
Betta siamorientalis
Betta siamorientalis
Males are dark brown to black, with two usually reddish vertical bars on the black gill cover.
Males are dark brown to black, with two usually reddish vertical bars on the black gill cover. A bubble-nesting betta, formerly called black imbellis.
- Adult length
- Up to 3.3 cm (standard length, without the tail fin)
- Water temperature
- 22–28 °C
- pH
- 5.5–7.5
- Hardness
- 1–12 dGH
- Natural habitat
- Occupies shallow freshwater marshes, rice fields and densely vegetated pond and ditch margins, using still water with plant cover.
Avoid forceful tankmates that outcompete it for food.
Appearance and identification
Gill-cover bars may be pale or lack color in some populations; red bars alone do not identify it.
Social behaviour and territory
Several males may be tried with abundant cover and broken lines of sight. A single pair is preferable for breeding; 45×30 cm suits them.
Diet and feeding
Try suitably sized dry food, alternating with live or frozen foods such as Daphnia and brine shrimp. Feed small portions and avoid overfeeding.