Chukai Betta

Care at a glance

Overview

Keep this one as a single fish or a carefully watched pair, since it is solitary and territorial. It sits in the middle of the tank and feeds on small invertebrates, so offer small live and frozen foods such as daphnia and bloodworms along with quality micro pellets. It needs soft, acidic water, roughly pH 5 to 6.5 and 23 to 28 C, in a tank of about 40 liters or more. Tankmates are risky, so a species setup is the safe choice.

In the wild

The Chukai betta lives in peat swamp forest in Malaysia, in shaded, slow water stained dark by tannins. That water is very soft and acidic, so aim for a low pH and use leaf litter and botanicals to recreate it. Keep the tank dim and well planted with floating cover, and a lid is a must since these fish are good at jumping.

Good to know

Betta tussyae belongs to the family Osphronemidae and, like its relatives, breathes air through a labyrinth organ. It stays small at around 4 cm. Males show more color than females. Habitat loss from deforestation and peat swamp drainage has put pressure on wild populations.

Did you know

Despite its small size, the male takes on full parental duty at a bubble nest. He builds a nest of bubbles at the surface and tends the eggs and fry there until they are ready to swim out on their own.

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