Spotted betta
Betta picta
Also known as Javan betta, Painted betta
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–81°F
- 22–27°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.5
- Adult size
- 2 in
- 5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 16 gal
- 60 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Mouthbrooder · Easy
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Osphronemidae
- Origin
- Endemic to Java, Indonesia, in clear hill streams and quiet marginal pools with leaf litter and rocks.
Overview
The spotted betta is a hardy, adaptable wild mouthbrooder that copes with a range of conditions. It is easy to keep.
Did you know
The spotted betta was among the earliest mouthbrooding bettas established in the hobby. Hobbyists kept and studied it widely long before many of its rarer relatives were described.
Caring for the spotted betta
Keep a pair or small group of spotted bettas in a tank of at least 16 gal (60 L). Give them a base of 60 cm and a tight cover. A shaded tank with roots, leaf litter and plants recreates its habitat.
Keep the water soft to medium and slightly acidic, at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.5. Feed small live and frozen foods, such as daphnia, artemia and bloodworms.
Spotted bettas are mostly peaceful and shy, so house them in a species tank or with small, calm companions. They are paternal mouthbrooders, and the male broods the eggs in his mouth for about 9 to 12 days. Breeding them is easy.
Good to know
Betta picta was described by Valenciennes in 1846, and it is the namesake of the Betta picta complex.
In the wild
The spotted betta comes from clear, flowing hill streams on Java, where it shelters in still edges and pools among leaves and stones. The water there is soft and mildly acidic to neutral.
Common questions
What size tank does a spotted betta need?
A spotted betta needs at least 16 gal (60 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a spotted betta need?
A spotted betta is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.5.
What does a spotted betta eat?
A spotted betta eats small live and frozen foods, such as daphnia, artemia and bloodworms.
How big does a spotted betta get?
An adult spotted betta reaches about 2 in (5 cm).
How does a spotted betta breed?
Spotted betta males are paternal mouthbrooders and brood the eggs in the mouth for about 9 to 12 days. Breeding them is easy.
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