Scarlet betta

Care at a glance

Overview

The scarlet betta is a small, deep-red wild betta best kept as a single pair in a quiet species tank, where its colour and shy nature can be appreciated. It stays in the middle water among dense plants and floating cover and can be timid, so avoid boisterous or larger tankmates that will out-compete it. It is generally peaceful and safest kept on its own or with tiny, calm companions. Feed small live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp and microworm. A well-planted, dimly lit tank of around 40 liters with a tight lid gives a pair everything it needs.

In the wild

Betta coccina lives in blackwater peat swamps and slow forest streams of Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula, where the water is soft, acidic and deeply stained with tannins. Those conditions matter for its health and colour. Use a dark substrate, plenty of plants, floating cover, driftwood and a thick layer of dried leaves to release tannins. Keep the temperature between 22 and 30 degrees Celsius and the pH acidic, from 6.0 to 7.0. Very soft, tea-coloured water and subdued light bring out its best.

Good to know

A member of the gourami family Osphronemidae, the scarlet betta reaches only about 4 centimeters and lends its name to the coccina group of small, dark-red bettas. Males often show a shimmering blue-green patch on the flank. It is a bubble-nesting species: the male builds a small nest, frequently under a leaf or in a cave, and guards the eggs and fry. Its exact breeding difficulty is not formally recorded, but it is a delicate fish that needs soft, acidic water.

Did you know

The name coccina comes from the Latin for scarlet, describing the deep wine-red of a fish in good condition. Many males also carry an iridescent green or blue spot on the side, sometimes called the coccina spot.

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