Dennis Yong's betta

Betta dennisyongi

Also known as Dennisyongi betta, Jet red betta

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 73–82°F (23–28°C)
pH: 4.5–6.5
Adult size: 1.8 in (4.5 cm)
Minimum tank: 11 gal (40 L)
Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Tankmates: Tankmates with caution
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Northwestern Sumatra coastal lowlands, Indonesia
Family: Osphronemidae

Overview

Dennis Yong's betta is a small, richly colored mouthbrooder kept as a single pair or a small group in a shaded, planted tank of about 40 liters. It occupies the middle water among wood and leaves and is mostly peaceful, with males sparring more in display than in earnest. Keep it in a species tank or with only small, gentle companions, since it is easily overshadowed. Feed small meaty foods, live and frozen daphnia, brine shrimp, bloodworm, and micro pellets. A cover matters, both to hold humid air over the surface for the labyrinth organ and to stop jumps. Breeding is a touch easier than in most wild bettas.

In the wild

Betta dennisyongi lives in shaded blackwater and swamp forest streams of northwestern Sumatra, in the Aceh region of Indonesia, where the water is soft, acidic, and stained with tannins. Recreate that with driftwood, dried leaves, gentle filtration, and low light. Hold the pH from 4.5 to 6.5 and the temperature from 23 to 28 degrees Celsius. Leaf litter both stains the water and gives fry cover.

Good to know

A member of the family Osphronemidae, Betta dennisyongi was described by Tan in 2013 and reaches about 4.5 centimeters. It is a paternal mouthbrooder of the rubra group, the male holding eggs and fry in his mouth for one to two weeks; breeding is of medium difficulty for a wild betta. The species honors the Malaysian naturalist Dennis Yong, a keen student of labyrinth fishes.

Did you know

Until 2013 this fish was lumped in with the red Betta rubra. When the north Sumatran populations were finally studied, they proved to be a separate species and were named for naturalist Dennis Yong.