TankBud

Jade betta

Betta iaspis

Also known as Betta sp. Jade, Iaspis betta

FreshwaterFish

Jade betta (Betta iaspis)

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–86°F
24–30°C
pH
4.5–6.0
Adult size
0.9 in
2.4 cm
Minimum tank
8 gal
30 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Osphronemidae
Origin
Jambi, Sumatra

Overview

Keep it as a pair in a quiet species tank or with tiny, peaceful soft-water fish such as Boraras. It needs very soft, acidic, tannin-stained water at 24 to 30 C with a pH around 4.5 to 6, and it is a delicate fish that does not forgive hard tap water. Males are territorial while breeding and build a bubble nest under leaves. Feed small live and frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia and microworms.

In the wild

The Jade betta comes from one small forest peat swamp in the Lagan area of Jambi, Sumatra, which sits right beside a large oil palm plantation and partly dries out each year. In the dry season the describers measured pH 5.0, total dissolved solids of 12 ppm and 29.8 C in the puddles that were left. It shared the swamp with Betta simorum, Boraras maculatus, Rasbora einthovenii and chocolate gouramis. Set up a small blackwater tank of 30 liters or more with very soft acidic water, leaf litter, floating plants and almost no flow.

Good to know

Betta iaspis is a member of the Betta coccina group of tiny blackwater fighters in the family Osphronemidae, described by Ding and colleagues in 2025 from fish that had been circulating in the trade since 2022 as Betta sp. Jade. The type series measured only 17.7 to 23.9 mm standard length. Males have a blackish body with a blue flush behind the vent, red fins with bright blue margins and a black anal fin patched with red, which is why the name is taken from jasper. Its closest relative is B. mulyadii, and the describers propose it be listed as Critically Endangered.

Did you know

When its swamp dries out, the Jade betta survives by burrowing into the moist mud under the dead leaves, then comes back to the surface and breeds again once the rains refill the forest. The describers note that irrigation for the neighbouring oil palm plantation is making those dry spells longer, which is why they propose a Critically Endangered listing.

Common questions

What size tank does a Jade betta need?

A Jade betta needs at least 8 gal (30 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Jade betta need?

A Jade betta is comfortable at 75–86°F (24–30°C) with a pH of 4.5–6.0.

How big does a Jade betta get?

An adult Jade betta reaches about 0.9 in (2.4 cm).

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