TankBud

Antoni betta

Betta antoni

Also known as Betta sp. Sanggau

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–81°F
22–27°C
pH
5.5–7.0
Adult size
2 in
5 cm
Minimum tank
16 gal
60 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Own kind
One male per tank
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Osphronemidae
Origin
Sanggau area, lower Kapuas basin, West Kalimantan, Borneo

Overview

Calm and fine in a pair or a small group with cover, one male per tank at this size, though a little squabbling with other anabantoids is normal. It holds the middle of the water in soft, mildly acidic water, pH 5.5 to 7, at 22 to 27 C. It is an insect eater that takes dried food but does best on live and frozen Daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworm, and it gets fat easily so feed with care. Small peaceful tank mates only, and dwarf shrimp will be eaten.

In the wild

The Antoni betta lives in the upper reaches of clear, flowing hill streams in the Sanggau area of the lower Kapuas basin, in the Sekayam and Melawi tributaries, keeping to quieter margins and still pools with leaf litter, gravel and rock under a dense canopy. The water there is very soft and only mildly acidic, pH 5.7 to 6.3, sometimes faintly brown from humic acids. Give it a dim, well filtered tank with gentle flow from a sponge filter, sand or gravel, leaf litter and rock, and a tight lid. A pair or small group needs about 60 liters.

Good to know

Betta antoni is a paternal mouthbrooder in the Betta akarensis group of the family Osphronemidae, a slim fish that reaches 5 cm standard length. Tan and Ng described it in 2006 and named it for Irwan Anton, who helped the authors and gave them specimens. In life its body scales carry a blue iridescence, and it has a black lower lip with a black chin bar and two black stripes behind the eye. The IUCN lists it as Endangered.

Did you know

Before its 2006 description this fish moved through the hobby as Betta sp. 'Sanggau'. The female usually starts the courtship, and the male then broods the eggs for 12 to 17 days, holding up to 60 fry.

Common questions

What size tank does an Antoni betta need?

An Antoni betta needs at least 16 gal (60 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does an Antoni betta need?

An Antoni betta is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.

How big does an Antoni betta get?

An adult Antoni betta reaches about 2 in (5 cm).

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