Falx betta

Care at a glance

Overview

A pair or small group settles into about 60 liters with a base of 60 cm, soft acidic water at pH 5.0 to 6.8, and 23 to 27 C. Keep a tight lid and plenty of cover. Feed small live and frozen foods such as daphnia, artemia, and bloodworm. Best kept in a species tank or with small, peaceful fish.

In the wild

Betta falx comes from shaded swamp streams on Sumatra, where the water is soft, acidic, and stained by tannins. Submerged roots and leaf litter cover the bottom. A dim tank with driftwood, leaves, and dense planting recreates its home. Soft, mineral poor water keeps it in good health.

Good to know

Described by Tan and Kottelat in 1998, it is a member of the Betta picta complex and a paternal mouthbrooder. Males brood eggs in the mouth for roughly 9 to 12 days. The name falx, meaning sickle, refers to a curved marking on the fish.

Did you know

The name falx is Latin for sickle, a reference to the curved mark this small mouthbrooder carries.

Related species

• 

  Spotted betta

  Betta picta

  2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)

• 

  Stigmosa betta

  Betta stigmosa

  2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
• Foersch's betta

  Betta foerschi

  2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
• Prima betta

  Betta prima

  2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
• Stiktos betta

  Betta stiktos

  2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

• 

  Apollon betta

  Betta apollon

  2.2 in (5.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)