TankBud

Obscura betta

Betta obscura

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–81°F
22–27°C
pH
5.0–7.0
Adult size
2.7 in
6.9 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Own kind
One male per tank
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Osphronemidae
Origin
Upper Barito basin, Central Kalimantan, Borneo

Overview

Treat it like the rest of the group: calm, fine as a pair or a small group with cover in a large tank, one male per tank at this size. It holds the middle of the water in soft water, pH 5 to 7, at 22 to 27 C, and the cooler end is a sensible start for a fish from the hilly upper Barito. Feed live and frozen foods with a quality dried food. We found no published breeding report, so expect it to spawn like its relatives with the male holding the eggs for about two weeks. Small calm tank mates only, and no dwarf shrimp.

In the wild

The Obscura betta is known only from the upper Barito basin in Central Kalimantan, from the Lahei and Murung tributaries and the main river at Muara Laung, hill country in the interior of Borneo. The description records nothing about the water it was taken from, so set it up like its relatives: soft, slightly acidic water, gentle flow, leaf litter and rock, and plenty of cover. A pair or small group needs about 75 liters and a tight lid.

Good to know

Betta obscura is a paternal mouthbrooder in the Betta akarensis group of the family Osphronemidae, reaching 6.9 cm standard length. Tan and Ng described it in 2005 from preserved museum specimens, and the name comes from the Latin obscurus, indistinct and inconspicuous. It has a short stout body, a long pointed head and a sickle shaped pelvic fin with a long filament. The IUCN lists it as Data Deficient.

Did you know

Its 2005 description was written from preserved museum fish only, so the species went on record without anyone noting its live colours, just a brown body with a stripe from the snout through the eye. Some of the type specimens were bought at a fish market in Puruk Cahu on the Barito rather than netted.

Common questions

What size tank does an Obscura betta need?

An Obscura betta needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does an Obscura betta need?

An Obscura betta is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 5.0–7.0.

How big does an Obscura betta get?

An adult Obscura betta reaches about 2.7 in (6.9 cm).

Related species