Kapuas Betta

About

Found in the lower Kapuas basin of West Kalimantan, Indonesia, Betta krataios is a compact wild betta that was circulating in the hobby under the name B. sp. 'Kapuas' before it was formally described. It's a small fish, rarely exceeding an inch and a half, with a yellowish-brown body, turquoise iridescent opercular scales, and a distinctly rounded tail. That last detail being one of the easiest ways to tell it apart from its close relative B. dimidiata, which has a more extended, spade-shaped caudal fin. Like all anabantoids, it can breathe atmospheric air using its labyrinth organ, an adaptation that suits the soft, often oxygen-poor blackwaters it calls home. In the aquarium it's a relatively forgiving choice for a beginner willing to do their homework, but it does need calm tankmates. Boisterous or large fish will stress it out quickly. Small, peaceful cyprinids and loaches from similar habitats can work, but the safest approach is keeping it in a species setup or a very quiet community. What really sets this fish apart for keepers who get interested in breeding is its reproductive behavior: the male is a paternal mouthbrooder, incubating fertilized eggs for up to two weeks before releasing free-swimming fry that are large enough to take live foods right away.