TankBud

Green throat mouthbrooder

Betta chloropharynx

Also known as Green-throated mouthbrooding betta

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
3.5–6.0
Adult size
4.3 in
11 cm
Minimum tank
21 gal
80 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Own kind
One male per tank
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Mouthbrooder · Medium
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Osphronemidae
Origin
Bangka Island, Indonesia

Overview

The green throat mouthbrooder is a calm betta for a soft, acidic blackwater tank. It is hard to keep and suits experienced keepers.

Did you know

The green throat mouthbrooder's scientific name, chloropharynx, is Greek for green throat. Its head can be dark with black spots and its throat a clear green, which no other member of the waseri group shows.

Caring for the green throat mouthbrooder

A pair or small group of green throat mouthbrooders needs at least 21 gal (80 L) and a tight lid. Set up the tank as dark blackwater, with leaf litter, botanicals, wood, dim light and heavy cover.

Keep the water very soft and acidic, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 3.5 to 6.0. Change 30 percent of it every week. Feed bloodworm, brine shrimp, mysis, krill and small insects, live or frozen.

The green throat mouthbrooder is calm, but keep only one male per tank at this size. It eats dwarf shrimp and any fish it can swallow, so it is never a community fish. House it alone or with calm fish of its own size.

It is a paternal mouthbrooder, and the male broods for around 19 days, depending on temperature. One recorded spawn produced more than 110 fry. Breeding is a moderate challenge.

Good to know

Betta chloropharynx belongs to the Betta waseri group of the family Osphronemidae. Kottelat and Ng described it in 1994. Its throat mark looks like a horizontal figure eight or a lower case Greek mu. The type specimens were small, the largest 5.9 cm standard length, while aquarium fish are reported at 11 cm and more. The IUCN lists it as Critically Endangered, because so little of Bangka's peat swamp forest is left.

In the wild

The green throat mouthbrooder comes from Bangka Island, off the east coast of Sumatra. It lives in peat swamp forest and its blackwater streams and pools. The water is stained by tannins and holds almost no minerals, and its pH can fall to 3 or 4. The type specimens came from leaf litter in a single pool in secondary forest.

Common questions

What size tank does a green throat mouthbrooder need?

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

What temperature and pH does a green throat mouthbrooder need?

A green throat mouthbrooder is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 3.5–6.0.

What does a green throat mouthbrooder eat?

A green throat mouthbrooder eats bloodworm, brine shrimp, mysis, krill and small insects, live or frozen. It will also eat dwarf shrimp and any fish it can swallow.

How big does a green throat mouthbrooder get?

An adult green throat mouthbrooder reaches about 4.3 in (11 cm).

How does a green throat mouthbrooder breed?

The male green throat mouthbrooder broods the eggs in his mouth for around 19 days, depending on temperature. One recorded spawn produced more than 110 fry, and breeding is a moderate challenge.

Related species