Betta Stiktos | Rare Bettas

From the Betta Splendens Complex.

IUCN Red List: Data Deficient (Not enough information at this time but most likely highly endangered in the wild)

CAPTIVE BRED

The rarest of all the splendens complex found only in the Mekong River basin in Cambodia, from the locality of Stung Streng. This species was once thought to be extinct, but a recent re-emergence has been reported by a handful of breeders.

Physical Characteristics

• Body Shape: Compact and slender with a stout head, reaching a maximum standard length of about 1.1 inches (2.8 cm). Smaller and more streamlined than many Betta splendens complex relatives, adapted for agile movement in dense habitats.

• Tail Shape: Exclusively roundtail, with short, rounded caudal and anal fins. Features up to 9 rows of black transverse bars on the caudal fin and 5 rows of round black spots on the dorsal fin, giving a distinctive "spotted" appearance.

• Coloration: Males display a brown to black body with iridescent green-blue "snake-scale" patterns, particularly prominent on fins and operculum. Red patches may appear on fins. Females are browner with faint green hints and less vivid markings.

• Operculum: Black with a prominent "snake-scale" pattern of iridescent green-blue, more widespread and vivid in males than in females, who show subdued markings.

• Habitat: Native to the Mekong drainage in Cambodia, particularly in Stung Treng’s swampy streams and ponds with dense vegetation and low oxygen. Thrives in stagnant, slightly acidic (pH 5-7.5), warm (22-27°C) waters, using its labyrinth organ for air-breathing.
  

WE ONLY SELECT healthy high quality fish to ship out, that mean old fish or fish with any signs of disease or weakness will NOT be selected to be sold.

ALL of our fish go through 2 or more weeks of quarantine before being sold. Quarantine period consist of medication to remove parasites such as velvet and ich.  All males come from the same lineage and are generally similar.

Basic Information

Temperament: Males are VERY aggressive and should be kept alone or in tanks with non-male betta mates. Can be kept in a planted community tank of multiple females if there is adequate space.

Max Size: 2 inches

TDS: 60 - 200 (We keep them in soft water with low TDS to match our other wild bettas but they are more tolerant of water conditions.)

pH: 5.0-7.0

Temperature: 75-85 (much better coloration at a warmer temperature above 78 degrees)

Diet: Carnivorous, we currently feed them live blackworms, frozen bloodworms, and pellets.

Breeding: Bubblenester