Betta burdigala
Betta burdigala was officially described in 1994 by Kottelat and Ng.
The name burdigala is based on the Latin name for Bordeaux, a city in southwestern France known for its long-preserved red wines. The color of this species is the color of aged red wine. They can reach a total length of about 3.5 to 4 inches.
Keeping Betta burdigala
This species is found in so-called peat bogs located deep in forests. These biotopes mostly consist of leaf and branch debris and are very shallow, sometimes only a few centimeters. The water values are therefore extremely low, pH 4.5, GH 0 to 1, KH 0 to 1, TDS 10 with a temperature of 27.1°C. In the tank, by the way, it is very wise to keep it 1 to 2 degrees lower. The color of the water was brown.
Betta burdigala is an aggressive species but it is quite possible to keep several males in the tank, for 2 pairs a tank with a length of 80 cm is recommended. This small red Betta can also be kept together with some mouthbroods or Betta persephone. It is not recommended to keep Betta burdigala together with other small red Bettas because of behavior and the chance of crossbreeding, which is not the intention.
The aquarium must be densely planted to provide hiding places. As a bottom, black gravel is fine; Betta burdigala does not like a lot of light. Given that fact, the use of floating plants, a not too bright lighting and a black back wall is very suitable to create an even more dark atmosphere.
Reproduction of Betta burdigala
Betta burdigala is a foam nest builder. The nest is preferably built under a floating plant leaf or in a black photo sleeve, always in a dark spot. The male becomes much more aggressive before, during, and after reproduction.
However, it is possible for Betta burdigala to reproduce in company and if the aquarium is large and planted enough the female does not need to be removed after reproduction. It often happens that this species reproduces once or twice a week and thus nests of different ages are formed. An experience personally observed is that the male reproduced several times with 2 females with the females waiting their turn each time.
In a pair that is well accustomed to each other the young do not need to be caught, Betta burdigala is not a cannibalistic species. After a few days the young are already big enough to eat micro-worms and Artemia nauplii.
Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrjHXp3nS18
Author
Stefan vd Voort – Dutch Association for Labyrinth Fish
Copyright images
Haji Badaruddin
Michael Lo
