TankBud

Redcheek betta

Betta rutilans

Also known as Redcheek fighter, Fire Betta

FreshwaterFish

Redcheek betta (Betta rutilans)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–81°F
23–27°C
pH
4.0–6.0
Adult size
1.4 in
3.5 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Bubble nester · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Osphronemidae
Origin
Endemic to peat swamp forests and blackwater streams near Anjungan in West Kalimantan, Borneo.

Overview

The redcheek betta is a small, delicate red betta for a dim, planted blackwater tank. It is mostly peaceful, and it is a fish for experienced keepers.

Did you know

The redcheek betta's species name, rutilans, means glowing red, a reference to its reddish color.

Caring for the redcheek betta

Keep a single pair of redcheek bettas in a quiet species tank. Give them at least 11 gal (40 L), with a base of 45 cm. Add floating plants and leaf litter, plus a tight lid to hold in humid air.

Give them very soft, acidic water with a pH of 4.0 to 6.0, at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C). Bright light and hard water do not suit them. Feed small live and frozen foods such as daphnia and artemia.

Males glow a deep reddish orange. The redcheek betta is a bubble nester, and the male builds and guards the nest. Breeding is moderately difficult.

Good to know

The redcheek betta, Betta rutilans, is a member of the family Osphronemidae. Witte and Kottelat described it in 1991, and it belongs to the Betta coccina group of small red fighters.

In the wild

The redcheek betta is endemic to peat swamp forests and blackwater streams near Anjungan in West Kalimantan, Borneo. The water there is acidic, very soft, tannin-stained and low in minerals.

Common questions

What size tank does a redcheek betta need?

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

What temperature and pH does a redcheek betta need?

A redcheek betta is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 4.0–6.0.

What does a redcheek betta eat?

A redcheek betta eats small live and frozen foods, such as daphnia and artemia.

How big does a redcheek betta get?

An adult redcheek betta reaches about 1.4 in (3.5 cm).

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

Males glow a deep reddish orange.

How does a redcheek betta breed?

A redcheek betta is a bubble nester, and the male builds and guards the nest. Breeding it is moderately difficult.

Related species