TankBud

Ferox betta

Betta ferox

Also known as Fierce betta

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–79°F
23–26°C
pH
5.5–7.0
Adult size
2.5 in
6.3 cm
Minimum tank
21 gal
80 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Osphronemidae
Origin
Songkhla and Phatthalung, southern Thailand

Overview

Keeping reports are scarce, so treat it as a pair fish for a tank of 80 liters or more with plenty of cover, and add company only with care. It stays in the middle of the water. Aim for 23 to 26 C and pH 5.5 to 7 in soft water, with some current. Feed frozen and live foods such as bloodworm, brine shrimp, daphnia, and small insects, adding dried food once accepted. Dwarf shrimp and fry sized fish will be eaten.

In the wild

The ferox betta comes from Songkhla province in southern Thailand, the type series taken from a small river near Boriphat waterfall outside Hat Yai, and hatchery stock has since come from a hill stream in neighbouring Phatthalung. The type habitat was a stream flowing at 0.4 metres per second over gravel and sand, the fish sitting at the banks in slower water among roots and plants, at pH 5.8 to 6.3, 23 to 24 C, and very low conductivity. Give it a tank with sand, rounded stones, driftwood roots, plenty of plants, and a filter that puts some flow down the length, with a tight lid.

Good to know

Betta ferox is a mouthbrooder in the Betta pugnax group of the family Osphronemidae, described by Schindler and Schmidt in 2006 in the same paper as Betta apollon. The name means fierce and refers to fighting fish behaviour in general rather than anything special about this species. It reaches 6.3 cm standard length, about 8 cm with the tail. It carries bars across the tail, a chin bar, and a lance shaped caudal fin in males. The IUCN lists it as Data Deficient, and DNA work by Thai researchers suggests it and Betta apollon may be a single species.

Did you know

Thai researchers who reared it in a hatchery timed the male at 11 days of brooding, after which he released around 40 fry each under 5 mm long. Aquarium Glaser in Germany only sees it as the odd wild caught shipment, and no US retailer has listed it.

Common questions

What size tank does a Ferox betta need?

A Ferox betta needs at least 21 gal (80 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Ferox betta need?

A Ferox betta is comfortable at 73–79°F (23–26°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.

How big does a Ferox betta get?

An adult Ferox betta reaches about 2.5 in (6.3 cm).

Related species