Enisae betta

Care at a glance

Overview

A pair does well in about 60 liters with a base of at least 45 cm, soft to medium water at pH 5.5 to 7.0, and a cool 21 to 25 C. Keep a secure lid and good cover. Feed small live and frozen foods like daphnia, artemia, and bloodworm. Best kept alone or with calm, similar sized fish from cooler streams.

In the wild

Betta enisae lives in cool, flowing streams and swamp pools of the Kapuas drainage in Borneo. The water is soft and slightly acidic to neutral with plenty of cover. Its stream origins mean it appreciates gentle flow and cooler temperatures than most tropical fish. A shaded tank with wood, plants, and leaf litter suits it.

Good to know

Described by Kottelat in 1995, it is usually placed in the Betta pugnax complex, though some workers link it to the picta group. It is a paternal mouthbrooder. Males show fine iridescent markings on the head and gill cover.

Did you know

Betta enisae prefers noticeably cooler water than most tropical fish, matching the flowing forest streams of the Kapuas basin.

Related species

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• 

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