brunei beauty

Scientific name Betta macrostoma
Descriptor Regan
Year of description 1910
IUCN category (World) VU
Family Osphronemidae
Genus Betta
Betta macrostoma Betta macrostoma

Introduction

The Betta macrostoma, more commonly known as brunei beauty, is a tropical fish native to Asia.

Who is it?

Morphology

  • Average size
    8 cm
  • Maximum size
    10 cm
  • Longevity
    5 year
  • Shape
    Rectangular
  • Average size
    8 cm
  • Maximum size
    10 cm
  • Longevity
    5 year
  • Shape
    Rectangular

How to recognize the brunei beauty ?

Like all fish of its genus, the brunei beauty has the particularity of being able to breathe in two different ways. In addition to the classic gills, this species is equipped with a breathing apparatus called Labyrinthe which allows it to absorb oxygen from the air. These species are commonly called the labyrinth Fish.

The brunei beauty measures between 8 and 10 cm. This fish is bicolore with a predominantly orange and noir body.

Sexual dimorphism

The adult male is significantly more colorful than the female. The difference in coloration of the caudal and dorsal fins can be confusing in juveniles or stressed individuals.

Behaviour & Life cycle

  • diet
    carnivorous
  • Sociability
    living as a couple or alone
  • territorial
    Yes
  • Way of living
    diurnal

The Betta macrostoma is a rather calm fish, it can live with other individuals of its own species if the volume of the aquarium is sufficient to allow losers of periodic fights to distance themselves.

Depending on the individuals, aggression can be more or less strong, they will need to be monitored. Ideally, they should be kept in pairs who have freely chosen each other from a group. It behaves rather peacefully with other species, however, caution must be taken for the smaller species.

Reproduction

  • Reproduction
    ovipare incubateur buccal

The Betta macrostoma is an oviparous mouthbrooding fish. The incubation lasts from 15 to 35 days depending notably on the temperature. The fry are born relatively large and can directly consume artemia nauplii.

Harmless species

This species does not represent any particular threats to humans when encountered in its natural environment.

Where to find it?

Conservation status of populations (IUCN)

World : VU

What is its habitat?

Natural environment characteristics

  • Temperature
    24 - 26 °C
  • pH (acidity)
    4 - 6
  • gh (hardness)
    6 - 10

Biotope presentation

The Betta macrostoma naturally resides in acidic water.

The acidification of the water comes from the decomposition of plants. This phenomenon changes the color of the water, which tends to become brown. In certain areas particularly rich in organic matter, the water becomes so tinted that it is characterized as black water.

The species evolves in shallow areas with a high presence of vegetation (aquatic and marsh plants, decomposing organic matter, branches...). However, the water is generally quite flowing and relatively clear.

During dry periods, this fish may be isolated in marshes and small, poorly oxygenated water holes. Its ability to gulp air at the surface allows it to survive until the next season.

The substrate is generally composed of sand and gravel.

Species of the same biotope

Main recommendations for fishkeeping

Deontology

In order to preserve wildlife, if you acquire this animal, it must not be released into the wild. See also, the Fishipedia charter.

Fishipedia supports the practice of responsible and environmentally friendly aquarium keeping. We encourage maintenance if it is motivated by a desire to understand the biological functioning of living things and if it is done with respect for animal life.

We believe that aquaristics is an opening to the discovery of aquatic environments, especially freshwater, and that this knowledge is necessary to better protect and respect these environments. Logically, we refute the compulsive purchase of animals that would not find a sufficient and / or adapted place in the host aquarium.

Our recommendations

  • Min volume
    120 liters
  • Population min
    1
  • Temperature
    24 - 26 °C
  • pH (acidity)
    4 - 6

Characteristics

  • Difficulty breeding
    hard
  • Robustness
    sensible
  • Behaviour
    moderately aggressive
  • Availability
    rare

General reminders

It is strongly advised to read the complete dedicated file and to get information on the feedbacks of maintenance of the envisaged animal, this to avoid any potential conflict whose end result is generally the death of the individual (or the other inhabitants). It is important not to overload your aquarium to limit pollution. This will make maintenance easier.

In nature, animals are subject to weather conditions and live in waters with variable characteristics. The recommendations offered by our team for aquarium maintenance are a guidance and cannot be assimilated to scientific datas.

General reminder on maintenance datas

Le démarrage d'un aquarium est une partie primordiale pour l'équilibre et le bien-être des poissons. Lorsque l'on met en eau un aquarium, l'eau passe naturellement par un cycle biologique : le cycle de l'azote. Celui-ci dure environ trois semaines. Tous les 2 jours, nous vous conseillons de tester votre eau jusqu'à ce que le taux de nitrite soit à zéro pendant plusieurs jours d'affilée.

Pour accélérer ce cycle, vous pouvez utiliser un activateur de bactéries comme JBL Denitrol. Cette solution riche en bactéries vivantes et enzymes permet une mise en place rapide du cycle de l'azote. Les poissons peuvent alors être introduits plus rapidement.

Il est important de tester l'eau de son aquarium régulièrement pour maintenir un environnement sain pour les poissons et les autres habitants. Les tests d'eau permettent de mesurer les niveaux de différents paramètres tels que le pH, la dureté totale, ainsi que les taux de nitrates, de nitrites et d'ammoniaque.

Pour réaliser ces tests, vous pouvez utiliser des produits d'analyse spécialisés tels que JBL ProScan qui permet de réaliser un diagnostic de l'eau directement via un smartphone. Il existe également des coffrets de tests plus classiques de bandelettes, comme JBL PROAQUATEST.

En cas d’usage de l’eau du robinet, vous pouvez utiliser un conditionneur d’eau de type Biotopol de JBL pour éliminer les substances nocives comme le chlore, le cuivre, le plomb et le zinc. Les conditionneurs d'eau garantissent une meilleure santé aux poissons et une meilleure croissance des plantes.

Chlorine and chloramine are dangerous for the health of animals. Used to disinfect water, these agents are present in significant quantities in tap water. We recommend using an anti-chlorine agent every time you change the water. In addition to chlorine, treatments and medicines sold for aquarium use sometimes contain dangerous heavy metals in high doses.

Specific needs for the brunei beauty

The brunei beauty is a species which lives naturally at a temperature between 24 °C and 26 °C. For proper maintenance, the temperature should never exceed the 29°C for long periods. The brunei beauty is sensitive to abrupt changes in parameters as well as to chemicals. Its acclimation in an aquarium must be done with special care to prevent it from developing diseases or weaknesses. Nitrate levels should remain below 25mg/L. To keep the water clean and unpolluted, plan on changing 20% to 30% of the water volume each month.

The brunei beauty is a species whose maintenance is rather reserved for informed aquarists . It can only be successfully carried out by carrying out a minimum of documentation work. Special husbandry conditions can easily lead to the death of the species or other animals.

This species is very rare in the aquarium trade. Instead, it is maintained by knowledgeable aquarists who own and breed individuals from wild origin strains. If you want to get this species, we advise you to contact specialized clubs. }Specimens from long time breeding are a bit easier to breed but you have to respect the particular water parameters.

Jumping fish

Be careful, the brunei beauty is an excellent jumper, naturally using this faculty to change its living area or to escape from predators. The aquarium must be perfectly covered to prevent him from making a deadly jump...

Fish with a maze

The ability to breathe at the surface makes this fish more likely to live in small volumes. Naturally, the brunei beauty can be found for long periods in water holes where oxygen is scarce.

Cohabitation & Environment

The brunei beauty is a fish which it is advisable to maintain in specific aquarium. A 120 liter tank is sufficient to consider its breeding. Associating it with other species is not fundamentally impossible but a documentation work is necessary for the constitution of the population.

The species enjoys a particularly vegetation-rich environment. The addition of plants will provide many useful hiding places for resting. These areas are also conducive to possible breeding in the aquarium. Floating plants such as Salvinia can be added to recreate the subdued atmosphere characteristic of its living conditions in the wild.

Acid Water Maintenance

The brunei beauty living naturally in acidic water, generally in "black" or "sieved" water, the implementation of a filtration on peat is ideal for its balance. Adding decaying leaves and alder fruit can significantly improve living conditions by naturally increasing acidity of some water.

Tips for feeding

The brunei beauty is carnivorous.

This species does not appreciate being fed with freeze-dried food (flakes...). Some specimens will never eat this type of food.

You should not overfeed your residents to avoid polluting the water. For most species, it is better to feed a few small portions each day rather than one large meal.

Food recommendations from our partner JBL - Products PRONOVO

Reproduction protocol

  • Maintenance difficulty
    hard
  • egg-laying protection
    Yes

Hybridization risks

In general, it is advised not to mix several species of the same genus or different varieties of the same species, to avoid the risks of hybridization.

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Sources & Contributions

Participation & Validation

The Fishipedia team and specialist contributors are committed to providing high-quality content. However, although the information comes from scientific sources or testimonials from specialists, the cards may contain inaccuracies.

Michel Dantec

Michel Dantec

Sylvain Mathieu

Sylvain Mathieu

Translation

Translation done with the valuable contribution of our translators, who make this information available to a wider audience. We sincerely thank them for their commitment.

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Species of the same biotope

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