Java Combtail

About

The Java combtail (Belontia hasselti) is a sizeable anabantoid from the peat swamps and forest streams of the Malay Peninsula and Greater Sunda Islands, where it breathes both water and atmospheric air thanks to a specialized labyrinth organ. Adults carry a brownish-grey body with a detailed mosaic pattern in the unpaired fins. This patterning is actually one of the clearest ways to tell it apart from its only close relative, the reddish-bodied B. signata. It's a genuinely interesting fish, but its temperament demands respect. Males are aggressive toward one another and toward females outside of spawning condition, and introducing a new fish to an established individual can end badly. For most setups, a single sexed pair is the sensible approach. Tankmates need to be chosen carefully. Anything small enough to fit in its mouth is at risk, but medium-sized, robust schooling fish and other sturdy anabantoids can often hold their own. This is not a fish for a typical community tank. Breeding is paternal, with males constructing bubble nests, and the species can apparently be quite productive when conditions suit. It's a rewarding choice for an intermediate keeper who wants something out of the ordinary, provided you go in with realistic expectations about its personality.