Stigmosa betta

Care at a glance

Overview

The Stigmosa betta is a mostly peaceful mouthbrooding betta, and a fairly adaptable one for its genus. It is best with a little experience.

Caring for the Stigmosa betta

Keep a pair or a small group of Stigmosa bettas in at least 16 gal (60 L). Choose a tank with a base of 60 cm, and fit a tight lid. Furnish it with wood and plants, keep it shaded, and give it moderate flow.

Keep the water soft to medium and slightly acidic to neutral. Aim for 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 5.0 to 7.0. Feed small live and frozen foods such as daphnia, artemia and bloodworm, plus small insects.

Keep them in a species tank, or with calm fish of a similar size. The Stigmosa betta is a paternal mouthbrooder, and males brood the eggs in the mouth for roughly 9 to 16 days. Breeding it is moderately difficult.

Good to know

Betta stigmosa was described by Tan and Ng in 2005. It belongs to the Betta pugnax complex in the family Osphronemidae.

In the wild

The Stigmosa betta lives in clear, flowing forest hill streams in eastern Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia. The soft water runs with a gentle current over leaf litter.

Common questions

Related species

• 

  Falx betta

  Betta falx

  2 in (5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)

  2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

• 

  Foersch's betta

  Betta foerschi

  2 in (5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)

  2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

• 

  Prima betta

  Betta prima

  2 in (5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)

  2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

• 

  Spotted betta

  Betta picta

  2 in (5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)

  2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)

• 

  Stiktos betta

  Betta stiktos

  2 in (5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)

  2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
• Andrei betta

  Betta andrei

  2 in (5.1 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)

  2 in (5.1 cm)24 gal (90 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)