One-spot betta

Care at a glance

Overview

Because adults reach around 11 cm, give a pair a tank of at least 110 liters with a base of 80 cm or more and a very tight lid, as these are strong jumpers. Keep water soft to medium and slightly acidic to neutral, pH 5.5 to 7.5, at a cool 21 to 26 C. Feed meaty live and frozen foods and expect it to eat very small tankmates. Best kept alone or with robust, similar sized fish from the same region.

In the wild

Betta unimaculata lives in clear, flowing forest streams and standing pools in eastern Borneo. The water tends to be soft and slightly acidic to neutral with leaf litter and submerged wood. This is a large, active betta that needs room to swim and a heavily covered surface. Cooler conditions around 21 to 26 C match its highland stream origins.

Good to know

Described from a specimen collected by Popta in 1905, it belongs to the Betta unimaculata complex of large mouthbrooders. Males are paternal mouthbrooders that hold eggs and fry for 10 to 14 days. Wild fish show a metallic golden to blue sheen that intensifies with good care.

Did you know

This is one of the largest mouthbrooding bettas, reaching over 11 cm, and males glow metallic gold and blue when in good condition.

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