Betta chloropharynx
The species name chloropharynx comes from the Greek words chloros, green, and pharynx, throat; in allusion to the green spots on the throat. The genus name Betta comes from the Malay local name ikan betah for this species of fish.
This species belongs to the gouramis or Osphronemidae. This family has about 90 species divided into 4 subfamilies and 15 genera. The genus Betta belongs to the subfamily Macropodinae or Paradise Fish.
This species was described in 1994 by Kottelat and Ng.
Origin
Indonesia; Sumatra.
Keeping Betta chloropharynx
In the wild, Betta chloropharynx occurs in pools filled with leaf litter. In Bangka, the species shares habitat with Betta burdigala and a Parosphromenus species, among others. In some cases, the species was also found with B. schalleri. The water had a pH between 4.5 and 5.5, a GH between 0 and 1, a KH between 0 and 1, TDS 10 and a temperature of 27.1°C. The color of the water was brown. Betta chloropharynx are not aggressive but it is not recommended to keep them together with natural biotope mates.
Best is an aquarium of around 90 cm to a meter, with good planting (also, a five in a 60 cm aquarium is excellent to keep; see ‘comments’). This species is best kept alone. A quietly flowing filter should also be present, the lighting should not be too bright but rather strongly dimmed. Betta chloropharynx possesses two light green dots under the jaw, but unfortunately these are not visible in the photos. This markings were instrumental in distinguishing them from the other species within the Waseri group. They can reach a total length of about 12 centimeters.
Diet
Good eaters: they sometimes seem like garbage cans. Anything edible is greedily swallowed.
Breeding Betta chloropharynx
(Based on Palambang population). Betta chloropharynx is a mouthbreeder that is very easy to breed. They deposit just above the bottom in a quiet, preselected open area surrounded by plants, for example. The female collects the eggs after each entanglement and spits them toward the male (the well-known ball game). The eggs are quite large, about 3 mm in diameter and white in color. ‘Nests’ of some 130 or more are no exception. After depositing, a male of any other species would look for a safe place; however in the case of the author (see bottom of this page) this went differently; the male swam happily around among all the others, meanwhile enjoying his then very aggressive wife chasing away every other fish. She also keeps showing this behavior much longer every other species known so far . The male breeds for about seventeen days before releasing the young, which are then about 5 mm in size. Again, the parent birds, and even other specimens and the young can simply stay together.
The then wandering young can immediately handle small Artemia and grow very quickly. They soon feast on the food of the parents; so be careful with too large food. A point of interest is the fact that once the young are released, this species deposits again almost immediately, and this continues. Thus, it is advisable to separate the pair after each litter and re-condition the male through food and rest.
Comments
This species is very peaceful and does not fight much among themselves; with some sparring it does stop. Also, pairs can “cuddle” where they gently rub against each other; very interesting. Even more remarkable is that they form permanent pairs and only deposit with their chosen, so permanent, partner . Transferring to another tank with another spouse is possible.
Video
Author
Stefan vd Voort – Dutch Labyrinth Fish Association
Published with permission of the board
Copyright images
Team Borneo
