Peaceful betta

The peaceful betta or crescent betta, Betta imbellis, is native to Southeast Asia, where it occurs naturally in Southern Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, and has been introduced to Singapore. It is an inhabitant of stagnant waters in swamps, rice paddies, ditches, and pools. This species grows to a length of 6 cm (2.4 in). It is found in the aquarium trade.[2]

Peaceful betta
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anabantiformes
Family: Osphronemidae
Genus: Betta
Species:
B. imbellis
Binomial name
Betta imbellis
Ladiges, 1975

Betta imbellis have a pair of suprabranchial chambers that each house an air‐breathing organ known as the labyrinth apparatus:a complex bony structure lined with thin, highly vascularised respiratory epithelium. The labyrinth apparatus is a morpho‐physiological adaptation that allows the B. imbellis to extract oxygen from air. This adaptation allows these fish to persist in extreme conditions.[3]

Description

Size: 2 inches long. [4]

Distribution

Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. [5]

Habitat

B. imbellis lives in sluggish bodies of water. This includes rice paddies, swamps, streams and ponds. The substrate is leaf litter and mud. [6]

Conservation status

This species is listed as least concern by the IUCN red list.

It is still threatened by pollution and hybridization with released domesticated Bettas (siamese fighting fish) and other Bettas in the B. Splendens complex. [7]

Diet

Eats terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates in the wild. In captivity they can be fed live or frozen food like Daphnia, Artemia or bloodworms. [8]

Breeding

Males and females can live together and the male and female can already live together for breeding. Males will build a bubble nest before breeding. After mating the male catches the falling eggs and places them in his bubble nest. In 1-2 days the eggs hatch and continue absorb their yolk sack for 2 days. After that the fry become free swimming. Until this the male cares for them. [9]

Human use

It is found in the aquarium trade. [10]

References
  1. Low, B.W. (2019). "Betta imbellis.". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T181333A89804943. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T181333A89804943.en.
  2. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2014). "Betta imbellis" in FishBase. February 2014 version.
  3. Tate, M.; McGoran, R. E.; White, C. R.; Portugal, S. J. (September 2017). "Life in a bubble: the role of the labyrinth organ in determining territory, mating and aggressive behaviours in anabantoids: the labyrinth organ and the anabantoids". Journal of Fish Biology. 91 (3): 723–749. doi:10.1111/jfb.13357. PMID 28868750.


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