TankBud

Spilotogena betta

Betta spilotogena

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–81°F
22–27°C
pH
4.0–6.5
Adult size
2.8 in
7 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
Mouthbrooder · Medium
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Osphronemidae
Origin
Bintan and Singkep islands, Riau Archipelago, Indonesia

Overview

The Spilotogena betta is a calm, peaceful betta for a dim, planted tank. It is a good choice once you have a little experience.

Did you know

The Spilotogena betta's spotted gill cover shows even in tiny juveniles. That lets it be told from its closest relative, Betta tomi, at any age.

Caring for the Spilotogena betta

Keep Spilotogena bettas as a pair or a small group in at least 20 gal (75 L). Give the tank plenty of cover and a tight lid, and keep only one male per tank at this size. Furnish it with leaf litter and dense planting under dim light.

Keep the water soft and acidic, at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C) and a pH of 4.0 to 6.5. They take dried foods, but give them live or frozen daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworm regularly. Some small, peaceful cyprinids and loaches from similar water can share the tank, but dwarf shrimp will be eaten.

The Spilotogena betta is a paternal mouthbrooder, and the male broods for 10 to 21 days. He releases fry big enough to take microworm and brine shrimp nauplii at once. It is moderately difficult to breed.

Good to know

Betta spilotogena belongs to the Betta waseri group of the family Osphronemidae. Ng and Kottelat described it in 1994. Its name means spotted cheeks, after the large black spots that cover the gill cover in both sexes. Its throat carries two black spots so broad they look like one. The IUCN lists it as Endangered.

In the wild

The Spilotogena betta lives on Bintan and Singkep, in Indonesia's Riau Archipelago. It inhabits freshwater swamps and the streams that drain them, in shallow water about a meter deep or less. Dense bank vegetation shades the water, which is clear or tea-colored, at pH 4.9 to 5.5. It shares those swamps with Betta edithae and Betta miniopinna.

Common questions

What size tank does a Spilotogena betta need?

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

What temperature and pH does a Spilotogena betta need?

A Spilotogena betta is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 4.0–6.5.

What does a Spilotogena betta eat?

A Spilotogena betta takes dried foods, but it should get live or frozen daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworm regularly.

How big does a Spilotogena betta get?

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

How does a Spilotogena betta breed?

A Spilotogena betta is a paternal mouthbrooder, and the male broods for 10 to 21 days. The fry he releases are big enough to take microworm and brine shrimp nauplii at once.

Related species