Cherry Betta (Betta coccina) Care Guide
Betta coccina is a small bubble-nesting wild betta from peat-swamp forests of Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia, needing soft, acidic blackwater.
Overview
Betta coccina is a small wild betta of the family Osphronemidae, first described by Vierke in 1979. It is found in peat swamp forests of Sumatra (Jambi and Riau provinces), Indonesia, and Johor state in Peninsular Malaysia. Like other labyrinth fishes, it can breathe atmospheric air at the surface.
Taxonomy
- Family: Osphronemidae
- Genus: Betta
- Scientific name: Betta coccina
- Described: Vierke, 1979
Habitat
According to Seriously Fish and Wikipedia, the species inhabits peat swamp forests where the water is darkly stained by decomposing material, soft, acidic and rich in humic substances, with minimal light penetration and slow flow.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 30 L
- Temperature: 24-27 °C (75-81 °F)
- pH: 4.0-5.5
- GH: 1-4 °dGH
- Lifespan: 2-4 years
- Water flow: low; dim, blackwater conditions preferred
Diet
Betta coccina is carnivorous, feeding on small invertebrates. In the aquarium it accepts small live or frozen foods such as Daphnia, Artemia and chironomid larvae (Seriously Fish).
Compatibility
A mid-water species, best kept as a single pair or alone. Seriously Fish reports it is not suited to community tanks, and some aggression toward conspecifics can occur; it should not be combined with other male bettas.
Breeding
Unlike many wild bettas, Betta coccina is a bubble-nester. The male builds a bubble nest in a tube or canister, under a broad leaf or among fine surface vegetation, and guards the eggs until they hatch (Seriously Fish, Wikipedia).
Conservation status
Wikipedia reports Betta coccina as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with deforestation, pollution and habitat conversion for agriculture as primary threats.