Betta pugnax

Gill-cover scales reflect blue; males have a broad lance-shaped tail with crossbars.

Gill-cover scales reflect blue. Males have a broad lance-shaped tail with crossbars. The anal fin has a red submarginal band and black outer edge; the caudal fin lacks a dark outer margin.

Adult length

Up to 7 cm (standard length, without the tail fin)

Water temperature

22–28 °C

pH

4–7.5

Hardness

1–10 dGH

Natural habitat

Inhabits fast forest streams, sheltering beneath overhanging vegetation and among submerged leaves and exposed bank roots.

Has a transverse chin marking, but the second post-eye stripe on the gill cover is incomplete. There are many relatives; a pugnax trade label alone does not identify it.