TankBud

Edith's betta

Betta edithae

Also known as Edith's mouthbrooder, Pearl Spot Betta

FreshwaterFish

Edith's betta (Betta edithae)
Ahsan al hidayat · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–81°F
22–27°C
pH
5.0–7.0
Adult size
2.4 in
6 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Mouthbrooder · Easy
Rarity
Common
Family
Osphronemidae
Origin
Native to Borneo, Sumatra, and nearby islands of Indonesia, where it lives in slow blackwater streams and artificial canals.

Overview

Edith's betta is a mostly peaceful wild betta for a dim species tank. It is easy to keep.

Did you know

Edith's betta is the only member of its own species group within the genus Betta.

Caring for the Edith's betta

A single pair of Edith's bettas does well in at least 20 gal (75 L). Give them a dim tank with driftwood, dried leaves and floating plants. Fit a tight lid, since these fish jump and also need a warm layer of humid air above the water.

Keep the water soft and acidic, with gentle filtration. Hold it at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C) and a pH of 5.0 to 7.0. It is one of the most adaptable wild bettas and tolerates a wider range of conditions than most.

Feed small live and frozen foods, such as daphnia, artemia and bloodworm. It accepts dried foods once it recognizes them. Edith's betta is mostly peaceful and keeps to the middle of the tank. Keep it alone or with calm tank mates of a similar size, in a species setup.

Unlike the bubble-nesting Siamese fighter, Edith's betta is a paternal mouthbrooder. The male holds the eggs and fry in his mouth for roughly two weeks, then releases free-swimming young. Breeding is easy.

Good to know

Betta edithae belongs to the family Osphronemidae and was described by Vierke in 1984. It is also sold as Edith's mouthbrooder or the pearl spot betta.

In the wild

Betta edithae comes from tannin-stained lowland streams and sluggish canals across the Greater Sunda Islands. The water is soft and acidic, with a lot of leaf litter and overhanging cover.

Common questions

What size tank does an Edith's betta need?

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

What temperature and pH does an Edith's betta need?

An Edith's betta is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 5.0–7.0.

What does an Edith's betta eat?

An Edith's betta eats small live and frozen foods, such as daphnia, artemia and bloodworm. It accepts dried foods once it recognizes them.

How big does an Edith's betta get?

An adult Edith's betta reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).

How does an Edith's betta breed?

Edith's betta is a paternal mouthbrooder. The male holds the eggs and fry in his mouth for roughly two weeks before releasing free-swimming young, and breeding is easy.

Related species