Page 5 - TBAS-apr-2018

TBAS April 2017 .................... -5-
Mature male Betta albimarginata and Betta channoides look very
much alike and has caused a great deal of confusion. On at least one
occasion images of one species has been substituted for the other in a
leading publication.
While the habitat for the species is relatively close in proximity
the populations does not comingle nor do they cross-breed as far as we
know. The separation is maintained by an interesting geographic barrier
which does not permit comingling of the two species despite the areas
being less than 150 km.
Both species come from Indonesia, more precisely from the province
of East Kalimantan which is the eastern region of the island of Borneo.
The species are separated by mountain range. B. albimarginata can be
captured to the north of the mountain; B. channoides are found on the
south side of the mountain. When keeping these species it is important to
remember, particularly when handling fry, not to get confused and mix
the two species as they will hybridize.
If you do not have any experience with maintaining and breeding
wild bettas either of these two species are good candidates for your
initial try. You normally do not see them in your LFS but are offered on
Aquabid fairly often. Additionally they travel reasonably well because
there is no need to worry about oxygen issues.
These species are paternal Mouthbrooders. Best practice suggests
that pairs should be setup in their own tank with the tank size between
5 – 10 gallons. The tank should have the tightest-fitting cover you can
find and the tank should not be filled to the top. I leave the level of water
an 1 to 1.5 inches from the top. Raising fry requires a need for a layer of
warm, humid air in the container to permit the proper development of
the labyrinth organ.
The breeding process begins with a protracted courtship; eggs and
milt are released during an “’embrace” typical of anabantoids in which
the male wraps his body around that of the female. Several trial
embraces may be required before spawning commences. Once the male
has all the eggs in his mouth the cycle is repeated until the female is
spent of eggs. This process can take place over a significant period.
It has also been my experience that spawns are quite small, with
12-20 eggs being considered a good numbers. Two of my spawns

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