Betta pallifina
The Betta pallifina naturally inhabits remote areas of the upper Barito River basin in the Indonesian province of Kalimantan-Tenga, Borneo. The fish stay in forested channels with clear water, heavily overgrown with aquatic vegetation. The substrate in these areas is a mixture of sand and fallen tree leaves.
Betta pallifina has an elongated cylindrical body. Males are larger and have more iridescent stripes on the head and body than females. In addition, males have a wider head shape and elongated fins. The maximum size of the fish is 8-9 cm.
The males have a combative temperament and often clash with each other. Usually their fights do not end badly for anyone, but the losing individual will have to hide from the winner. To avoid conflicts between fish to keep them better singly or in pairs. Perhaps keeping in a common aquarium with other peace-loving fish commensurate in size.
To contain a pair of fish fit aquarium volume of 80 liters. Possible content of fish without soil, which greatly facilitates maintenance of the aquarium. But if you wish to make the aquarium conditions as close to natural, you need to place dried oak or beech leaves at the bottom, on the sides of the aquarium to install ceramic pots, and in its central part to place snags.
Lighting should be weak, which must be considered when planting plants and pick up these types of plants, which will be able to grow in such conditions. If you can not lower the intensity of light lamps, you can put on the surface of the water bushes of floating plants, which will serve as a good natural light filter.
Water parameters: temperature 22-27° C, hardness dH 1-5°, pH 5,5-7,5. Water filtration and aeration are required. The aquarium must have a cover that prevents the cold air from reaching the surface of the water.
In nature, the Betta pallifina on small invertebrates and insects. In the aquarium, the fish are fed a variety of dry food, as well as live and frozen: Daphnia, artemia and chironomid. The fish are prone to obesity, so do not overfeed them. Feed should be given 1-2 times a day.
Reproduction
If the Betta pallifina are kept in a common tank with other fish, then a separate spawning tank will be required for breeding.
The spawning tank should have a tight-fitting cover (some aquarists instead of the cover pull film on top of the aquarium), since the fry, for normal development of their labyrinth breathing organ, need warm moist air.
At spawning landed pre-formed pair of fish. In the spawning process, the male approaching the female and his side bumps into her side. At this time, the female hatches a batch of eggs, which the male immediately fertilizes and collects it all in his mouth. This continues until the female spawns completely.
The male during the incubation of eggs should be given peace of mind, so it is desirable to put the female immediately after spawning. The male incubates the eggs for 10-17 days, after which his mouth leaves the fully formed fry. After that, the male can also be set aside.
The fry are quite large, about 5 mm in length, and are able to immediately feed on artemia nauplii. Feed them in small portions 3-4 times a day. Do not overfeed the fry, because very often from overeating they develop intestinal problems. Fry are very sensitive to the accumulation of organic matter in the water, so you must make a daily substitution of 1/10th of the aquarium water with fresh.
Life expectancy Betta pallifina in aquarium conditions is about 4-5 years.
