TankBud

Pugnax betta

Betta pugnax

Also known as Forest betta, Green Mask Betta

FreshwaterFish

Pugnax betta (Betta pugnax)
Cedricguppy - Loury Cédric · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
pH
5.0–7.5
Adult size
2.8 in
7 cm
Minimum tank
16 gal
60 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Mouthbrooder · Hard
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Osphronemidae
Origin
Malaysia

Overview

The Pugnax betta is a peaceful mouthbrooding betta for a covered tank with a little water movement. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

The name pugnax means pugnacious or combative, a leftover from the days when many wild bettas were lumped in with the fighting fish. In practice, the Pugnax betta is a fairly gentle, retiring species.

Caring for the Pugnax betta

Keep a Pugnax betta singly or as one settled pair. It does well in a covered tank of at least 16 gal (60 L) with a tight lid. Give it driftwood, leaves and shade from plants over a dark substrate.

Unlike many bettas, it likes moderately soft water with some current rather than still blackwater. Cooler, well-oxygenated water and a steady trickle of flow suit it better than warm, stagnant conditions. Keep the water at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C), with a pH of 5.0 to 7.5.

Offer small live and frozen foods such as bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp, plus a fine carnivore dry food. It is peaceful and rarely troubles other fish, though it will eat tiny creatures. Keep it in a species tank if you plan to breed, or with other small, calm fish.

The male is a mouthbrooder and holds the eggs in his mouth for roughly ten days to two weeks, then releases free-swimming fry. Breeding is hard, since it needs a settled pair and clean, soft, flowing water.

Good to know

Betta pugnax is a member of the gourami family Osphronemidae, and it gives its name to the pugnax group of mouthbrooding bettas. It is also called the Penang betta or the forest betta.

In the wild

Betta pugnax comes from Malaysia, including Penang Island. It lives in clear, flowing forest streams and hill brooks over gravel and leaf litter.

Common questions

What size tank does a Pugnax betta need?

A Pugnax betta needs at least 16 gal (60 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Pugnax betta need?

A Pugnax betta is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 5.0–7.5.

What does a Pugnax betta eat?

A Pugnax betta eats small live and frozen foods such as bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp. Add a fine carnivore dry food as well.

How big does a Pugnax betta get?

An adult Pugnax betta reaches about 2.8 in (7 cm).

How does a Pugnax betta breed?

Pugnax betta males hold the eggs in their mouths for roughly ten days to two weeks, then release free-swimming fry. Breeding is hard, since it needs a settled pair and clean, soft, flowing water.

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