Data sheet for Betta Imbellis fighting fish
Order:
Anabantiformes
subordination:
Labyrinth fish (Anabantoidei)
Family:
Osphronemidae
subfamily:
Largefin (Macropodusinae)
Other names:
Peaceful Betta, Small Betta
Size:
about 5cm
Reachable age:
about 3-5 years
gender differences
M dark blue/black and longer fins than gray W with short fins
Appropriate feed
Live and dry food
size of the aquarium
min. 60 cm (approx. 54 – 63 l)
pelvic area:
above
social behavior:
loner
breeding / breeding
The male builds a foam nest into which the eggs are packed
Housing conditions for Betta imbellis
Betta Fish Photo: Claudia
A 60 cm tank well stocked with Cabomba, Java fern, Java moss, Cryptocoryne wendti and Riccia fluitans is ideal for keeping a pair of Betta imbellis.
Some Corydoras habrosus and some bee shrimp are suitable as roommates.
One male is often kept with two females. Experience has shown that it is better to keep a pair. Even then, an established aquarium should be available so that the pair can be separated. The females also form a territory. Female territories have a diameter of about 30 centimeters.
The parents can remain in the rearing tank during rearing.
During brood care, the male takes over the close defense of the nest. The female takes over the long-distance defense.
Unlike many other labyrinths and also many Betta females, Betta imbellis does not eat its young when the parents are well fed.
Even if the young fish swim freely, they are ignored by the mother. Even if they swim right in front of the mother’s snout.
gender differences
The sexes of Betta imbellis can only be distinguished from a length of 3 to 4 centimeters.
In almost fully-grown animals, the anal fin of males is significantly longer than that of females, even when folded. If the animals in a glass are viewed from above, this is easy to see.
When the fins are visibly folded out, the female’s anal fin runs parallel to the body line, terminating in a clean, relatively mildly acute angle.
In males, the anal fin has a tip that runs backwards and downwards. There are no clean angles, but the tip runs, ie it just gets more and more pointed.
Females ready to spawn are easy to spot. The mass of eggs in the body cavity shines through yellowish. The belly is slightly swollen and remains swollen even when not fed.
The spawning papilla of females is a problematic feature for sex differentiation. Suppressed males of normal Bettas, B. splendens, B. imbellis., B. smaragdina look exactly like the females, including the papilla.
Betta imbellis:
More Fighting Fish Content: