Toba betta

Betta rubra

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–81°F (22–27°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 1.6 in (4 cm)
Minimum tank: 11 gal (40 L)
Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Solitary
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Very rare
Origin: Sumatra
Family: Osphronemidae

Overview

The Toba betta is a small, deep-coloured mouthbrooding betta best kept as a single pair in a quiet species tank. It stays in the middle water among plants, wood and leaf litter and can be shy, so keep it away from boisterous or larger fish. It is generally peaceful and shows best when kept on its own or with very small, calm companions. Feed small live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp and microworm. A dimly lit, well-planted tank of around 40 liters with a tight lid and soft water gives a pair everything it needs.

In the wild

Betta rubra comes from northern Sumatra, in soft, acidic forest streams and peat swamps shaded by dense growth and stained brown with tannins. Recreate that with subdued light, driftwood, floating plants, a dark substrate and a generous layer of dried leaves. Keep the temperature between 22 and 27 degrees Celsius and the pH from 6.0 to 7.5, in soft water. Tannin-rich, gently filtered water and plenty of cover help this shy fish settle and colour up.

Good to know

A member of the gourami family Osphronemidae, the Toba betta reaches only about 4 centimeters and belongs to the Betta rubra group of small wild bettas. It is a paternal mouthbrooder: after a careful courtship the male gathers the eggs and incubates them in his mouth for around ten days to two weeks before releasing free-swimming fry. Aquarium breeding is not formally rated for difficulty, but success depends on very soft, acidic water and a settled, compatible pair.

Did you know

The species name rubra means red, for the deep orange-red the males flush when they display. In 2013 researchers found that some fish sold under this name were actually a separate, almost identical species, Betta dennisyongi.