mainly because a settled, well-fed pair needs very soft, acidic water before it will spawn.

Good to know

The Akar betta is one of the larger, more elongate wild bettas. It belongs to the gourami family Osphronemidae and to the akarensis group of mouthbrooding bettas.

In the wild

Betta akarensis comes from Borneo, where it lives in shady forest streams. Fallen leaves and wood stain the water the color of tea. The water there is soft, acidic and gently flowing.

Common questions

What size tank does an Akar betta need?

An Akar betta needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does an Akar betta need?

An Akar betta is comfortable at 70–81°F (21–27°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.

What does an Akar betta eat?

An Akar betta eats small meaty foods such as frozen bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp. Add a good dry food built for carnivores.

How big does an Akar betta get?

An adult Akar betta reaches about 3.1 in (8 cm).

How does an Akar betta breed?

Akar bettas are paternal mouthbrooders. The male holds the eggs in his throat pouch for roughly two weeks, then releases fully formed fry. Breeding is hard and needs a settled, well-fed pair in very soft, acidic water.

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