TankBud

Stroh's betta

Betta strohi

Also known as Strohi fighter, Golden ninja betta

FreshwaterFish

Stroh's betta (Betta strohi)

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–81°F
22–27°C
pH
4.0–6.0
Adult size
2.8 in
7 cm
Minimum tank
14 gal
54 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Mouthbrooder · Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Osphronemidae
Origin
Southern Kalimantan blackwaters near Sukamara, Indonesia

Overview

Stroh's betta is a wild mouthbrooding betta for a dim, shaded blackwater tank. It is best kept once you have a little experience.

Did you know

In Stroh's betta, the father does the incubating, and he goes around two weeks without feeding. The young swim out of his mouth on their own once they are ready.

Caring for the Stroh's betta

Give a pair of Stroh's bettas a dim, shaded tank of at least 14 gal (54 L). Add a dark substrate and leaf litter, with driftwood and roots for dense cover and shelter.

Keep the water soft and acidic, at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C) and a pH of 4.0 to 6.0. Gentle filtration through peat suits it. Feed meaty foods, such as small live and frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and daphnia, plus good pellets.

Keep a single pair, or a small group only in a larger, well-structured tank with plenty of hiding places. It is mostly peaceful, but choose its tank mates with care. Many keepers give it a species tank so it can breed undisturbed.

Stroh's betta is a paternal mouthbrooder. After spawning, the male carries the eggs in his mouth until the fry are free-swimming. Breeding is difficult and demands stable, very soft, acidic water.

Good to know

Betta strohi, family Osphronemidae, was described in 1989 and belongs to the Betta foerschi group. It is a dark-bodied fish with molten gold markings across the gill cover.

In the wild

Stroh's betta lives in peat-swamp streams of southern Borneo, near Sukamara in Kalimantan. The water there is tea-dark, very soft and acidic, shaded and slow.

Common questions

What size tank does a Stroh's betta need?

A Stroh's betta needs at least 14 gal (54 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Stroh's betta need?

A Stroh's betta is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 4.0–6.0.

What does a Stroh's betta eat?

A Stroh's betta eats meaty foods, such as small live and frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and daphnia, plus good pellets.

How big does a Stroh's betta get?

An adult Stroh's betta reaches about 2.8 in (7 cm).

How does a Stroh's betta breed?

A Stroh's betta is a paternal mouthbrooder, and the male carries the eggs in his mouth until the fry are free-swimming. Breeding is difficult and demands stable, very soft, acidic water.

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