Stiktos betta

Care at a glance

Overview

The Stiktos betta is a mostly peaceful wild betta for a calm, covered tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Caring for the Stiktos betta

Give a pair of Stiktos bettas at least 11 gal (40 L), with a base of 45 cm. A planted tank with leaf litter and floating plants over calm water suits them. Keep a tight lid on the tank.

The water should be soft to medium and slightly acidic, at a pH of 5.5 to 7.0 and 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C). Feed small live and frozen foods such as daphnia, artemia and bloodworm.

Males spar with each other, so keep a single pair in a species tank. The Stiktos betta is a bubble nester, and breeding takes moderate effort.

Good to know

Betta stiktos, family Osphronemidae, was described by Tan and Ng in 2005 and belongs to the Betta splendens complex. Its name means spotted, for the fine dark marks on its body.

In the wild

The Stiktos betta is a small fighter from swampy streams and ponds of the Mekong basin, around Stung Treng in northern Cambodia. Its home waters have dense plants and run slightly acidic to neutral. They are often warm and low in oxygen, and its labyrinth organ helps it cope.

Common questions

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