TankBud

Hendra betta

Betta hendra

Also known as Purple Neon Ninja Betta

FreshwaterFish

Hendra betta (Betta hendra)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–81°F
23–27°C
pH
4.5–6.5
Adult size
1.8 in
4.5 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Bubble nester · Medium
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Osphronemidae
Origin
Restricted to the Sabangau peat swamp forest of Central Kalimantan, Borneo, in acidic blackwater with thick marginal plants.

Overview

The Hendra betta is a small, mostly peaceful betta for a soft, tannin-rich tank with floating cover. Keeping it well takes experience.

Did you know

The Hendra betta was described only in 2013. It comes from the threatened Sabangau swamp, one of the last large peat swamp forests on Borneo.

Caring for the Hendra betta

Keep a pair or small group of Hendra bettas in at least 11 gal (40 L), with a base of 45 cm. Set up a small blackwater tank with leaf litter, driftwood, floating plants and plenty of cover. Fit a tight lid.

Give them soft, acidic water at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 4.5 to 6.5. Stable, warm, tannin-rich water keeps them healthy. Offer small live and frozen foods rather than relying on dried food alone.

Hendra bettas are mostly peaceful and fine in a group of their own kind. Keep them in a dedicated species tank rather than a community.

Males show bright iridescent green on the flanks and unpaired fins. Hendra bettas are bubble nesters, and the male tends the eggs and fry in the nest. Breeding them is of medium difficulty.

Good to know

Betta hendra was described by Schindler and Linke and belongs to the Betta coccina group of the family Osphronemidae. Its males are greenish rather than red, which sets them apart from the otherwise red-bodied coccina group.

In the wild

The Hendra betta is known only from the Sabangau blackwater system in Central Kalimantan, Borneo. The water is soft, acidic and very low in minerals, shaded by dense vegetation and thick marginal plants.

Common questions

What size tank does a Hendra betta need?

A Hendra betta needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Hendra betta need?

A Hendra betta is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 4.5–6.5.

What does a Hendra betta eat?

A Hendra betta eats small live and frozen foods. Dried food alone is not enough.

How big does a Hendra betta get?

An adult Hendra betta reaches about 1.8 in (4.5 cm).

How can you tell a male Hendra betta from a female?

Males show bright iridescent green on the flanks and unpaired fins.

How does a Hendra betta breed?

Hendra bettas are bubble nesters. The male tends the eggs and fry in the nest, and breeding is of medium difficulty.

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