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Betta imbellis
Ladiges 1975
Betta imbellis 'Nakornsritammarat'
Photo by Nonn Panitvong [3]
More Photos
Hear species name spoken
Keeping Betta imbellis from an Aquarist View
| Housing |
Betta imbellis can be housed in pairs, species tanks,
and community tanks. Pairs can be housed in a 10 gallon tank, groups
should be housed in a 30 gallon tank or larger. Pairs should be given
cover such as caves and plants. In a pair or species situation it is
possible that fry could be discovered in the tanks. For best results
remove a pair to a breeding tank with little to no filtration. |
| Water Conditions |
Not critical, imbellis is very tolerant of water
chemistry and thrives in almost any type of water as long as it is clean
and well filtered. They should be kept at mid 70s to low 80s F. |
| Sexing |
Males are more intensely colored and might have longer
fins while the females will be a browner in color however females should
display an ovipositor or egg tube. |
| Reproduction |
Imbellis is a surface bubblenester however the male may
make a nest under objects on the surface of the water. Males normally
initiate spawning and entice females to the nest for spawning. |
| Similar Species |
Similar species would be all splendens complex members. |
| Identification |
Imbellis have green or blue gill plates with no wild
spots on the tail rays. |
Articles on Related Species
Spawning Betta smaragdina - the "Emerald Betta" Yohan
Fernando.
Betta
smaragdina Ladiges, 1972. Michel Dantec. Communauté
Internationale pour les Labyrinthidés [internet]. France; c.9 August 2002.
Care
and Spawning of Betta smaragdina. Gerald Griffin.
Flare! Mar/Apr 1990
I’ve Got a New Mouthbrooding Betta – Now What?. Michael Hellweg. 2003.
Working with
wild Bettas Gerald Griffin. Flare! 2006.
Bettas in Peril, the Mahachai
Situation.
Gerald Griffin. Flare 2005
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Original Citation |
Ladiges, W. 1975. [61] |
|
References |
Gonin, Herve and Jacques Laird, 2002. [137]
Grabda, E. and T. Heese, 1991. [45]
International Betta Congress,1986. [152]
Kirtley, Paul, 1988. [149]
Kottelat, M., A.J. Whitten, S.N. Kartikasari and S.
Wirjoatmodjo, 1993. [58]
Liebetrau, Sue. 1975. [124]
Ng, P.K.L., L.M. Chou and T.J. Lam, 1993. [74]
Riehl, R. and H.A. Baensch, 1991. [85]
Riehl, R. and H.A. Baensch, 1996. [86]
Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A.
Lachner, R.N. Lea and W.B. Scott, 1991. [88]
Schliewen, U., 1992. [94]
Sommer, Wolfgang, 1990. [151]
Wellner, Peter. [115]
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Type Locality |
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
|
Holotype |
ZMH H4644 |
|
Paratype |
ZMH H4520 (11) |
|
Where Found |
Countries: |
Indonesia
Malaysia
Singapore |
|
Known Occurrences: |
Malaysia: Paddy on N. side of the road Kuala Pilah to Seremban
11 kms W. of Kuala Pilah
Malaysia: West Malaysia: Muar River At Various Localities 7-18
Milesinland From City Of Muar |
|
Miscellaneous Information |
Max. size:
|
5.5 cm |
|
pH range: |
6.0 - 7.0 |
|
dH range: |
5.0 - 19.0 |
|
Temperature range: |
24 - 28°C |
|
Meristics: |
Length 50mm, DO-1/7-9, AIII/22-25, mLR 27-30. [152] |
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General notes on water chemistry: |
No special requirements regarding pH and hardness. [151] |
|
Etymology: |
peaceful |
|
General notes: |
As with most Betta species, these fish are good jumpers
and need a well-covered tank. A good candidate for the community
tank, they do well with several pair kept together. The males
will often flare at each other but rarely cause any trouble.
They show a preference for live foods such as mosquito larvae
and brine shrimp but will readily accept flake foods as well. [149]
Temperature 77-79ºF; for stimulating spawning, as high as 86ºF.
[151] |
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Reproduction: |
Dioecious, external fertilization. Spherical eggs in bubble
nest. Eggs shrink to the bottom and were then collected by one
or both parents and were embedded among the foam bubbles in the
nest. [33]
Sexually mature at 6 months old, these fish measure
approximately 1.5 inches in length at this age. They will
readily spawn in anything from a one-gallon jar to an outdoor
pool when properly conditioned. A 10 gallon tank is usually used
which gives the female plenty of room to retreat and allows the
fry enough growing room. As these fish are naturally shy, the
tank should be placed in an area with little traffic to prevent
disturbing the breeding pair. Two gallons of well-aged tapwater
should be mixed with two gallons of distilled or RO water and
maintained at a temperature of 80°F. Floating plants should be
added but quantity is not important as long as the female has a
place to hide. The author suggests draping a large, thick towel
over the top and brightly lit side of the tank to subdue light
and give the pair a sense of security. Once the pair has been
chosen, keep them isolated from each other for a couple of weeks
before placing them into the breeding tank. Condition them with
plenty of a good variety of live and frozen foods during this
time. Proper conditioning is the single most important aspect of
successfully spawning any egglayer. Good conditioning foods
include live and frozen brine shrimp, live and frozen mosquito
larvae, frozen plankton, frozen beef heart, freeze-dried foods,
chopped earthworms, etc. After the condtioning period, both fish
are placed into the breeding tank at the same time. The bubble
nest is started by the male in a few hours and the pair usually
spawn within 24 hours. Up to 500 white opaque eggs will be
placed into the bubble nest after a few hours of embracing
occur. The female's job is over and the male takes on the task
of maintaining the nest and making sure the eggs stay in place.
She can either be removed now or left and removed with the male
later. The parents are fed once daily to discourage eating the
developing fry. The eggs hatch in 24-48 hours and by the fourth
day, they are free- swimming at the water's surface. The parents
can now be removed and snails added to promote infusoria. The
fry are small and need a liquid food for the first couple of
days, after which they can be supplemented with baby brine
shrimp. By the fourth day, they should be fed solely on baby
brine shrimp and care should be taken not to overfeed them, as
the fry are very susceptible to foul water and very sensitive to
water changes. Fresh water can be added only after around 3
weeks and then only gradually. A quart a day for the first 3-4
days and then a gallon a day till the tank is filled seems to
work best. The fry will be at least a month old now and a sponge
filter can be added to the tank. The fry will start coloring up
at 3-4 months of age if given plenty of growing room. [149] |
Last modification submitted by Gerald Griffin 07.04.08 (mm.dd.yy)
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Betta imbellis
Photo by Peter Wellner [14] |
Betta imbellis 'Naratiwat'
Photo by Nonn Panitvong [3] |
Betta imbellis fry
Photo by Nonn Panitvong [3] |
Betta imbellis Krabi, Thailand ©Napraforgo (Kampffischesaquarium)
[8] |
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Betta imbellis Krabi, Thailand
©Napraforgo (Kampffischesaquarium) [8] |
Betta imbellis
Photo by Peter Wellner [14] |
Betta imbellis Ko Samui
Photo by Peter Wellner [14] |
Betta imbellis Ko Samui
Photo by Peter Wellner [14] |
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Betta imbellis Ko Samui
Photo by Peter Wellner [14] |
Betta imbellis Ko Samui
Photo by Peter Wellner [14] |
Betta imbellis Krabi, Thailand
©Napraforgo (Kampffischesaquarium) [8] |
Betta imbellis
Photo by Alain V
http://cil.france.free.fr/ [126] |
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Betta imbellis
Photo by Alain V http://cil.france.free.fr/
[126] |
Betta imbellis
Photo by Alain V http://cil.france.free.fr/
[126] |
Betta imbellis habitat
Photo by TEAM BORNEO [6] |
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